VOTMA says “Thank you!”
The time, dedication, thought and generous contributions of the people who planned and presented this year’s Valley of the Moon Alliance summer fundraiser were repaid handsomely on a sunny, mild Saturday afternoon. More than two hundred people enjoyed live music, folk dancing, superb appetizers and food, and left with wonderful prizes and bargain silent auction items, all to help keep growth in our valley confined to reasonable proportions.
The spirit of a small community is never more present than when like-minded people gather to help with an event. Two dozen hearty souls were busy by 9 o’clock on August 20th, unloading tables and chairs from a rental truck, carting the heavy pallets to set up areas, building a palapa hut to house beverage sales, setting up a barbecue grill and outdoor kitchen to prepare the whole roast beefs, chicken, beans, rice, tortillas and other delicacies, and decorating the tables in this year’s Fiesta motif, a celebration of our Mexican heritage.
Guests were entertained by the music of Los Incomparables, a six-man classic Mexican mariachi band, and the wonderful folk dances of six Mexican states presented by the Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl, directed and choreographed by Netza Vidal. The San Rafael-based troupe’s colorful costumes and lively dances were a highlight of the day.
Ex-west county supervisor and man about town Ernie Carpenter was the day’s auctioneer, raising thousands of dollars for VOTMA coffers through his practiced calling and the generous buyers who came to help. A silent auction of dozens of donated items raised thousands more. Candida Ramos and Janet Chavez of Rohnert Park did a fine job as emcees, keeping track of the day’s events in English and Spanish.
And now to thank the many people and businesses who made the event possible. If anyone has been left out, it is oversight only. First thanks is owed the Fiesta committee, who spent hundreds of hours planning the event and getting items donated for the auctions. Randy Blythe, Leanna Breese, Bev Gillespie, Nigel Hall, Karl Keener, Cindy Locke, Frank Murphy, Carol Pakaki, Colleen Rose, Steve Rose, Alec Vance, and Glory Whitehead put their time and talents to work to make a memorable afternoon. Well done!
The energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers who put their backs and money into the project made it possible. Many thanks to: Eleanor Trent, Mark & Lynn Donahue, Kathy Pons, Darci Alderson, Claudia Davis, Debbie Miller, Cynthia McDonald, Susie Birch, Sara Sanborn, Linda Hale, Catherine Moylan, Catie Fletcher, John Meserve, and John Delaplaine. Leon ‘Tag’ Tagnolli generously gathered items from all over for the silent auction.
If you liked the food, thank chefs Steve Rose and Umit Ozkaya, ably assisted by Nigel Hall, Ron Taff, JoAnn Augustine, Carl Miller and no doubt others. Others donating to the food and beverages were Bryan at Cash and Carry, Mandy Seastrom at Harris Ranch Beef, Rich at Sonoma Mtn. Foods, Bobby Tagnolli at Safeway, Joe Imwalle at Imwalle Gardens, Bill Timko at Northcoast Fisheries, Ray McClintock at Mesa Beverage, Ken at Lace House Linen, and Mike Keefer at Clover Stornetta Farms.
Glory Whitehead and Helena Eljumaily did a great job of decorating the tables. Special thanks also go to Eric at Chromagraphics who donated time, people and materials to print the posters, tickets, signs, letters and limited edition art prints. Chad at T&B Sports donated the T-shirts. Hank McLain, Richard Wenn, and Nigel Hall oversaw the construction and assembly of the hut that served as bar for the day. Many thanks to Claire Sapiro, Steve Perry, Del Rydman, Tom Peterian, Ken Uboldi, Renate Amantite, Grace Svitek, Carol Keener, Bob Trent and Barbara Slatkin.
Young people contributed mightily, as well. Special thanks to Eric Johnson and TJ Delaplaine for a long day’s work, along with Haley Delaplaine, Jake Rose, Brian Valdez, Sierra Strickland, Clayton Alderson, Eduardo Calderon and Mark Miller.
Not least to be thanked for their donations of goods and services to the auction are the following people and merchants. Please stop by and thank them personally with your trade or just by saying “hello.”
Adler Fels Winery, Alexander Valley Winery, Arrowood Winery, Artisan Bakery, Beltane Ranch, Benziger Winery, Birmingham B&B, Blackstone Winery, Bonnie Clark, BR Cohn Winery, Cafe Citti Restaurant, Cafe LaHaye, Carol & Karl Keener, Casa Bella Vista Guest House, Cash & Carry Groceries, Catherine Moylan, Cathy Fletcher, Charles Creek Winery, Chateau St. Jean Winery, ChromaGraphics, Cline Cellars, Clover Stornetta, Colleen and Steve Rose, Creekside Cafe, Doce Lunas Restaurant, Dominick’s & 101 Coffee Shop, (Warner Ebbink), Dorothy Pierce (Artist), Ernie Carpenter (Auctioneer), Equus Restaurant, Follini & Eichenbaum Deli-Cafe, Fountaingrove Golf Course, Gary Danko’s Restaurant, Geranium Restaurant, the girl & the fig restaurant, Gloria Ferrer Winery, Green Valley Restaurant, Haffner Family Winery, Hair Spa, Hansell Vineyards, Harris Ranch Beef, Heaven on Wheels Limousine, Hello Beautiful, Il Grano Restaurant (Salvatore Marino), Jafra Beauty Products, Jenn Burkhardt (Poster Artist), Jay Gamel (Sound Equipment), Johnathan’s Farmhouse, Kaz Winery, Kenwood Depot Rental, Kenwood Inn & Spa, Kenwood Oaks Cottages, Kenwood Winery, King’s Cleaner’s, Kristi Jeppesen (Glenelly Inn), Kunde Estate Winery, L’Angevin Wines, (Lesley Warner, Alan Piersen & Robbie Meyer), Lace House Linens, Le Meridian in Beverly Hills, Ledson Winery, Loxton Winery, Matanzas Creek Winery, Mayo Winery, McCormick & Kuleto’s Restaurant, Mesa Beverages, Millie Bisset (Artist), Myers Restaurant Supplies, Navillus-Birney Winery, North Coast Fisheries, Nova Vine, Oak Hill Farm, Olive and Vine Catering, Olive Press, One Pasta (Susan & Don Luber), Pat Wiggins, Powerglide Band, Ravenswood Winery, Ritz Foods, Robert Benson (Artist), Roberto’s Restaurant, Robledo Winery, Roseann’s Hair Salon, Rosenberg Restaurant Supplies, Sacred Remembrance, Safeway, Sausal Winery, Schug Winery, Sharon Rosenbaum, SL Cellars, Sonoma Lavender, Sonoma Mountain Foods, St. Francis Winery, Starbucks, Susan Vance, Swede’s Feeds, T & B Sports, The Gallery, (Carla Bergquist & Larry Fields), The Lodge@Sonoma, Timeless Beauty Salon, Valley of The Moon Winery, Valley Tire & Brake (John McGill, III), Viansa Winery, Vineyards Inn Restaurant, VJB Winery, Waste Management, and Wellington Winery.
And to anyone not mentioned who should be, you contributed to a fine cause and helped make a great day for a lot of people. Thank you very much.
