RICHMOND WINE SOCIETY

          The Richmond Wine Society (RWS) was organized by Ken and June Purser in the early 1970s when they moved to Richmond from Virginia Beach, where they had earlier established a wine club.  Although  little information on these early years is available, the Society apparently focused on learning about wine by comparative tastings, most of which were held at the Community Room of Cloverleaf Mall.  

 

          In 1976, under the guidance of Edward R. Musser III, the Richmond Wine Society became affiliated with the national organization “Les Amis du Vin” (LADV). At that time the present mode of operation was adopted to include a board of directors consisting of six members who elect a president, vice president, and appoint a secretary-treasurer from the board membership.  Each board member was charged with full responsibility for two tasting events per year.

 

          Before 1976 most meetings were held in the Community Room at the Cloverleaf Mall.  By 1977, the board decided to diversify both the location and the format of tastings.  The change proved so successful that it has now become customary to hold tastings in several locations and with a variety of formats.

 

          In the late 1980s, it became the practice to treat the spouse of a director as a director.  Currently, spouses who serve on the Board are considered “co-directors.”

 

          Although LADV affiliation proved useful early on in obtaining well-known speakers in the wine industry, after 1982 the only benefit derived from LADV was the monthly mailing labels for national members residing in the Richmond area.  With diminishing assistance from LADV, the Richmond Wine Society broke away and successfully operates as an independent organization.

 

          In 1995, a new Constitution and By-laws were drafted and approved by the membership that established a framework for the Society without providing unnecessary detail; continued practices that had made the Society a successful organization; provided more formality in the election of directors by the membership as a whole; and provided general guidance on calling and conducting meetings, running elections, and delineating the roles of directors and officers. 

 

After selecting directors in various ways through the years, the Society returned to the practice of electing directors at an annual meeting of the membership. A proposed slate of officers nominated by the board is sent to the membership at least two weeks in advance of the election, which is held at a membership meeting before the start of the December tasting. Board members serve two-year terms with three members being elected each year. 

 

          In 2017 the By-laws were again amended and approved by the membership to reduce each director’s responsibility to one event per year, with the option of two or three additional smaller events being hosted by current or former board members. The secretary/treasurer’s position was also separated into two positions, each with their own area of responsibility.

 

          As the Richmond Wine Society moves forward, the Constitution and By-laws continue to govern its activities and serve it well. With increased membership, as well as the membership’s seemingly increased affluence and tastes, events have become more formal with a greater emphasis on food. In addition, many members continue to enjoy wine events as a social occasion. Without straying from its purpose “to promote the knowledge and appreciation of wine through lectures, tastings, trips, and other appropriate means,” the Society will continue to be guided in its operations by periodic membership preference surveys and other feed-back from its members.