II. International Wine & Food Society, Ltd. (“IW&FS”)

A. History; Organization; International Council; Area Committees

The International Wine and Food Society, Ltd. ("International Society" or “IW&FS”), headquartered in London, England, was founded by the late André Simon, C.B.E., Legion d’Honneur, in 1933. , He was a Frenchman who was by occupation an ambassador for the champagne makers of Pommery. His greatest interest was as a student of wine and he was a prolific author of many books and pamphlets on wine and food.

Under new Articles of Association adopted August 2, 1991 and amended May 3, 2000, the International Society is governed by a Council of Management (“Council”). Membership and branch relationship activities are under the management of three Area Committees: Board of Governors of The Americas (“BGA”), the European/African Committee (“EAC”), and the Asian/ Pacific Zone (“APZ”), each of which takes full responsibility within its geographic area. Report and Accounts 2003 reported total membership of 7043 at the end of 2003 (APZ: 705; BGA: 4607; EAC: 1731). The Directory of Branch Contacts 2004 lists 142 branches (72 in U.S.) located in 29 countries. Members reside in several other countries.

The Council consists of 6 Appointed Members: 3 by BGA, 2 by EAC, 1 by APZ, plus 2 discretionary Counselor Members who must be from different Areas. One of the Council members is chosen in May as Chair for a period of two years. The chair is rotated between the Areas, thus reinforcing the international nature of the Society . All Council members serve entirely at their own expense.

R. Bruce Alderman, a Past President of the Baltimore Branch, served on the International Council from 1992 through November 9, 2003, which he chaired from May 2000 through an extended term ending in October 2002.

The Council is empowered to elect an Honorary President for a two-year term – one internationally recognized to assist in raising the profile of the Society. The Honorary President may attend meetings and address the Council, but is not a Council Member.

One Member of the Council is elected as Secretary/Treasurer who is responsible for its records and financial activities. The Council elects an Executive Director to head the Secretariat headquartered in London, England.

Every fourth year, the IW&FS presents an International Festival to which members come from all over the globe. From time to time, regional and international festivals are planned by the Council and area committees.


B. London Headquarters – The Secretariat

The international headquarters was moved in December, 2004 to The Naval and Military Club from its former location at The Lansdowne Club . The Executive Director and staff of one act as Secretariat of the Council; produce the Report and Accounts of the IW&FS, Directory of Branch Contacts, and annual vintage chart ; sell books and merchandise to members; manage the André Simon awards; and edit and produce the IW&FS Monographs. In 2001, the office revived the IW&FS Book Club with special editions of France and Italy in the Traveler’s Wine Guides series. Germany is also available. All are obtainable from the Secretariat. If you wish to visit the offices of the Secretariat, please advise the staff in advance when you will be in London. Staff reductions in 2002 now preclude response to questions on gastronomic subjects, London restaurant recommendations and bookings in The Naval and Military Club and London Hotels.


C. London Facilities: The Naval and Military Club

The Naval and Military Club, universally known as “The In & Out”, takes its nickname from the bold lettering found on the gate posts of its former home at 94 Piccadilly. The Club, one of London's oldest, was founded in March 1862. The Club opened with 150 members each paying a joining fee of fifteen guineas and a subscription fee of five guineas per annum.

The only Clubs existing in London in 1862 were the United Service, the Junior United Service and the Army & Navy. All three clubs were up to their full quota on membership, so to meet the demand of those who wished to join a Service Club, the Naval and Military was founded by a party of officers, chiefly from the Buffs , who at the time were quartered at the Tower of London.

No. 18 Clifford Street, a furnished house, was taken on a one year's tenancy and opened for the use of members in September 1862, but in less than a year the house was found to be inadequate to meet the daily requirements and at the end of 1863 the Club moved to 22 Hanover Square. The club remained there until the end of 1865, when the same inconvenience of overcrowding forced a move to Cambridge House on Piccadilly, overlooking Green Park. It opened in April 1866. The acquired lease terminated in 1876 but the Sutton Estate granted a further extension at an increased rental (£5,000 - £6,000 per annum).

Having secured a magnificent property, the members determined to make the House as convenient as possible and for that purpose it was closed from December 1876 until April 1878. During the closure, under the instruction of MacVicar Anderson, Architect, a portico a new balcony, a new dining room that was built over the old stables, and new offices and cellars were installed, The Smoking Room was opened and the long corridor added. Finally, on 23rd April (St George's Day) 1878, the Clubhouse – enlarged and improved – reopened for the use of Members. The club remained here until February 1, 1999 when it moved to its new home at No. 4 St James's Square, the freehold having been acquired in 1996. Hugh Johnson, IW&FS Honorary President, describes it as “definitely one of London’s best addresses.”

Built for the 11th Earl of Kent in 1679, the St. James building boasts a fascinating history. The house was extensively rebuilt in 1728, after a fire in 1725, much of which is still reflected in the style it is today.

From 1834 to 1859, the house was occupied by Earl de Grey, who was the first president of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The house was owned and occupied by Waldorf Astor, the second Viscount Astor , from 1912 to 1942, and his much respected and celebrated wife, Nancy. In 1942, it was requisitioned by the government and was used as the London headquarters of the Free French Forces. From 1947 to 1968, the building was used by H.M. Government, latterly as a Crown Court.

Extensive refurbishment and the creation of the bedrooms and Leisure Center were completed for the Clubhouse’s official opening on February 1, 1999 by Viscount Astor and the Club's Vice President Sir Brian Tovey.

On February 16, 1999, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, The Club's President, held a lunch for Members and toured the new Clubhouse.

Since the move, additional restoration has been undertaken, creating a unique Clubhouse and a much enhanced range of facilities for Members.

Its facilities include function rooms for private dinners, meetings, and wine tastings; a swimming pool; sauna, gym, squash court, bars and restaurants, all of which are available to members staying at the club. The usual dress code of tie and jacket for men and equivalent smart attire for women is required.

Members desiring to use the facilities should book reservations directly with the club's reservations department, not the IW&FS secretariat.


D. London Amenities and Arrangements; Hotels; Russia; South Africa; Magazines

The EAC has negotiated member discounts with certain London hotels, restaurants, and shops in London upon presentation of a valid membership card. Because of the extensive listings and constant change, it is not possible to list these in this directory. Some rates and discounts are available on International’s web site. Contact Stan Freedman, the Secretary of the Baltimore Branch or the Secretariat for the current list and please give due consideration to the conditions attached by IW&FS and the participating companies.

In addition to the London area, member discounts have been arranged for certain Russian restaurants in a wide geographic area, certain South African accommodations and a number of magazines and other publications.

With the move to the new headquarters, privileges are no longer available at The Lansdowne Club and the 190 Club in South Kensington, but remain available at the English Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London W1X 8AB.


E. IW&FS Library at Guildhall; Simon Collection; Symons Papers

The IW&FS library of about 300 reference books on gastronomic subjects, presented by members and friends, in addition to the André Simon Collection of approximately 5000 volumes received from his estate, were housed in London’s Guildhall Library in 1990 and formally gifted to that library in 1995 to assure maintenance, protection and availability for use by members as well as students and writers. The Society is in the process (2005) of acquiring the papers and memorabilia of co-founder A. J. Symons.


F. IW&FS Web Site; Newsletter

The IW&FS web site: www.iwfs.org is under continuing development (which means the information below may change). Some of the information on this site is available to the general public and some is restricted to members. When you visit this site, you will be presented with a world map showing 4 locations: Secretariat, Americas, Europe-Africa and Asia Pacific. Click on any of these hyperlinks. “Americas” will call up information about the BGA and its branches. Restaurants, cooking tips, books, scholarship information, branch web sites and other wine- and food-related internet resources are accessible through hyperlinks.

III. Related IW&FS/BGA Corporate Bodies

Subsidiary or associated organizations, responsible largely for charitable and educational activities, include:

The International Wine & Food Foundation of America, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Currently, it is financing the publication of a series of monographs on food and wine subjects. It is currently seeking other projects to finance which would be educationally beneficial to members and others, including a new journal to succeedFood and Wine which ended in 2000.

The International Wine and Food Society in America, Inc., a Delaware corporation with tax-exempt status, which distributes scholarships, partly funded by BGA grants and partly by monies voluntarily raised in the U. S.

The International Wine and Food Foundation of Canada, based in Ontario, gives scholarships to top chef and sommelier graduates of Canadian teaching institutes on a nationwide basis. The IW&FS, through the BGA, contributes to the foundation. Funds are also raised through educational fund-raising seminars attended by many Canadian members.

IV. Board of Governors of the Americas (BGA)

The BGA is a self-contained board much like the Baltimore Branch’s board, with the BGA members electing its successors. There are approximately 25 three-year-term members, and a varying number of life and emeritus members on the BGA. Each branch may have only one member on the BGA, unless it has 200 or more members, in which event it may have two. The BGA elects its own officers: a chair, secretary and treasurer. An executive committee exercises the powers of the BGA in the interim between board meetings. A dozen or so other committees assist in the operation of the BGA. All governors are volunteers who pay their respective expenses, including travel, lodging and meals, and BGA dues are not used for these purposes or for board meetings.

R. Bruce Alderman, Sr., served on the BGA from 1978 to 1997, chaired the BGA from October, 1994 to October, 1997 and remains an emeritus member. Ernest Kovacs served as a BGA member from 1994 until 2003. Both are members and past presidents of the Baltimore Branch. C. Dale Springer, Jr., currently the President of the Baltimore Branch, was elected to the BGA in November, 2003.

The BGA assesses and collects dues from its member branches. A portion of members dues are remitted to the Council for the operation of the International Society. The balance is used to operate BGA activities, publish its quarterly newsletter Wine, Food & Friends, perform administrative functions, assist in branch formation, sponsor scholarships, and coordinate liaison with the Council. For web site, access see page 19. The BGA also publishes a Branch Resource Manual which branch officers and members may view or obtain online at the IW& FS web site. To view it, you must complete the “Members Login” section and click on “Branch Resource Manual.”

Tri-annually, the BGA sponsors a Festival at some location within its jurisdiction. The Baltimore Chapter is under the jurisdiction of the BGA.