Last night while I was on Facebook, I noticed Cameron Smyth was a “Friend on Chat”.
I took a wild chance and clicked. We actually chatted for a minute about wine, his re-election and then he suggested I call him.
I was surprised, yet again, at Cameron’s affability. I’ve known him for over 15 years, had lunch with him, interviewed him and usually avoided the subject of politics with him. (Those of you that truly know me know that I don’t like to share my politics, or have others thrust theirs on me. So, if you thought it was going to be that kind of column, forgettaboutit. For those of you that do want to know, yes, he’s looking forward to your support in the November 2 elections.)
I wanted to know about his involvement with the Select Committee on Wine. He said that that the group is not a judiciary, or legislative branch, but more for education, monitoring and the gathering of information to advise legislature. Cameron also remarked that wine had always been a specific interest of his.
He felt that as an urban member for an urban district, it would be educational for him. He even spoke of a recent excursion he took with the committee to Cuba that promoted the California wine industry there.
The Napa chair of the committee, Noreen Evans, has also now become a friend of Cameron’s. That’s Cameron Smyth for you, “Man of the People”, making friends wherever he goes.
He’s now off on recess until the new year and is looking forward to attending some local wine events – whenever he isn’t coaching his son’s soccer teams, and he and his wife, Lena, can get a babysitter.
I told him of three upcoming events and he’s hoping to attend at least two.
So, for a Cameron citing you have to go to the Assistance League’s Sunset in the Vineyard on November 7, Single Mother’s Outreach Empowering Hearts on November 13 (Not a wine event but I’m in the writer’s competition for their fundraiser – and this was my phone call after all.) and Valencia Wine Company’s 6th Annual Holiday Wine Tasting on November 14. (Editor’s note: This is a column from 2010 and though these annual events still exist, please see the links below for the current dates and information.
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Funny, he seemed to know about the events already from all of my Facebook postings…
In closing, I hope you look for the Waldos, and the Smyths, (Two names that decidedly will require wine to fit together) at these events!
http://www.assistanceleague-alsc.org/
http://www.singlemothersoutreach.org/hearts
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition.
You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
