The Annual Branch Representatives Meeting (ABRM) this year will be held on 5th June, 10.30 am for 11.00 am, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Stratford upon Avon.   This is the annual opportunity for Branch Chairmen and Representatives to meet members of the EAZ Committee and discuss regional activities during the past year and the future direction of the Region.  A formal invitation to each Branch will be sent out in due course, this is just to let you to get the date into your diaries  We have also arranged lunch at the Grosvenor after the ABRM meeting.

We have arranged for a limited number of tickets for the performance at the RSC Theatre in Stratford on the evening of the 4th and for a pre-performance dinner at the RSC Riverside restaurant.  The play is Othello, and the lead role will be taken by Hugh Quarshie.  The performance will start at 7.15 pm and we are expected to take our places for dinner at 5.00 pm. 

Theatre tickets are available on a first come first served basis. If you would like to join us please email the EAZ Treasurer, John Nicholas (johnsnicholas@aol.com) first to check availability.

The cost of the whole package; theatre ticket, dinner and lunch on the following day after the ABRM meeting is £165.00 for members, £170.00 for non-members.

If you can't join us at the theatre the cost of the post ABRM lunch will be £60.00 for members, £65.00 for non-members.  Attendance at the ABRM itself is, of course, free. 

Please Note:      Cancellations after 31st March 2015 will be subject to a 30% deduction, as by then we will have had to pay for the theatre tickets or return them.

If you would like to stay at the Grosvenor Hotel, their B&B rates are:  Standard  Single Room £85.00  per room; Standard Double Room £95.00 per room: Executive Single Room £100.00 per room, Executive Double Room £110.00 per room.   Please book your accommodation direct with the hotel mentioning IWFS when you do so.  The telephone number is: 01789 269213 and their address is: Grosvenor Hotel,  Warwick Road, Stratford upon Avon CV37 6YT

 -  A Short Break in the French Alps. 

The Savoie has a long and interesting history.  The Duchy of Savoy, as it used to be known, occupied a strategic position on the main route between France and Italy, and the Dukes of Savoy were important and powerful people.  Wine has been made there from the earliest times, but today most of it is consumed locally, and is little-known outside the area.   Some will have experienced the fresh local whites and lightish reds on skiing holidays, but the best producers in the Combe de Savoie are capable of more than that, and according to some can rival the Northern Rhone.  More and more Savoie wines are winning medals at national competitions, and for the first time this year, the appellation Cremant de Savoie has been officially sanctioned.   

Those whose memories of Savoie food are dominated by vast quantities of potatoes and cheese may be surprised to learn that a number of local restaurants now sport several Michelin stars, and some have acquired an international reputation.   And many of the more traditional establishments have improved beyond recognition.  

This four night break will be an opportunity to experience some of the best food and wine that the Savoie has to offer, as well as learning more about local history and traditions, all against a background of spectacular mountain scenery.

The break will include

• 4 nights at a comfortable mountain inn in St Martin de Belleville, a pretty mountain village with a history of farming and cheese production.
• a wine making tour, and tastings with some of the best local producers. 
• 3 dinners at well-known local restaurants, including Rene and Maxime Meilleurs' La Bouitte and Restaurant Jean Sulpice, both of which sport two Michelin Stars, and whose chefs have embraced our project with enthusiasm, as well as a more traditional rustic inn, La Montagnarde, where the young chef is keen to show off his prowess!   Dinner will not be provided on Wednesday evening, after the wine making tour.
• visits to various local attractions, including a folklore museum, a creamery, and a chance to see the local market.
• 3 fairly light lunches, based upon local produce, depending upon where we are at the time. 

The cost, excluding transport to and from St Martin de Belleville will be 1180 euros or £965 per person, based upon double occupancy.  The single occupancy supplement is 120 euros or £100. 

All IWFS Members are welcome.   There is a surcharge of £80 (100 euros) for non-members -  single members who wish to bring a partner will find it more economical to upgrade to joint membership. 

Travel options

Moutiers rail station is a 30 minute bus ride from St Martin de Belleville.   Geneva and Lyon airports are about 2.5 hours drive.  The most flexible option is to rent a car - this will cost from about £200 ( http://www.economycarhire.com).  Various public transport options are possible, but the services are limited. 

We will arrange a shared minibus from Geneva airport if there is enough demand:  please indicate when booking if you are interested in this.  We would aim to meet flights scheduled to arrive before 1300 hrs on Monday, and to depart after 1330 hrs on Friday. (BA728 and 729 would be ideal).   The cost will depend upon the number of takers. 

If you would like some extra time in St Martin, this will be possible at a cost of 120 euros double, 90 euros single per night, including breakfast, but excluding the local tourist tax. We can book this for you, but you will pay locally.   If you do want to stay longer, and are travelling by air, you will probably be advised to rent a car, because it will give you more freedom to explore the area, and taxis are expensive.