Dear Slow Food Sonoma Valley members and friends...

A fun and productive year was had by all, thanks to an active and engaged leadership team. It included free events, paid events and volunteer opportunities, and each one was great fun!

Your Leadership Team met once a month throughout the year and worked hard to bring all activities to life. Here is an overview:

December 15, 2010: At our General Membership Meeting, I was thrilled to be voted in as the new leader of Slow Food Sonoma Valley (SFSV). The Sonoma Community Center graciously donated the space; Gary Edwards, outgoing president, brought a bounty of cheese and crackers, and many people brought wine and nibbles to share. At this meeting, several people approached me with offers to help and ideas for events and activities. 

May 2, 2011: The Sonoma Valley Inn/Best Western generously donated the room for our General Membership Meeting. Margarita Rameriz secured this location for us. About 35 members and prospective members attended. At this meeting, we attracted and gained several new members, and encouraged volunteers and attendance at upcoming events.

May 14, 2011: “The Art of Eating: A Tribute to MFK Fisher” was a fundraiser for the Audubon Canyon Ranch education programs. It was a huge success not only at raising money, but for SFSV as well. We were offered  a free booth where we served garlicky escargot, thanks to a donation of ingredients, time and talent from Leader-ship Team member, Kristin Viguerie and Chef Stephen Viguerie. Slow Food Leadership Team member, Kathleen Hill, was one of the panelists at this event. We talked to a large number of prospective members and gained several members not only for our chapter, but for Marin and other locations. Julie Atwood secured our booth.

May 18, 2011: As the first of our Slow Food Sonoma Valley Intimate Outings Series, Nancy Lang organized a tour of McClelland's Dairy and Green String Farms where we enjoyed a beautiful organic lunch. From here, we carpooled to McClelland’s to learn how a family dairy operates and to pet the fine “girls” who give us their delicious milk and butter.

August 19 & September 16, 2011: The Slow Food Sonoma Valley Intimate Outings Series event “Carniceria Cruise,” led by Kathleen Hill, was so popular she offered it twice! Kathleen introduced us to several of the wonderful food purveyors in Boyes Hot Springs. We learned about their businesses from the owners, ate their wonderful creations, and shopped and laughed our way up and down “The Springs.”

October 13, 2011: Another in the Slow Food Sonoma Valley Intimate Outings Series was a Tour of San Francisco’s Mission District with Augstin Gayten, organized once again by Nancy Lang. We learned about the history of Mission Delores,  met shop keepers and restaurateurs, and were treated to TWO lunches!

December 7, 2011: At least 50 Slow Food Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Grange members and guests joined us at The Grange Hall for this festive and fun First Annual Cookie Exchange and Soup Dinner. Each person brought two dozen cookies to share and an extra dozen to donate to Brown Baggers and Meals on Wheels. We warmed up with hot, delicious, homemade soups, crusty baguettes, wine, hot cider, and bubbly water. This was a free event organized by Margarita Rameriz, and it was so successful, attendees were already talking about next year!

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2012?

It’s up to you!  We encourage and need your participation. Please come forward with ideas and time to volunteer to put ideas into action, such as opportunities to volunteer in our community, teaming up with other organizations to make a larger impact, and planning small, medium and large events that promote and sustain Slow Food’s mission of connecting the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

Please visit our website often, and remember to renew your membership through the website.  Or, you can send an e-mail to leaders@slowfoodsonomavalley.com.

© Slow Food Sonoma Valley 2012