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Overview: Contact Us Main Sites: |
Newsletter & Other Publications IW&FS Foundation The cornerstone of the society is the individual branch. In the Americas, there are 85 branches. Individual branches vary in how they function, but all have regular events organized by the members to enjoy and learn about the magical marriage of good food and fine wine shared with like-minded friends. The knowledge and expertise of the members about food and wine provides a tremendous resource you can tap. Most groups contain a wide range of experience among their members, so you needn't feel intimidated. Members are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge. Chefs will go out of their way to provide special menus when they know they have a group of interested people, providing experiences you could not otherwise easily obtain. Frequently events will take the form of a dinner in a restaurant with wines chosen to match, but many other types of events take place as well. Most branches will allow visitors from other branches to attend their events. With 85 branches from Alaska to the Cayman Islands, that provides a great opportunity to enhance your travel enjoyment as well as a valuable source of information about restaurants, etc. Many but not all Branches have wine cellars. It does mean an investment in the future and allows members to taste wines that would be unavailable otherwise. It creates an asset which helps to hold the interest of members. It gives an opportunity for those with a special interest in wines to exercise their interest and talents in constructing a useful and valuable asset. Although many individuals have private cellars it gives an opportunity for them to work on a larger canvass. Wines can be purchased with tastings in mind many years ahead. Vertical tastings can be organized ( tastings of particular wines for a series of years) for the members. Similarly Horizontal tastings can be provided (tasting of similar type wines from the same year). Many of the fine wines particularly those of Bordeaux and Burgundy have become prohibitively expensive for an individual to buy but a wine tasting will allow an individual to taste, appreciate and learn about wine. Some branches have wine cellars of such fame that there are waiting lists of people who wish to join. The Board of Governors
of the Americas of the International Wine & Food Society Limited carries
third party liability insurance. These are in the form of a Comprehensive
General Liability and a Non-owned or Hired Auto policy. These policies insure
its Branches and their members against risks which they might be exposed to in
carrying out the activities of the Branch, including host liquor liability. The
policies also provide defence cost protection in the event of a suit. Because of the
number of members which currently is in excess of 4,500, the premium is much
more reasonable than would be the case if a non-member or group of non-members
wished to acquire independently such coverage for an event they were putting on.
In today’s world it is unwise to host such events without proper protection. In several jurisdictions which come within the ambit of the B.G.A., host liability actions are becoming more prevalent in what has become a very litigious society. The cost of defending such suits is extremely high, not to mention the amount of the awards or settlement themselves. Thus if individuals wish to enjoy wine and food as a group, be it in one's home, in a restaurant, hotel or other venue, it is important that they have insurance protection against a number of possible risks but most importantly against claims arising by virtue of bodily injury or property damage, the fault for which the person suffering the loss or damage alleges is caused by an individual(s) who host(s) an event. The B.G.A. provides insurance for its Branches and their members against many such risks if such potential liability arises by reason of their duties with the Branch or by reason of activities they perform on behalf of the Branch. This benefit of membership in and of itself is very important and to a large extent warrants the cost of membership The Members Area of our web site is intended as a resource for the members to share their knowledge and experiences to the benefit of all, and ultimately facilitate the members’ understanding and enjoyment of good food, and fine wine with like minded persons
The different branches are listed with links to web sites of individual branches where available. Branch contact information and listings of planned events are posted to allow members to attend events at other branches all over the Americas.
We have a Branch Resource Manual which is as an invaluable resource to help the branches to organize and function.
Information about past and future Festivals is provided.
Previous Newsletters with an index of articles as well as expanded versions of articles in the newsletters are available.
Restaurant Reviews provide a valuable, unbiased source of information submitted by members on where to dine in their area as well as places they have traveled to around the world.
Wine Reviews are submitted by members to provide a forum for sharing unbiased evaluation of wines.
We have an area for members to submit articles they have written about hidden gems they have found traveling or anything they think would be of interest to the membership.
The Events Page allows branches to share ideas on different interesting events they have had and advice on how to put them on, pitfalls to avoid, resources that are helpful, etc.
Harvest reports provide annual reports on different viticultural areas of interest to the members written by the local experts from that area. A very handy, wallet size Vintage Chart is provided to members, updated annually by the distinguished members of the IWFS Wine Committee, which includes several Masters of Wine. It provides yearly ratings of all the major wine areas of the world going back to 1970 as well as information on vintage maturity. You really enjoy wine and food, right? You
partake of the wonders and revelations of world traveling, n'est pas? Well,
then, get thee to an IWFS Festival!
Newsletter & Other Publications One
of the most popular benefits of membership in The International Wine & Food
Society is Wine, Food & Friends--the quarterly newsletter sent to each
member in the Branches
and individual members are encouraged to submit articles and information of
general interest in the fields of wine, food, and camaraderie to Wine,
Food & Friends. A
significant portion of the newsletter is devoted to reports and photos of
specific Branch events. Besides
being fun for members to see news of their functions in print, the reports are a
valuable resource for event ideas. Wine, Food & Friends also keeps members updated on IW&FS
international and regional festivals. It
alerts members to books and movies which may be of interest to them as food and
wine lovers. And, finally, the
newsletter keeps members current on IW&FS business and management. As part of
the IW&FS, Branches are provided the Branch Resource Manual to assist them
in their organization, governance and daily management.
The Manual is periodically updated and is continually being expanded in
response to Branch needs. Chapter
topics include Wine Cellar Management for Branches, How to Plan Events,
Insurance, Dues Structure, Publications, Organization with sample sets of
by-laws, Membership with templates helpful for recruitment,
e-Communications—in other words, all you need to know to run your Branch.
It is accessible to the Branches through the website in the members-only
area.
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