Miami Valley Institute of Food & Spirits

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Current Member Count - *97*

*Newest Members*

Kathleen & Darryl Marshall (Mar29, 2026)

Richard Perna * Merideth Trott (Mar 27 2026)

Pat &  Richard Benz (Mar 20, 2026)

Janet & Jim Mazza (Mar 20, 2026)

Amy & Connor Thornhill (Feb 20, 2026)

Upcoming events

Events for the rest of the year can be viewed  on our Events link.
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MEMBERS SECTION*________

Beavercreek Senior Center Photo Gallery
“Flowers from Around the World”

What:  Photo Show of Flowers from Around the World
Who:  Photos by John Williamson

Visit John's website link for com[lete details about his Gallery Event.

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The Wright State Arts Gala

MVIFS members Katherine &Hugh Thornburg are on the Planning Committee for the Wright State ArtsGala that's on April 11, 2026. If you are a Wright State alumni or an avid supporter of the arts, Katherine and Hugh invite you to attend this year's gala event.  All proceeds go toward scholarships for Wright State's performing arts students.  Complete information about the Arts Gala is available at the following link:  ArtsGala.

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FARM TO TABLE_______

Farm to Table*** January , '26

  • Carly Maguire, Kettering City Schools STEAM Innovation and Technology Leader, attended the January 13 board meeting. Carly praised MVIFS for our financial support to the Oakview Garden Club. Her desire is for MVIFS to prioritize our support to Indian Riffle to help jump-start their garden program. The board agreed but stated that we didn't want our past years' efforts and support at Oakview to suffer. This issue will be discussed further at the February board meeting.

  • Pictures from last summer’s 'garden clean-up' are shown below.

Dorothy Lane Market
2025 Good Neighbor Program

MVIFS enrolled 6 households with a total spending of $18,270.23. Only those members who spent $1,000 or more are eligible to be included in the totals. Our portion of the $50,000 is $171.41. MVIFS thanks all the 6 households who signed up for this Program. 

IMPORTANT!!!!!!

It is necessary to sign up the first of each year.Sign-up details are available at this link: DLM Community Rewards..

  July 2025 Kroger Update

Kroger notified us that our quarterly rewards was $22.  However, since it's below the $25 minimum, the $22 will be combined with the upcoming quarter's rewards.  We should receive the combined amount in 3 months.

To designate MVIFS as your 501c3 charity on their rewards cards. check out this link for details.

MEMBER EVENTS--------------------

Bourbon Tasting & Barbecue
June 2025

Saturday, 14 June was a wonderful evening spent at Jane Mitakides’s beautiful home in Kettering.  Jane readily admits that she bought such a huge home to entertain her friends, and she did exactly that for over fifty of her MVIFS friends and guests. We all enjoyed a guided bourbon tasting, featuring a carefully curated selection of five outstanding bourbons… four high end, and one super-top shelf.  Joining us for the event was an expert on the history and making of bourbon, Ryan Burnette, of Pleasureville, Kentucky. Our sincere thanks to Jane for hosting this great “Bourbon Tasting” event.

The event offered the opportunity to recognize John Cloppert for his years of valuable service as Board Treasurer for MVIFS.  Because of his love of cars, particularly Porsches, he was presented with a Porsche jacket that will look great on John as he “tools” around in one of his two Porsches.  Thanks, John, for your many contributions to our organization

EVENTS----------------------------

Ides of March Italian Wine Pairing - 15 March 2026

Well, no one wore a toga, but the Italian-themed appetizers, desserts, and wine were indeed molto bene. About 25 of us gathered at Carriage Trace Community Center for an afternoon of fun, conversation and good food. Thanks to Dave Corcoran for sponsoring this wonderful event.

*Soup Party, Feb. 2026*

Charlie promised a cold, dark, and snowy evening perfect for warm soup, but it turned out to be a mild and sunny, 50+ degree day.  The fine weather, however, did nothing to dampen the wonderful tastes of the soups, chilis, and sides brought by the 25 guests who attended the event at Charlie and Ginny McKenzie’s home. Nobody went home hungry. Consensus was that Liz Betz’s Finnish (Lohikeitto) soup was the hit of the evening. The crowd made a sizeable dent in Charlie’s bourbon and whiskey inventory, due in large part to the superb cocktails prepared by the bartender for the evening, our own Bob Evans. Thanks to Charlie and Ginny for hosting the event and to Bob and Jennie Evans for their assistance.


Celebrate the Season 2025
December 2025

Our 2025 Celebrate the Season at the Country Club of the North was a holiday hit! Nearly 70 members and guests gathered for an evening filled with cheer, great company, and plenty of seasonal sparkle. The festivities kicked off with a lively social hour featuring a complimentary glass of wine or champagne and a delicious spread of appetizers, graciously provided by MVIFS.  We then enjoyed a gourmet sit-down dinner and a fabulous assorted dessert bar.

It’s no surprise that Celebrate the Season remains one of our most popular events—it truly gets better every year! A special thank-you to Ted Humphrey for coordinating and hosting such a memorable evening.

A Night to Remember at Whisperz Speakeasy-Sep 2025 Dine Around

Step back in time—we did! Guests were transported straight into the glamour and intrigue of the Roaring ‘20s at the exclusive Whisperz Speakeasy, one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Once you entered the lobby, you could not go further until you shared the secret password—then, like magic, the wall slid open, revealing a world of velvet lounges, glittering chandeliers, and vintage charm.

Whisperz isn't just a bar—it’s an experience. Whether you're a wine lover, a fan of old-school elegance, or just in search of something off the beaten path, this spot truly delivers a taste of the Prohibition era with a modern twist. Slideshow below:

HAWAIIAN LUAU
July 19, 2025

Charlie and Ginnie McKenzie drew on their Hawaiian background to treat us to a wonderful evening at their 'Hale' last Saturday. Many guests arrived in colorful Hawaiian shirts and dresses, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Bob and Jeanne Evans greeted everyone with delicious Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiian cocktails, and offered each guest a lei to wear — a lovely touch of island hospitality.

Dinner featured a delicious spread of Kalua pork, Huli Huli chicken, steamed rice, Hawaiian mac salad, and purple poi. Everything was truly delightful.

After dinner, Stacie and Adam Remaly led a lively dance lesson featuring the Hukilau. Following much laughter and practice, we held a fun competition — congratulations to our winners, Kathleen Wilson and Ed Olszewski, our visitor from Syracuse!

SIP & DIP Winter Social

Baby, it was cold outside—but inside it was warm with wine, and wonderful company! Thirty-five members gathered for the SIP & DIP Winter Social, and it turned out to be the perfect cure for the Ohio winter blues.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of good conversation, laughter, and wine, paired with cheese and chocolate fondues with an assortment of dippers, and a large variety of shared appetizers. The cozy atmosphere and easygoing atmosphere made it a great way to reconnect, unwind, and melt away winter—one dip at a time.

A big thank-you to Rose Barstow and Nancy Klingler for hosting such a warm and welcoming winter social!

Friendsgiving Feast 
November, 2025

Fifty-five hungry (and happy!) friends gathered to celebrate friendship, gratitude, and of course—fantastic food! Charlie McKenzie and Bob Evans wowed everyone by deep-frying six golden, crispy turkeys, while members brought an incredible spread of Thanksgiving-inspired side dishes and wines to share.

Our expert carving crew—Jim Steiger, Adam Remaly, Dennis Cassette, Jim Folck and Bill McDougall—made sure every plate was piled high with perfection. A big thank-you goes out to the Evans, McKenzies, Steigers, Gillands, Haywards, McDougalls, Remalys, Cassettes, Dave Cocoran, and Nancy Klingler for their help making it all run smoothly.

The afternoon was filled with laughter, great company, and holiday cheer. The event was such a hit, we’re already planning an encore Friendsgiving for November 2026!

Champagne & Chukkas at the Polo Match - September 14, 2025

It was a picture-perfect day for an unforgettable outing to the Bryn Du Mansion Great Lawn and Polo Field in Granville, OH. A chartered party bus whisked 30 members and guests from Dayton to the event, where they were greeted with a welcoming glass of champagne under sunny skies.

Before the match began, a few of the players—including Janet’s son, Matt—rode over on their ponies to share insights about the game and answer questions. 

After the final goal, everyone gathered for a delicious dinner prepared by Doris and Andy Rossi, featuring homemade crab cake sandwiches, potato salad, and coleslaw, followed by decadent chocolate fudge cake for dessert. The laughter and camaraderie continued on the bus ride home to Dayton, capping off a truly fun, elegant, and one-of-a-kind experience.

MVIFS Summer Picnic at Paw Paw Pavilion - August 17, 2025

MVIFS members gathered on Sunday, August 17th, at the Paw Paw Pavilion in Hills & Dales Park for our annual summer picnic. A DLM box lunch, cool beverages, and plenty of conversation made for a relaxed and enjoyable evening together. It was a pleasant way to share good company and celebrate the season. 

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