| Miami Valley Institute of Food & Spirits |
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Current Member Count - *101* *Newest Members* Patti & Michael Bollinger (Sep 7, 2026) Kristine Goetz (Sep 6, 2026) Mark Corcoran (Aug 26, 2026) Jane & Bill Haberlandt (Aug 5, 2026) Upcoming events
Events for the rest of the year can be viewed on our Events link. MEMBERS SECTION** There are no current member activities. Watch for future activities.. **************************  Farm to Table Oakview Garden Club students were very busy in the days before school ended. They prepared the garden, planted vegetables and herbs plus made a walking path through the garden. They decorated the blocks with colorful pictures and thoughts about what the garden meant to them. The students and their families have signed up for weekly maintenance. There will be special events at the beginning of the year where they will enjoy the bounties of their work. Thanks to MVIFS for their support.
FARM TO TABLE SPRING 2026 As the key element of our charitable Farm to Table (F2T) educational mission, MVIFS continues to support the Garden Club Program at Oakview Elementary and, at the request of Kettering Schools, we are expanding our support to include a similar program at Indian Riffle Elementary. Our contributions consist of both financial and volunteer assistance. We coordinate closely with Carly Maguire, STEAM Innovation and Technology Leader for Kettering Schools, as well as the schools’ teachers and principals to synchronize and maximize the benefits of MVIFS’s F2T program. As a result of the kind and thoughtful monetary contributions from the friends and family of John Cloppert, along with MVIFS funds, our 2026 financial support to Kettering Schools’ Garden Club Programs has reached an all-time high. All MVIFS members should feel justifiable pride in what their organization is doing to benefit the schools of Dayton and its surrounding communities. While Indian Riffle is just getting started, Oakview has a well-established Garden Club Program. For those interested in observing or volunteering, the next garden club meeting at Oakview will be on April 15th and May 6th from 2:30-3:00 pm. They will be doing garden clean-up and preparing for new planting at these sessions, weather permitting. Kettering School District has tightened up the rules on visitors and volunteers at their schools, so if you want to attend, contact Jeanne Evans about the procedures. We need to extend special recognition and thanks to Jeanne Evans who serves as the MVIFS lead for Farm to Table. She has done a magnificent job in making the program a true success. Dorothy Lane Market 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..
Champagne & Chukkas Polo
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. | EVENTS---------------------------- Brewing Up Some Fun!
Nineteen MVIFS members attended Eudora Brewing Co. for a fun, hands-on brewing experience. We learned how beer is made, explored different beer styles and ingredients, and helped the brewmaster create 10 gallons of a special MVIFS-branded Irish Red Ale. During a break, we toured the facility and learned how Eudora produces beer on a larger scale for its taproom. Once our Irish Red Ale is ready (in approx.3–4 weeks), each brewing participant will receive two bottles to enjoy! The “Brew Crew” also enjoyed $20 gift cards for beer, flights and food, while another 8–10 members joined us afterwards for the social. A big thank you to Don Shimmin for hosting this fun and educational event. An Evening in South Korea -
| 2026 Annual Meeting - Aug 11, 2026 Wine, Beer & Dinner Bus Crawl – June 2026
Our Wine, Beer & Dinner Bus Crawl was a fantastic day filled with great drinks, delicious food, laughter, friendship, and fun as we traveled by charter bus to popular Southwest Ohio destinations. The adventure began at Rumbleseat Wine, where guests enjoyed wine and appetizers before heading to 3rd Eye Brewing Company, the 2025 National Brewery of the Year. Along the way, themed music and a trivia contest kept everyone entertained, with prizes awarded to the winners. At 3rd Eye Brewing, guests sampled flights, pints, and wine while enjoying appetizers indoors and on the covered patio. Our final stop was Vinoklet Winery & Vineyard, where guests enjoyed a wine tasting and selected a favorite bottle of wine to accompany dinner. The highlight of the evening was grilling our own steak, filet, salmon, or shrimp on the outdoor patio overlooking the beautiful vineyards. A buffet of fresh salad, sides, and desserts completed the meal. After watching a beautiful sunset over the vineyard, we boarded the bus for the ride back to Rumbleseat, ending a day filled with fun memories and great company. A special thanks to Ted Humphrey for hosting and coordinating this outstanding event! Event pictures are in the slide show below: SIP & DIP Winter Social
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. *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.
Friendsgiving Feast
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!
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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Kroger notified us that our quarterly rewards for February through April was $47.03. 13 members designated MVIFS as their Kroger charity. Thanks to all who participated in the Kroger Community Rewards Program.
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.
Well, no one wore a toga, but the Italian-themed appetizers, desserts, and wine were indeed
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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.
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.
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.
