REPORT

As you read this, you have no doubt seen the “Break‑ ing News” email from KOV National announcing the links to the two FICB International events formally approved at the last FICB meeting in January and more importantly the news that registration was open as of February 5 for both the limited attendee (50 people) Inaugural Wine Discovery Tour of Madeira to be held September 22‑26, 2022 as well as the 52nd FICB Congress to be held in Oporto, Portugal in May 27‑30, 2023 with extension to Lisbon and environs, May 31‑ June 3, 2023.

Although the Madeira event is limited because of the nature of such an event, the Congress has no formal limits and actually is requiring 200 registrants to be confirmed by May 31, 2022 in order to guarantee the extremely limited 5 star rated hotels at the rates pub‑ lished. Those registering after May 31, 2022 will incur a 10% surcharge so don’t delay in registering!

Guests are welcome for this Congress. Anyone who has been around long enough to have experienced the previous Portugal Congress held in the mid 1990’s, will attest to its promise of a most memorable and spec‑ tacular event. Details for both events are on the FICB website (www.winebrotherhoods.org). Don’t miss out on these KOV membership benefits. (You can also find them on the www.kov.org HOME page and by clicking the NEWS tab.) Future international events are being planned. With the cancellation of the Wine Rating and Tasting Challenge in Budapest due to the War in Ukraine, the FICB has approved the Ladies of Pannonia’s request to hold the rescheduled event May 23‑28, 2024. The Congress in Alba, Italy that was originally planned for 2020 and postponed to 2021 before ultimately being cancelled will have the right of first refusal for the 2025 Congress. Geneva and Slovenia are offering to organize additional Wine Discovery Tours.

Despite the length of the pandemic, the FICB has fared very well and weathered the storm that challenged all of us across the globe. Membership has been maintained at 57 Brotherhoods in 24 countries with at least 34 Brotherhoods having taken the option to pay both 2020 and 2021 dues as a show of support of the FICB (the option to pay one year or both during the pandemic was offered to retain membership). As a result the FICB budget was well maintained, despite the lack of royalties from the cancelled Alba Congress and dues will remain the same at 150€ for 2022. Targeted areas for recruit‑ ment include Chablis and Macon in France. The FICB has asked that I contact Jean‑Charles Boisset for poten‑ tial connections as he is a member of the Chevalier du Tastevin, one of the largest Brotherhoods in France.

The General Assembly in Paris was held by and large via Zoom on January 29, 2022, with members voting on the business matters remotely and of 38 partici‑ pants, 7 were present in person.

Additional highlights include Presentation and promotion of the F.I.C.B. Diploma of Honor ‑ KOV should be nominating any of our Su‑ preme Knight and Ladies who have contributed in an outstanding manner to the World of Wine. Currently we have nominated and attained recognition for Jean‑ Charles Boisset, Gina Gallo and Allen Shoup.

Adoption of the modification of the statutes of the Federation, proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board of Administration, aiming to:

• Clarify the conditions for the renewal of the mandates of the members of the Board of Administration • Specify the responsibilities, mode of designation and representativeness of the Vice-Presidents • Referring to the "F.I.C.B. International Charter of

Wine Brotherhoods" adopted in 2015: Including the new types of F.I.C.B. events created since the last revision of the statutes in 2011, the "F.I.C.B.

International Wine Tasting and Rating Challenge" and the "F.I.C.B. sponsored wine discovery tours “ • To give the possibility of voting by correspondence for the General Assembly, when external circumstances require it • Approval of the action plan for 2022, which, in addition to the promotion and development of F.I.C.B.'s international events, includes the promotion of our multilingual lexicon "Talking about Wine", the production of a "guide for the organization of competitions of blind recognition of grape varietals" for the use of wine brotherhoods, and the redesign of the website • Approval of the 2022 Budget with renewal of the membership fees (active member: 150€, associate member: 100€, admission fee: 50€) • Fixing of the date of the 2023 General Assembly on

Saturday 4 February 2023 at 10:00 in Paris Please check out the FICB website for more detail and information at www.winebrotherhoods.org.

By the way, I have been re‑elected to the FICB Board of Administration for an additional 6 years. It is my pleasure to represent you!!