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| Ric Jacobson |
For all of you wine connoisseurs out there, you will recognize and appreciate the following quote by Robert Mondavi: "Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture."
For Rotarian, Ric Jacobson, owner of Corky Cellars in Des Moines, wine is also a lifetime passion. Ric brought to the Rotary Club of Des Moines the idea of a wine festival as a fund raiser, and we are pleased to say seven years later it has been a resounding success and is now a staple in the South King County area. We are also delighted to say that we have over 20 Washington wineries at this year's festival. Each winery is well-known for the premiere quality of their wines and each bring their own personal story and tradition. One winery in particular has an amazing story that we would like to share with you.
Otis Kenyon Winery is a family owned and managed winery with deep historical ties to the Walla Walla Valley. The story of Otis Kenyon Wine begins in the Walla Walla Valley in the early 1900s. A young man, James Otis Kenyon, was a struggling dentist practicing in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. When a new dentist moved to town, James, for reasons that remain a mystery, burned his competitor’s office to the ground. Ostracized by his wife and presumed dead by his two sons, the family moved to Walla Walla, Washington. Robert Otis Kenyon, the eldest son, never spoke of his father even to his son, Stephen Otis Kenyon. Yet, almost exactly 50 years after the incident that began the family legend, Steve discovered his grandfather living quietly on the Oregon coast.
James was reunited with his sons and became a joyful part of their families living long enough to witness the birth of his first great grandchild, Muriel. Although he passed on at age 101, James would have delighted in the birth and naming of his great grandson, Samuel Otis Kenyon.
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| Otis Kenyon Label |
Today, in tribute to four generations of Otis Kenyons each with strong ties to the Walla Walla Valley, owners Stephen Otis Kenyon and Deborah Dunbar have returned to the area to make wine. Guided by an unyielding commitment to excellence, they are passionate growers and producers of elegantly structured and affordable Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines.
In honor of James Otis Kenyon, the label bears his silhouette.
Join us at the 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival at the Historic Landmark Event Center on March 4 -6th and hear more intriguing stories from our wineries. For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival and to purchase tickets please visit http://www.dmrotary.org./
 By now, you have probably seen the wine colored posters displayed in the windows of literally every business in Des Moines and have read multiple articles on the Waterland Blog about the upcoming 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival on March 4-6 at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines. And by now you and your friends have purchased tickets and are eagerly awaiting the chance to sample over 20 different wineries such as Page Cellars, eat Northwest cuisine from restaurants like Salty's at Redondo, and groove to the sultry music of Michael Powers and Mambo Cadillac. But what you may not be aware of is that not only will you be having a great time, you will also be helping the community! 100 % of the net proceeds from this all volunteer event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Des Moines supports local and international projects. Each year, the Poverty Bay Wine Festival raises between $40,000 to $50,000 and the club is proud to say that this event alone has raised over $200,000 in the last six years.- Highline Community College Scholarships $12,500
- Dictionaries for 3rd Graders in Des Moines $22,000
- Des Moines Field House Playground $10,000
- Des Moines Food Bank $15,500
- Des Moines Farmers Market $5,000
- Des Moines Parks and Rec. Scholarships $20,000
- Mini Grants to Local Schools $15,000
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| 3rd Grade Dictionary Project |
So now you can go and enjoy your time at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival knowing that as you are sipping your wine and swaying to the music, you are making a difference in your community. Talk about "guilt free" fun!
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| Steve with grandchildren |
Rotarian, Steve Swank, will soon be climbing aboard an airplane for an adventure of a lifetime. Steve, a member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines since 1989, will be flying half way across the world to Kathmandu on February 19th. He will be joining Rotarian Rob Rose (Bellevue Rotary Club) to see first hand the Disability Awareness project that our club has supported over the last two years. This project provides physical therapy for children with disability and facilities improvements for the Disabled Newlife Center in Kathmandu. He will also have the opportunity to be involved in many hands-on volunteer projects during his trip and scheduled to attend several Rotary Club meetings. Steve will return to the States on March 5th.
During his trip, Steve will have some time to travel and sight-see through the country of Nepal. Steve even has the opportunity to sign up for a sightseeing flight over Mt. Everest! When asked what he has done to prepare for the trip, Steve reports that (besides taking an arsenal of pills and shots) he has learned to say a few phrases in Nepali, such as Namaste (the Hindu greeting "I bow to you"), introducing himself and saying thank you. He has also researched the Nepali culture and has learned some very important "dos and don'ts":
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| Dubar Square in Kathmandu |
1) Don't cross your legs, because showing the soles of your shoes is an insult to your host; 2) Use your right hand to eat and deal with food. Nepalese use their left-hand to wash themselves after defecating; 3) Once your lips have touched a food item or its container, it is considered Jutho (polluted) for others; and 4) Above all, don't drink the tea offered to you by your host - only pretend to sip - as it is unfiltered water.
Steve is excited to see firsthand the children who are benefiting from the Nepal Wheelchair project. He states that it is a huge honor to represent the Des Moines Rotary Club.
What has him somewhat worried is the exotic nature of the Nepali cuisine. So in preparation for the big trip, he is packing plenty of granola and snack bars to avoid any possibility of starvation!
While Steve is traveling, the DMRotary Blog plans to track his journey. We will receive ongoing emails and photos from Steve and will share them with our readers. Stay tune for more on Steve's most excellent adventure!
 Valentine's Day is fast approaching! Do you know what you are going to give your Sweetie? If you are like most of us, you have no clue and are now in panic mode scurrying around looking for that perfect gift that says "You mean the world to me". Well, have no fear - the Rotary Club of Des Moines has saved the day! What could be better than giving that special someone tickets to the Poverty Bay Wine Festival? Nothing says "I love you" more than a day spent together sampling Northwest Wines, local cuisine and dancing to fabulous jazz music!
There is still time to save the day - go to www.dmrotary.org/winefestival.php or Corky Cellars today to purchase your tickets and be a true Valentine!
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| Jazz Musician, Michael Powers |
If you're at all familiar with the Seattle music scene, you'll recognize guitarist, Michael Powers, as a local musical phenomena. With a career that began at the age of 15, Michael has single-handedly designed his pathway for success; composing, producing, recording and playing on his own record label. He has built a loyal following and makes a living playing music, something every musician desires to do.
Fans may remember when he was a frequent visitor at Prosito's in Tacoma in the late '80s. In those days, Powers played a lot of straight-ahead blues. He has since moved on to a jazz emphasis. In late 2001, he was called on for a European tour featuring members of the legendary George Benson Quartet, organist "Dr." Lonnie Liston Smith and saxophonist Ronnie Cuber.
Reviews:
"Michael Powers, the Seattle jazz guitarist, who just gets better all the time." The Seattle Times
"There are TWO types of people. Those who love Michael Powers’ music, and those who have not yet heard it." The Review
Powers, will be performing at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival on Sunday, March 6th at 3:00 pm at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines. For more information, please visit www.dmrotary.org.
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| Boating Party at Des Moines |
This year's Poverty Bay Wine Festival featured artist is Rita Norcoss, a local artist from Federal Way. Her artwork entitled Boating Party at Des Moines is illustrated on this year's promotional material. The artwork captures the feel of the Des Moines waterfront with views of Maury Island and the lighthouse at Pt. Robinson.
Norcross studied art history and studio painting and has worked in the graphic design field as an art director for various corporations and art design studios. Fine Art is her first love. Norcross primarily works in pastels, charcoals and one-of- a-kind monoprints. Her work has been seen in a variety of art shows, such as The W.O.W. Exhibition and The Fusion Annual Art Show which benefits battered woman. Examples of her work can be viewed at www.redstepgallery.com.
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| Festival Artist, Rita Norcross |
"It is a real pleasure to contribute to this year's wine festival with my artwork. I enjoy borrowing from art history - this favorite illustration approach can be seen in this year's featured artwork which displays a Des Moines wine party borrowed from the impressionist painter Renoir's Boating Party."
The artwork is currently on display at Corky Cellars in Des Moines. The piece will be auctioned off during the event and proceeds will be donated to the many charitable organization that the Rotary Club of Des Moines supports. For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dmrotary.org.
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| Dan Johnson |
Des Moines Rotary Club member, Dan Johnson, was recently recognized as the Community Volunteer of the Year for his contribution to Marvista Elementary School in Normandy Park. Dan will be honored at the Marvista School Auction on March 19th. The theme for this year's auction is "Heart & Soul". The school chose a teacher, a parent volunteer and a community volunteer who exemplify the “Heart & Soul” of Marvista. These unique individuals were chosen for their positive contributions as ambassadors of Marvista and the surrounding community. Dan assists with a number of things at the school including teaching the math club and heading up the safety committee. As fellow club members and friends, we know that Dan does so much more for the community at large with his work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Highline Water District, and, of course, Rotary! Way to go, Dan! You make us proud!
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