Message from the President

In the manifesto of the Labour Party’s campaign for power in the United Kingdom in 1997 its leader, Tony Blair, outlined his priorities for office as “Education, education, education”. Perhaps we, in The International Wine and Food Society, should, 27 years later, be saying our future depends on “Youth, youth, youth”. We have recently witnessed two excellent examples of how this can drive our Society forward.

Firstly, we have seen the recent creation by a Board Member of the New York Branch of a Young Members Circle as its own branch of the Society comprising 75 energetic and enthused members aged between 21 and 39 years old. This is a magnificent achievement. Of course, we have been there before as some years ago we had a Young Members Branch in London, which, alas, due to its leadership moving away from London, is no longer. However, Chris Ankner, Chair of the Americas, has high hopes for the Young Members Circle.

Secondly, we have witnessed the committee of the equally youthful Hong Kong Branch under its chair, Karen Leung, arrange and host a memorable Festival in Hong Kong and Macao. Others will doubtless be writing about the Festival but for me to be part of the Hong Kong aspect of the Festival was a delightful privilege.

The youth, vibrancy and enthusiasm of the Hong Kong Branch was a joy to behold, and it seems the future of the Branch is assured as I hope will be the case for the Young Members Circle.

In my own Branch in New South Wales, Australia, I am delighted to report that our recent AGM elected three Committee members in their 40s, including our new President and Treasurer. Youth therefore must be the way forward for our Society, with hopefully continued assistance and guidance, when necessary or requested, from us Seniors.

Chris Bonsall
President