FICB International Congress ~ REPORT

FICB International Congress ~ REPORT Pat Pingitore ~ International Emissary

The annual FICB meeting was held in Paris February 21- 22nd and the following is a synopsis of salient points that may be of interest to fellow KOV members. Please note that many of the details will be published very soon on the FICB website at www.winebrotherhoods.org.

GENERAL The Organization is healthy and still growing with a total of 56 Brotherhoods now actively participating. Among the latest additions, is a Brotherhood from Madeira Spain, which is eager to invite the world.

Also new is the Renaud Society, another International Brotherhood based out of Arizona with many members in our own Chapter locales. I discussed synergies with their Grand Commander, Tedd Goldfinger, who was impressed with the many events being planned for the FICB and those of our own local Chapters. I will connect the KOV Chapter Commanders with Tedd to explore.

Additional areas being targeted for recruitment in the coming year include Chablis, Alsace, Beaujolais, Macon (and Viet Nam with whom one of the Swiss delegation has been in contact)!

LEADERSHIP Mark Lesk, the new Secretary General, was recruited and approved. He is now a member of the Board.

Among his duties, Mark will take over the website management as well as the minutes and dissemination of information.

Mark is a retired informatics and operational engineer with a love of wine, art and music. He writes a blog which is quite interesting and unique. Check it out at www.aubonclos.blog.

WEBSITE The website is very active with an average of 50 visits per day.

A new feature of the website is a calendar of events which can include any KOV event for which we would like to extend an international invitation. A good example would be an invitation to our National meeting in April for those Europeans traveling to California this year. Anyone with a suitable event, can send their information to Mark at the FICB to be posted. (marc.lesk@ wanadoo.fr.).

An additional, soon to be live feature, will be an interactive multi-lexicon of wine terminology in five languages as developed by the University of Burgundy in Dijon. The plan is to have it also available for smart phones within the next year. It will be a great tool for our traveling wine lovers.

Any articles of general interest from the US to the International Brotherhoods can also be posted on the FICB website by sending them to Mark.

An online payment system is also being developed for the convenience of the Brotherhoods to pay their annual dues.

DIPLOMA OF HONOR The FICB is always looking for suitable candidates to honor with this prestigious award. The candidate must have an important, prominent role in the world of wine on an International basis. Examples of past recipients as nominated and honored from the KOV include Supreme Knights Alan Shoup of the Washington Chapter, Jean Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo of the San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter. Anyone with knowledge of a suitable candidate should contact me for information on the process of nomination.

Additional seats on the Executive committee have been created because of some retirements and are being filled with the many new leaders joining.

BUDGET With a growing membership, the FICB Budget results are healthy and reserves growing. Details are available for those interested but in a nutshell, the 2019 results showed a surplus of 1971Euros, adding to a balance sheet reserves topping 25000 Euros. The 2020 budget looks to add another 5000Euros of surplus to those reserves. Therefore, no change was proposed in FICB dues.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Congress 2020 in Alba: 6/4/20 - 6/7/20 with Extension 6/7-6/10/20

As predicted this event has sold out with 197 attendees registered and paid for. KOV was able to get 72 seats while the OWB got 24, making the US contingent almost half of the attendees. Although painful, the process of allotment of seats resulted in a record 33 Brotherhoods represented. es will be 890-1030 Euros/person for the wine Challenge and 760 Euros for the extension. Registration begins June 2020. Stay tuned for registration information from the National office. By the way, Hungary in 2010 was another most successful Congress!

Congress 2022 Oporto Portugal : 5/27- 5/31/2022; Extension Lisbon & environs 6/1-6/3/2022. (Carcavelos & Evora)

The same organizers of the most wonderful 1998 Congress have agreed to essentially duplicate the popular itinerary for 2022. Details (that are currently available) will be posted on the FICB website shortly. Registration information will be available May 2021 and registration will open that month, with “early bird” discounts for those registering before October 31, 2021.

Oporto has become a very popular tourist destination so booking rooms early is of paramount importance.

For those of you registered, getting to Alba is best arranged via the Milan Malpensa Airport (many more flight options) or Turin Caselle Airport. Once you have made your travel plans, please let the tour operator know your flight info so they can perhaps arrange group transfers at reasonable rates. The tour manager is: Langhe Experience Tours : tour@langhe-experience.it

For anyone who missed the opportunity and is still interested, there is a possibility that this same tour operator can arrange a small (15-20) tour with a similar itinerary in November during truffle season! PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF INTERESTED!

International Wine Challenge 2021: 6/3- 6/6/21 in Eger & Tokaj; Extension, 6/6-6/8/21 in Budapest.

On the heels of the inaugural and successful Wine Challenge held in Finland in June 2019, the FICB has arranged with the Sisters of Pannonia of Hungary to host the next one. Originally this was slated for Hong Kong with an extension to Macau, but last year’s political demonstrations and the current health crisis, has created a recession in Hong Kong and forced them to cancel. The format will be similar to that of Finland.

The Sisterhood has put together a very nice package, the details of which will be on the FICB website. PricForecast prices look like 1550Euros/person for Congress and 650 Euros for the Extension. I attended that Congress (my first) and have never forgotten how great it was - one of my 3 most favorites ever!

There should be no limit on participants!!

Wine Discovery Tours

Requests for proposals are about to go out for Brotherhoods to host these unique tours for 50 participants max. These events will be 3-4 days with no extension. They will be casual with no formal events (no scientific session or procession). Brotherhoods interested in hosting already include: Slovenia, Madeira, and Lake Geneva.

These might be scheduled any year, even if there is a Challenge Event or Congress. Too many International events? Give me your feedback so I may report back!!!

The Finland and Korea Chapters have directly affiliated with the FICB and are no longer considered chapters within KOV; much like Japan did many years ago. Due to location and language difference, among other things, it makes sense although we will miss counting them among our members.