Just a short moment before a far-reaching determination
Around the table, from left to right:
Mr. P. Melin, Sweden
Mr. J. Londahl, Denmark
Mr. G. Sievi, Switserland
Mr. A. Combettes,France
Mr. Th. Rijken, Holland
Mr. A. Zola, Italy
Centre front, left:
Mr. W.Tarling, Gr.Britain First IBA-President
Mr. H. Roberts,Gr.Britain General Secretary
Minutes of the “Inaugural” Meeting
of the “INTERNATIONAL BARTENDERS ASSOCIATION” ( I.B.A.)
Held on Saturday 24th February 1951 – at The Grand Hotel, Torquay – England.
There were present: Delegates.
Mr. W.J. Tarling, President of U.K.B.G. United Kingdom Bartenders Guild
Mr. Londahl, President D.B.L. Danish Bartenders Guild
Mr. A.Combettes, G.A.B.F. Amicale des Barmen de France
Mr. T. Rijken, N.B.C. Nederlandse Bartenders Club
Mr. A.Zola, A.I.B.E.S. Associazione Italiana Barmen e Sostenitori
Mr. P. Melin, S.B.G. Swedish Barterders Guild
Mr. G. Sievi, Treasurer of S.B.U. Swiss Bartenders Union
Mr.W. Roberts, Conference Secrt. U.K.B.G.
Also present as Representatives-observers or in an advisory capacity:
Mr. J.P. Finney, Esq, Trustee U.K.B.G.
Mr. C.Chiswell, U.K.B.G.
Mr. S. Cox, U.K.B.G.
Mr. A.Krakeel, Councillors of U.K.B.G
Mr. B.Paul, Past President U.K.B.G
Mr. V. Christensen, Vice President D.B.L.
Mr. V. Sørensen, Secretary D.B.L.
Mr. R. Benedetti, A.I.B.E.S.
Mr. L. Parenti, A.I.B.E.S.
Mr. J.0. Furrell, Irish Branch U.K.B.G.
Mr. L. Miller, Blackpool U.K.B.G.
Mr. C. Manuel, Bristol U.K.B.G.
President W.J.Tarling of UKBG, who opened the Conference by welcoming those present, took the Chair, in particular they gave a very warm welcome to their Continental friends who had travelled so far for this occasion. It was the first time in living history that the Bartender organisations of eight nations had got together to discuss the formation of' an International Association and it could well be called an historical occasion. He hoped much good would come from their deliberations and the result would be that the proposed Association could be formed.
The Chairman said that the first item on the Agenda was to discuss and decide on the formation of an International Bartenders' Association. The delegates’ organisations had received the full details of the proposals by U.K.B.G. and the provisional rules last September and he hoped that they would be able to give their views and vote if necessary today.
Mr. Billy Tarling, First I.B.A. President, for the U.K.B.G. he would say that they were in favour of the formation of such an organisation. The Chairman then called on each delegate in turn to give his country's views.
The Swedish delegate said that he had been authorised to state that their own Guild was very small and that they had to work under difficult conditions in their own country, they were, however, in favour of an International Association because of the good that would come from the liaison between one country and another.
Mr. G. Sievi, on behalf of Switzerland, said that there had been much discussion among his Committee and the proposals prior to the Conference the general opinion of the S.B.U. was that they had already waited a year and there was no need to hurry.
Would it not be possible to discuss the matter today and refer back to their respective countries?
The Chairman pointed out that all organisations concerned had had considerable time to discuss the matter and it was not one that they could go on putting off indefinitely. The U.K.B.G. had sent out considerable and detailed proposals making the position quite clear. Whether they should form an International Association or not was a decision for today.
Mr. Sievi continued pointing out that Switzerland was only a small country but that they were handicapped and that it was difficult to get all their Members together at one time. They had not a very large Membership and he was not too sure that the S.B.U. could bear the expense of an International organisation. Most of all he would say let us please do the job properly and take our tine. Whilst the S.B.U. was in favour of an International Association, he would suggest postponing a decision for six months.
The Chairman pointed out that the question of the financial side would be dealt with fully later on the Agenda, the question was whether to form the International or not.
There was no secondary for the Swiss proposal to postpone a decision for six months and the proposal was therefore not carried. The President of' the Danish Bartenders Guild said that Denmark had been thinking a lot about the matter of' the International Association. The UKBG had given them complete details of' the proposals and there had been ample time to consider them. His Guild was in complete agreement with all the suggestions made by the U.K.B.G. and he would like to see the Association come into being at once.
The French delegate said that the A.B.F. were in agreement with the proposals that had been made by the U.K.B.G.
Mr. Theo Rijken, Holland's Representative, said that his organisation was in favour of the formation of the International as did the representative of Italy, he said, Italy has been aware of the desire for such an organisation and had been given all the proposa1s and this was the day to start.
Sweden's representative then pointed out that America was not represented.
The Chairman in reply said that the position in America was not very clear. Information had been sent to an organisation in America but no reply had been received. He felt that this was no obstacle to the formation and pointed out that the U.K.B.G. had a very enthusiastic and active Branch in the U.S.A. who could be kept informed through their contact with that. The Chairman then called for a vote on the proposal that the International Bartenders Association should be formed. Each delegate on behalf of the country he represented signified agreement and the proposal were carried unanimously.
The Chairman said he was very happy that they had decided on the formation and they could now go ahead with the remainder of the Agenda.
The second item was to elect the first President of the International Association and he called for nominations.
All delegates present nominated the President of the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild and the appointment was unanimously agreed.
The Chairman thanked the Meeting on behalf of the U.K.B.G. and said he would be most happy to carry out the appointment.
He then pointed out that this item on the Agenda did not include the appointments of Treasurer and Secretary of the International Association. These should have been included and he called for the delegate’s views on these appointments. It was generally agreed that these two officers should be of the same country as the President and on being put to the vote it was unanimously agreed that Mr. J.P. Finney should be the
Treasurer of the Association and the General Secretary of U.K.B.G, the International Secretary.
The Chairman called for nominations for the Vice-Presidency of the International Association.
The views of the delegates were divided
on this, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark being of the opinion that the Vice President should come from outside of England, and Holland-, France and Italy in favour of a Vice President from England.
The matter was put to the vote and as this resulted in an equal vote for and against, the Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of a representative outside of England. On nominations being asked for, Italy nominated the President of the Amicale des Barmen de France,
Mr. Rudolf Slavik, this was unanimously agreed.
The Danish delegate then pointed out that they would have all probably noticed from the provisional rules that the officers of the International would be changed each year and that they should have an International Meeting each year. He would like to propose that the period should be three years and not one. The proposal was put to the Meeting and it was unanimously agreed that for the first three years of the organisation the officers elected that morning should serve and that Meetings should be every three years.
The next item on the Agenda was to agree the provisional Rules of the Association.
Copies of these had been sent by U.K.B.G. to all organisations concerned the Chairman explained and each Rule would be read by the Secretary and at the end of each he would ask for their views and vote.
The Rules were unanimously agreed and approved by the delegates with the following two amendments: (l) Where applicable the Rules should be amended to cover the proposal previously agreed that appointments and Meetings should be for the period of three years instead of the one year in the provisional Rules, (2) The Secretary should be required to give six months notice to Member Guilds of International Meetings instead of three months mentioned in the provisional Rules.
The Chairman then said that the next question to be decided was the question of the Annual subscription. This had been suggested as £ 10. sterling to cover the administrative expenses of the Association. He would like to impress on the delegates that if this subscription was agreed it did not prevent the larger Guilds like A.B.F. and the U.K.B.G. making a larger voluntary subscription at any time, but a subscription of £ 10. would be more suitable for the smaller organisations. The proposal of a subscription of £10 per year was unanimously agreed. Each delegate agreed that his organisation would enquire of the suitable Department of their own country on the method of the payment.
It was the general opinion that such subscription to an official organisation would not be impossible through banking channels.
On the proposal of the Danish delegate it was agreed that the International Association’s H.Q, should write to each Member Guild informing them that the Association was in being and requesting their subscription of £10. This letter could then be used to obtain the necessary permission to forward the monies to England.
Next item on the Agenda was to decide on the place of the next Internationa1 Conference and it was agreed by all de1egates that this should be in England in l954.
The Meeting was then thrown open to discussion and the French delegate raised the question of an International Journal. It was the general opinion that such a publication would have to wait. It was agreed however on the suggestion of the Swiss delegate, that a supplement should be pub1ished with the U.K.B.G. "Bartender".
Every Member Guild to supply notes and news each month for publication.
Delegates who were Overseas Members of the UKBG asked what would be the position of Overseas Membership of U.K.B.G. in view of the International Organisation.
The Chairman emphasised that the International Association in no way affected the present Bartender Guilds that would remain as at present. The International was a link between each national Guild and there was no question of
individual Membership.
He hoped that Overseas Members of U.K.B.G. would remain as such.
It was pointed out that the subscription for the U.K.B.G. "Bartender" which they all received was 15 Sh. and this also covered their Membership. It was the general opinion that the vast majority would wish to continue their personal association with U.K.B.G.
The question of Auditors for the accounts of the International Association was then raised and it was unanimously
agreed by all delegates that this should be the elected Auditors of the U.K.B.G.
Past U.K.B.G. President B. Paul, on behalf of the representatives and observers present, proposed a vote of thanks to President W.J. Tarling and the General Secretary for all the work they had done and the excellent way the Meeting had been conducted.
He felt they would all agree that it was a very historical moment.
The Chairman, President W.J. Tarling, then closed the Conference with a short address in which he said he felt they had had a very successful Meeting.
It had been a little difficult to start with but they had managed to reach agreement and there was no doubt that it was a great thing for them to get together, he was sure that it would show its benefits in the future.
The Conference then closed.
It’s obvious the Inaugural Meeting has been successful
