Pacific Northwest Branch
Contact:
Richard Van Slyke
[email protected]
Posted Jan 2, 2013
HSNY Pacific Northwest Branch Meeting
Willamette Valley Oregon, Weekend of 5 October 2012
Richard & Vivienne Van Slyke of Vancouver Canada, Colin L. and Natalie Lazier of Seattle, Eric and Ava TenBrook of Newberg OR and Edwin and Tish Outwater of Ketchum ID convened at “Le Puy, a Wine Valley Inn” in Newberg on Friday afternoon October 5th and, as is our custom, got together for an informal dinner that evening. This time we enjoyed a fine meal at “Recipe” a top restaurant in Newberg.
The Willamette Valley, about an hour south of Portland, has become one of the premier wine-producing areas in the world. In my view, given its many wineries and fine restaurants focused on using locally produced ingredients, it certainly rivals the Napa Valley in California. The weather and terrain, however, more closely resemble those of the Burgundy region of France, and so the principal wine produced there is Pinot Noir, made from the same grapes that have been used for hundreds of years to make the noble red burgundies so revered by wine lovers the world over. Some fine chardonnays (essentially white burgundies) are also produced there. Given the locale, the focus of the weekend (excluding our Branch meeting of course) was on enjoying ourselves in the various vineyards, wineries and restaurants and beautiful countryside surrounding us.
The fun started around noon on Saturday at the Chehalem Winery in Newberg where we enjoyed a private tasting with a detailed description of the wines we tried and a meeting with the co-owner, Harry Peterson-Nedry. From there it was on to Domaine Drouhin just down the road in Dundee. As planning (and some luck) would have it, we were in the area exactly at the time of harvest and crush and were blessed with lovely weather for the most part. At Domaine Drouhin, aside from a private tasting which included wines from the Drouhin Estates in both Oregon and Burgundy, we were given a guided tour and explanation of the entire wine-making process from delivery of the grapes from the vineyards to the bottling and boxing of the finished product. Our final stop of the afternoon was WillaKenzie Winery, also in Dundee, where again we tasted their wines and toured the facility. Then back to Le Puy to relax for a few hours before our meeting and dinner.
After a short business meeting (sitting on the veranda at Le Puy and overlooking the vineyards) wherein the greetings of President Zabriskie were passed along to the group and a summary of the state of The HSNY and The Pacific Northwest Branch was given, we adjourned to Subterra restaurant in Newberg for dinner. There we were joined by Dr. Paul Otto, Chairman of the History Department at George Fox University in Newberg and fellow of The HSNY and the New Netherlands Institute, who spoke to us on the significance of wampum in the dealings between our ancestors, the early Dutch settlers of New Netherlands, and the Native Americans indigenous to the area.
Wampum is a New England Algonquian word meaning “white string of beads”. Dr. Otto explained in detail that these strings, belts or sashes of tiny polished beadlike shells, depending on their design and complexity, had not only varying commercial value when used as currency in exchange for beaver pelts by white fur-traders in their dealings with the Native Americans in the early part of the 17th century, but also ceremonial and spiritual meaning for the Indians when they were given or exchanged as gifts. He explained further that the gift-exchange cycle itself entailed obligations to give, receive, and return, each phase being surrounded with sanctions and calculations involving prestige and the maintenance of social relations. Wampum belts were of particular ceremonial importance because they were typically exchanged when a treaty of peace was signed. Frequently the belts had pictograph designs on them. After this interesting presentation, which included visual examples of wampum, and our subsequent discussion, we returned to Le Puy for the night.
The following morning after an informal breakfast at Le Puy, our weekend gathering concluded with hugs and handshakes and thoughts of next year’s meeting planned for Vancouver BC.
Edwin Outwater III
Domaine Drouhin Tour: Front L to R: Richard and Vivienne Slyke, Rear L to R:
Eric and Ava TenBrook, Colin L. and Natalie Lazier, and Edwin and Tish Outwater
Gardens of Le Puy, A Wine Valley Inn
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
Pinot Noir grapes at Domaine Drouhin
WillaKinzie Tasting Room: Richard and Vivienne Van Slyke
Dr. Paul Otto
Wampum sashes
Posted Aug 29, 2011
A SUPERB EXHIBITION AND COLLECTION OF EARLY DUTCH
AND FLEMISH MASTERWORKS IS CURRENTLY ON VIEW AT THE
LEGION OF HONOR FINE ARTS MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO
As President of The Holland Society and in conjunction
with Ken Winans and Ed Outwater, Presidents of the
Pacific Southwest and Pacific Northwest Branches,
respectively, I want to reach out to you today to
alert you to a once-in-lifetime opportunity to see
the private collection of Rose-Marie and Eijk van
Otterloo. The collection initially was shown at the
Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, and
following its showing in San Francisco will move to
Houston on November 13, 2011. The exhibition departs
San Francisco at the Legion of Honor Museum’s
close on Sunday, October 2, 2011.
While I realize that many of you throughout California
and the states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon may
be separated by hundreds of miles, I thought it was
important to bring this magnificent collection to
your attention, since you may be traveling for business
or pleasure to San Francisco in the immediate weeks
ahead and might appreciate the opportunity to enjoy
one of the finest collections of early Dutch and Flemish
art on view in many years.
I am pleased to list below the scheduled dates for
the exhibitions at both Museums in the coming weeks,
along with the telephone number and website, which
describe the exhibition, along with Museum hours,
directions, etc. I have personally visited the Legion
of Honor Museum in San Francisco, and it is a jewel.
There is ample parking adjoining the Museum.
As your President I am particularly pleased to report
that we have made considerable progress on a broad
number of initiatives, including improving the financial
strength of the Society while attempting to bring
a number of outstanding cultural and historic events
to your attention. We hope that you will join your
Branch Presidents each year as they hold their annual
luncheon or dinner in order to enjoy the camaraderie
with other members and rich traditions of our great
Society.
To all the members of our two great branches in California
and the Northwest, I send my warmest best wishes and
wish you much joy, good health, and success in the
days ahead.
Sincerely,
Charles Zabriskie, Jr.
22 Salem Road
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
(781) 235-2228
[email protected]
Pacific Northwest Branch Meeting
On Labor Day Weekend, with the kind assistance of Vancouver residents Richard and Vivienne Van Slyke, the Pacific Northwest Branch of the Holland Society of New York held its 2010 meeting in beautiful Victoria British Columbia, the 1 st PNW Branch meeting to be held outside the US.
Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, is located on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, halfway between Seattle and the city of Vancouver. Founded as a Hudson's Bay Company fort in 1843, the city was named in honor of Queen Victoria. Much of Victoria's British-influenced charm remains, thanks to an abundance of old Victorian homes, cricket fields and pubs. The tradition of afternoon tea is still alive and well in Victoria, although, as we learned, the city is anything but stodgy.
We were able to secure a good rate at the Union Club of British Columbia, a stately old building directly next door to the world famous Empress Hotel. As those of you who are familiar with Victoria are already aware, this central old-waterfront location is the crown jewel in an incredibly gorgeous setting. It is just a short stroll from there to many of the city's best highlights, including the majestic Parliament Buildings, the award-winning Royal BC Museum, Fisherman's Wharf and the specialty shops along Government Street and Antique Row.
Present for the weekend were (l to r) Tish Outwater, Tori Abeel, Neilson Abeel, Richard Van Slyke, Colin and Barbara Lazier, Richard's father John Van Slyke, Sloan Heermance, Edwin Outwater III, John's friend Diane Hardouin, Leena Riker, Richard's sister Stephanie Van Slyke , Vivienne Van Slyke, and Larry Deckman. Diane VanDerbeek and Stephanie Van Slyke's friend George Cermak were there for the weekend but unable to be in our group photo at the UC of BC Sunday evening.
As was planned, Diane VanDerbeek's beautiful wooden yacht, the MV Olympus (see yachtolympus.com), was moored in the Inner Harbor within walking distance of the Union Club and directly in the center of Victoria's stunning old-waterfront to participate in The Victoria Classic Boat Festival, the largest wooden yacht event in the North America. Diane graciously invited us to join her for a “gin & tonic reception” Saturday night aboard the Olympus at the dock, and then, on Sunday morning, for a champagne brunch on board the Olympus as she participated in the Festival's “Parade of Wooden Yachts” (see http://www.classicboatfestival.ca/ ).
Our meeting at the Union Club was informative, as Colin, having traveled across a good part of Canada to join us in Victoria, briefed us on the current (and improving) condition of our Society and on important upcoming events. As for the Pacific Northwest Branch, it remains a small but active group that recognizes the true value in preserving our Dutch heritage and one that genuinely enjoys being in each other's company.
A visit to world famous Butchart Gardens, complete with a traditional British high tea service, was the “other” sightseeing high point of the weekend for the group. Indian summer was in full swing and the beautiful “dahlia section” of the gardens was truly breathtaking.
I think it safe to say that a good time was had by all, and, as we said our goodbyes, plans for next year's meeting were already beginning to take shape.
Edwin Outwater III
President, Pacific Northwest Branch, The Holland Society of New York
24 November 2010
photo by George Cermak
Please click on the button below to view a slide show of additional photos
from
this
year's event.
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