Mike Martini – Taft Street Winery & Support for WHS Vineyard Academy
Good Day fellow Rotarians and friends and family who are reading our weekly bulletin. Today’s minutes are from TUESDAY, November 9, 2021.
Past President Ed Turner rang the bell @ 7:30am. President Pam coordinated various Past Presidents to conduct one meeting a month during her presidency year. It has been 27 years since Ed was the Windsor Rotary President 1994-95, but he appeared calm and comfortable in the position. Ed announced in honor of Veterans Day we would celebrate our veterans in today’s meeting.
Doug Williams lead us in Pledge of Allegiance
Celebration of Veterans:
Mike Merrill acknowledged we have had some great speakers to honor our veterans, however, it was decided our best recognition would be to hear from the veterans in our club:
I want to make my apologies in advance for any misinformation or something left out, I was so absorbed in their stories, I failed my duties of writing it down. My gratitude to you veterans.
Mike Merrill – Marine Corps: Mike attended Justice Academy, was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he assisted & guided Marines and worked with court marshals. Mike did a tour in Vietnam outside Da Nang as Judge Advocate and in Southern Ca. as a JAD from where he retired.
Brian Williams – Marine Corps: 1996 – 2000
John Hackenburg – Naval Air: 1969 – 1996 John’s training began in Florida ending at Moffett Field in CA. In between he did 2 tours one in Japan playing chicken with Russian warships, glad he was a winner.
Scott Bonin – Navy: Scott was trained to be a dentist while in the Navy. He interned at Balboa Hospital in SF with oral surgeons, and he discovered oral surgery was not the direction he wanted to pursue. Scott served in Japan and San Diego in a mobile unit taking care of military personnel on ships.
Bill Bolster – Navy: Bill joined the Navy ROTC when he attended college, he participated in “Summer Cruises” and attended Sub school, he completed 2 sets of duty, one out of Pearl Harbor and one from San Diego. He mentioned his subs were diesel powered not nuclear, there is a story about him banging the bang barge, but have to leave that for another day.
Mike Merrill concluded this portion of our Veterans recognition thanking all our Veterans for their service to the country.
We will be having a speaker in the near future to share updates on the “Windsor Veterans Village”. Stay tuned.
Back to our regular meeting agenda: JB Leep, Carol Martin & Sandie Krutz divided the room in thirds & lead us in a round of Row Row Rotary, (row your boat) – Fun, and pretty easy for us.
Inspiration: Sue Nelson
Sue stated she feels lucky to have 34 years with the Rotary Club of Windsor. Sue (a charter member) originally joined Rotary for the business opportunities, however, early on, December 1987, she participated in a Toy’s for Tots “wrapping party” when she entered the room at the Airport Business Center she discovered 100’s of presents to be wrapped.
She sat next to Marie Coakley, an “elderly lady”, (mid 40’s) charter member and longtime resident of Windsor. Sue relayed they talked about everything, the town, Rotary, herself & family, by the end of the event Sue realized this was more than a business opportunity, a new door was opened for her and it changed her perspective of what Rotary was all about, community, service & family. It is a moment she will not forget.
No Visiting Rotarians:
Guests of Rotarians:
Mike Martini: Taft Street Winery, Barney Kaufman: Vineyard Academy-WHS, Londa Faber. Hopefully last visit as guest – Monica McCabe, Last visit as guest – Larry McCabe, Last visit as guest – Mitch Grandi, Last visit as guest – Dev Sodagar. Yay! returning Rotary member, Kathy Williams soon to be member. AND our guests for our recognition of Student of the Year: Student of the Year – Stephanie Melendez, Proud Mom Fanny, and English Teacher Krista Raszler, WHS.
Rotarian of the Month: Bill Bolster
Bill announced we have the opportunity to RING THE BELL, for Salvation Army at Walmart: Saturday, December 11th & Saturday, December 18th. Bill sent a signup sheet around the room; if you missed it, contact Bill for more information.
Daniel Myers presented the Student of Year: Stephanie Melendez, Digital Focus
Daniel explained it is student of year, as one student is chosen from each focus area at Windsor High School to receive recognition.
Stephanie was introduced by her AVID English teacher Krista Raszler, Ms. Raszler first met Stephanie in 10th grade, and she noted Stephanie’s interest ranged from Star Wars to the Oakland A’s. Ms. Raszler commented that Stephanie was a little shy in her first presentation but so pleased with her growth. She admitted she frequently calls on Stephanie to present first to display an example. Ms. Raszler described Stephanie as: Kind, intellectually open minded, helpful to students and a pleasure to teach.
Stephanie is 17 years old, a senior attending Digital Academy at WHS, she was prepared with a written presentation that I would need actual copy to do justice. Stephanie stated that along with her digital and academic education she had gathered Life Lessons, she sees her teachers as mentors, and role models, people she is comfortable to go to and share any situation.
Stephanie was asked what project she was most proud of. Stephanie responded that a full year of no in-person school was challenging, that she was proud of the development in herself but also proud of the development of other students in her classes. Stephanie’s presentation was filled with gratitude for family, teachers and community.
Fanny, Stephanie’s Mother expressed how proud she is of her daughter and her gratitude to Rotary for “Student of the Year” recognition and support.
Speaker: JB introduced Mike Martini founder of Taft Street Winery in Sebastopol. Mike was Mayor of Santa Rosa 2001-2002, active in numerous community programs. Taft Street Winery partners with Vineyard Academy at WHS by producing wine from the grapes tended and harvested by students & volunteers.
Mike first teased President Pam on her good idea of getting others to do her work by having past presidents preside a meeting a month. On a serious note Mike stated Rotary is an asset to all the cities Rotary Clubs are present.
Taft Street Winery was started in 1979 in a garage in Oakland; it was started like the renegade Bordeaux winemakers known as “Garagistes. Taft Street Winery continues in the garagistes traditions to this day, producing limited production, handcrafted wines from select Russian River Valley vineyards.
Mike affirmed wine tastes best with friends, food, and it is free, it seems there may have been a few of these parties, with suggestions he should start a winery. Starting a winery requires money so the conversation usually ended, until one day someone stood up and ask “how much” ? This person stated he would not invest any money if all interested partners did not also invest. I am assuming funds were found as Taft Street Winery was founded.
Almost all businesses are started with Passion & Ignorance and faced with challenges. Happy to say 2021 will be the 40th harvest for Taft Street Winery; we strive to stay true to Fun, Family & Friends.
Taft Street faces same issues of all businesses; fires in August had a huge impact, & labor issues.
The backbone of the wine & hospitality business is the optimistic people in the vineyards and winery, looking forward to the next harvest.
Taft Street Winery has been a proud partner of the Windsor High School Vineyard Academy since 2011. Each year, we crush and ferment the grapes farmed by the students and help promote sales of Windsor Jaguar Zinfandel. The last release was 2018 and 2019 – 2021 is in barrels. All work is donated, 100% of proceeds minus taxes and fees goes to Vineyard Academy.
Mike invited Barney Kaufman from Vineyard Academy to add comments. Barney stated the academy has harvested 10 tons over the past ten years, 1 ton per year; 1 ton of grapes can produce 60 cases of wine. The Vineyard Academy has received $100,000. In proceeds, $38,000.00 has been awarded in student scholarships.
Students of Vineyard Academy farm Old Vine Zin vineyards at Reiman Lane & Starr Rd, Windsor. It is rumored that the first planting of this vineyard was in 1850, although there are many old vines in the vineyard, it is not known if any are original planting. Volunteers, including a few Rotarians, help students with the harvest, and grapes are delivered to Taft Street Winery. Students are not involved in the fermenting or bottling process.
The wonderful label was designed by WHS students.
Vineyard Academy displays opportunities in wine & hospitality business, in addition to vineyard management, & winemakers, marketing, financial, HR & sales.
Several previous students are now working in the hospitality business.
JB Leep added, “It is excellent wine”
Closing remarks:
Past President thanked Mike Martini for presenting to us, thanked guests, & Rotarians for attending,
Reminded us to remember and thank a veteran and do something Rotarian,
Respectfully submitted,
Pegi Ball