Membership

We welcome your interest in joining and participating in the Lake Tahoe Branch of the International Wine and Food Society. We are a group of people who appreciate, wish to learn more and enjoy fine food and wine in the company of good friends in a happy and gracious way.

The Lake Tahoe Branch welcomes single men and women and married couple members. Members are expected to actively participate in our organization. The total number of members may be set and/or changed by the Board of Directors based on the needs of the branch.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to attend at least one function as guests to meet members and to learn more about the organization. Requests to sponsor prospective members are sent in writing by an existing member (Application to Sponsor Prospective Members) to the Membership Secretary, who sends membership information and an application to the prospective members. The sponsor shall be responsible for the progress of the application. When the membership cap has been reached and there is a waiting list, prospective members with completed applications shall be eligible for members’ prices for events.

The decision to admit a new member shall be made solely by the Board of Directors. The main question regarding new admissions is whether the prospective member generally espouses the goals of the organization and whether he/she will blend harmoniously with the branch’s style and activities. New members shall pay an initiation fee which covers the national, international and local dues, wine cellar and membership certificates and medallions. When previously resigned members of the branch would like to rejoin the branch, a membership application shall be submitted to the Board of Directors. If approved for reinstatement, the appropriate annual BGA and local dues shall be paid. The branch shall pay the BGA reinstatement fee and initiation fees are not required. New members joining after March 31st shall pay one-half of the annual dues for the branch and for the Board of Governors of the Americas. New members joining after September shall pay the next year’s annual dues for the branch and the Board of Governors of the Americas.

Admission of new members may occur at any time during the year. Upon receipt of the new members’ dues and initiation fees, induction of new members will be held at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

All branch members shall be full-time members, paying full fees except for limited, special cases. Members who have relocated to a distant site may, if the Board of Directors is willing, continue their association with the branch either by remaining fully active, dues-paying members or by being granted the status of a special guest who may attend an occasional branch event when visiting the branch location. Members who are granted sabbatical status by the Board of Directors must continue to pay national dues but are exempted from paying local dues during their leave.

The Lake Tahoe Branch is very active, holding eight to ten functions per year in the Lake Tahoe and Reno areas. A variety of monthly events is planned, including luncheons, dinners at restaurants and in members’ homes, outdoor gourmet picnics, wine tastings and multiple day tours to wine areas. Usually there are no events planned during January, February, October and November. The summer events are extremely popular and may sell out due to limited space. Invitations are mailed and emailed to members approximately one month prior to the event. Reservations must be made by email or phone to the Vice President of Functions. Then a check for the event must be mailed to the Treasurer to confirm the reservation. Advance reservations are not accepted for any event until after the invitation has been sent to all members. Hosts of private home functions are the guests of the IW&FS and are allowed two priority, paid guests.

The first annual Wine Get-a-Way was held in Napa Valley June 22 -24, 1997. Since then members have visited Dry Creek in Sonoma Valley, Monterey and Carmel Valley, El Dorado and Amador Counties in the foothills near Sutter Creek, San Luis Obispo/Arroyo Grande, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez in Central California, Walla Walla in southeastern Washington, Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Napa Valley.

The Lake Tahoe Branch maintains its own wine cellar to enable us to purchase wines when they are affordable, to age wines properly and to be able to serve fine wines at reasonable prices at our functions. Currently, the branch’s wine cellar inventory contains about 1200 -1500 bottles and is located in a large underground wine cellar in Reno. The Wine Cellar Committee, at its own cost, researches and purchases wines for the Branch, as appropriate, with a three to five year projected cellar storage.

A portion of the branch’s initiation fee and annual membership fee is used to build and maintain the wine cellar. The price of our events includes those costs associated with the event. The wine cellar is owned by the branch. No member shall have claim to any part of the wine cellar. If a member resigns or dies, wine cellar fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Dues are assessed annually and are payable by November 30th each year to the local Branch and the Board of Governors of the Americas. Dues are subject to change. A portion of the national dues is forwarded to the International Wine and Food Society’s headquarters in London.

Back to top