Minutes of the 14th Annual I.B.A. Meeting
Held on 26th November, 1965. At The Hotel Billia, St.-Vincent, Val d’Aosta, Italy


THE (FIRST) 14TH AND OFFICIAL IBA MEETING WAS HELD ON THE 7TH OF NOVEMBER 1965 IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.
DUE TO THE FACT, THAT ONLY A FEW (EUROPEAN-) COUNTRIES WERE PRESENT AT THE MEETING IN BUENOS AIRES, THE IBA BOARD DECIDED TO HOLD A 2ND IBA MEETING IN ST. VINCENT, ITALY, TO GIVE ALL (EURO.) GUILDS THE POSSIBILITY TO GET KNOWN WITH DECISIONS AND OTHER PLANS MADE IN BUENOS AIRES AND FURTHER ON TO DEAL AND DECIDE UPON URGENT- AND OTHER IBA AFFAIRS. THE MINUTES OF THE ST.-VINCENT MEETING WILL COUNT AS THE OFFICIAL 1965 MEETING MINUTES.

Present:
Mr. Angelo Zola, President of the I.B.A. and of the A.I.B.E.S. - Italy
Mr. Charles Tuck - IBA Vice President - Great Britain
Mr. Roger Lebet - IBA Treasurer - Switzerland
Mr. Leo van Vugt - Holland
Mr. Simon Sigurjonsson - Iceland
Mr. Rudy Hoffmann - Germany
Mr. Binenchi - France
Mr. Gustave Tops - Belgium
Mr. Ernst Bardorf - Mr. Franz Reisinger - Austria
Mr. Eriksen - Mr. Schen - Norway
Mr. Per Valet - Mr. Kurt Sörensen - Denmark
Mr. Jean Schambourg - Luxembourg
Mr. Manuelo Blanco - Spain
Mr. Erkki Pakainen - Finland

The Meeting had been arranged to enable the I.B.A. President to acquaint those member countries who had been unable to send representatives to Buenos Aires, with what had taken place at the meeting in Argentina, and to permit them to put forward the views of their own Associations.

President, Angelo Zola opened the meeting
with a hearty welcome to all and proceeded to give a résumé of the proceedings of the IBA Meeting in Buenos Aires, first reading the message of welcome from A.M.B.A. President
Mr. Rudolfo San, and a brief version of his own reply thanking A.M.B.A. for their hospitality and giving good wishes for the success of the I.C.C. 1965 and explaining that, when he had heard of the fact that some countries could not be represented in Argentine, he had suggested a second I.B.A. Meeting in St. Vincent, to coincide with the A.I.B.E.S. Annual Competition.

Under the circumstances, the IBA President had done his best to help the organization in Argentina.  
He mentioned the big effort made by Luxembourg who organized a meeting in June. At that meeting they had considered the difficulties of sending representatives from Europe to Buenos Aires, and it had been agreed that considering the fact that Finland was in possession of the Challenge Cup which would have to be taken to Buenos Aires, and that Sweden was the country proposing to organize the following Competition, their tickets to the Argentina should be paid by the IBA together with those of Luxembourg, and also the President, Vice President and Treasurer.
It was impossible to do more from the I B.A. funds available.
It was the first time that I.B.A funds had had to be used in this way, but Mr. Zola felt there would be many other occasions in the future when I.B.A. money might have to be used to give financial assistance.  
Luxembourg and Finland had taken advantage of the free tickets offered, but Sweden did not send anybody.
Mr. Zola said he felt this was due to a misunderstanding.
A Committee of Appeal for the Competition had been appointed since it was not possible to conform to the rules as printed by Argentina (these were exactly as printed for Edinburgh, and some of the countries printed were not represented).

1. Sweden had suggested that the I.B.A. Competition should be held only once in 2 years, and this had been agreed by those present.

2. Sweden had proposed that a Stockholm printer be allowed to print an International Cocktail Book - in all languages required.  It was pointed out that the I.B.A. had already agreed that the book "Guide to Drinks" produced by the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild should be accepted as the International Book, and was already being printed.  
An advance copy was shown to the delegates present at the meeting.

Nearly all the delegates had something to say about this, one insisting that more and more should be done to include new recipes. It should contain entirely winning recipes of the I.C.C. and nothing that was not an official I.B.A. recipe.
All delegates approved the I.B.A. Book asking the I.B.A. President to form a small committee responsible at every I.B.A. Meeting to take note of any improvements suggested for future editions of the Book.

Regarding the Luxembourg Meeting and the creation of an I.B.A. Training Center that had arisen (from  a suggestion put forward b
Mr. Leo Van Vugt Holland), who had insisted very firmly upon the necessity of the I.B.A. doing something for young barmen.
Mr. Schambourg (President of the Luxembourg Association) had been asked to make a study of this problem.
Another Meeting of I.B.A. delegates had been held in Buenos Aires on November 7th, at which observers from Paraguay and Brazil had been present.                           
Mr. Lebet, the I.B.A. Treasurer, had given his financial report on the funds at the Swiss Bank which at that time had been Sw. Frs. l9, 24.  Those countries that had not then paid their subscriptions would be doing so at the meeting to be held in St. Vincent. As for the two previous I.C.C.’s the organizing country (A.M.B.A. on this occasion) would receive Sw. Frs. 2,000 to help with presents given to Producers.

A.M.B.A. had received recipes for cocktails from France and Sweden but as no barmen were present from these countries to enter the competition, it was agreed they could not be accepted as entries. A further meeting was fixed for the 11th November with the same attendance.    
At this meeting there was some discussion on the I.C.C., the first and second rounds having then already been completed. Many delegates expressed their views about I.B.A. rules and it was asked that this subject should be put on the Agenda for the St. Vincent Meeting.

The Spanish Association agreed that the 1966 Meeting only be held in their country. Sweden had already put forward a proposal that the 1967 I.C.C. (and meeting) be held in Sweden. Venezuela also expressed their willingness to hold the next I.C.C.

Mr. Roger Lebet, the I.B.A. Treasurer,
ask that his proposal to increase the subscription from £20 to £30 per annum be put on the St. Vincent Agenda.

AIBES proposed that I.B.A. create Honorary Members. This honor would be for those who had given outstanding service to the I.B.A.  Each Guild knew of men and firms who would qualify for this. The Presidents of the various Bartenders Associations should propose the names.    
It was also agreed to ask at the St. Vincent Meeting if the French Association finds any particular difficulties in the fact that their Association is joined with the Genovese.
Mr. Selinas (observer for Paraguay) commented very favorably on all he had seen at the two meetings he had attended and would do all in his power to organize the barmen in his country to form an Association. Mr. Moralis of Brazil expressed the same feelings.

Mr. Zola said that Mr. Carlos Pais (Portugal) who had attended the Buenos Aires Meetings had again expressed the hope that it would not be too long before an Association of Barmen could be formed in his Country.
All delegates had been very impressed by the work done by A.M.B.A. and had been extremely interested to visit their Headquarters. They have a school for the British language and it is also their intention to arrange French lessons.  In this the Trade helps them.

As there was no Agenda for the St. Vincent Meeting, Mr. Leo Van Vugt, President of the NBC. asked the Chairman if he might say a few words.
He referred to Mr. Rudolfo San’s disappointment about the countries that were not represented in Buenos Aires.  
In Holland they had been very disappointed that Mr. San had not kept his promise to meet the fares of the European Presidents.
Mr. Van Vugt also referred to the fact that an interpreter had been engaged for the Meeting in Buenos Aires when surely, English being the official language. This should not have been necessary. At a previous IBA Meeting,
Mr. Otero of Argentina had put forward a proposal that Spanish could also been accepted as an official IBA language, but this had been turned down.
Mr. Zola replied that of course it had been necessary to have an interpreter present in order to be able to translate quickly anything said in Spanish. Mr. Rodolfo San was himself taking English lessons and most probably the interpreter would no longer be required in the future.

Mr. Van Vugt also said: he thought all Presidents should be provided with printed copies of the IBA Minutes, not just a condensed version. It later transpired that Mr. Van Vugt had not received a copy of the IBA News No.4 in which the Minutes of the previous IBA Meeting had been published. The same applied to some other delegates and Mr. Zola said he was surprised to hear that, but the matter would be looked into and copies would be sent to all Presidents who had not received them earlier.
Mr. Van Vugt continued that he had been informed that the meeting witch took place in Buenos Aires would not be official unless all European members were present. It had not been proposed at the Luxembourg Meeting that I.B.A. should provide tickets to any countries. The matter had been discussed then but had been rejected because I.B.A. funds were not sufficient to help each country.
Mr. Van Vugt said he did not think it was necessary, for instance, to help AMBA with finance.

Mr. Zola replied that the gifts for which the money given to A.M.B.A. was intended were for presentation on behalf of the I.B.A. to Producers who had given assistance in the entertaining of guests at events in Buenos Aires.   

This procedure of giving finance for this purpose to the host country had been agreed at the I.B.A. Meeting held in St. Vincent in 1963.
Contrary to the usual procedure, this had not been presented by the I.B.A. President at the time of the functions, but A.M.B.A. would be holding a special "thank-you" meeting at which Mr. San would present the gifts on I.B.A.'s
 behalf.       
                     
Mr. Sven Eric Winhult, the Swedish President, apologized to the Chairman for not being in Buenos Aires, but this had been a misunderstanding.  
Mr. Zola had thought that Sweden meant they would divide the money for the two tickets offered by I.B.A. between the five Scandinavian countries.
Mr. Winhult then referred to the suggestion his Guild had put forward to produce a cocktail book in Stockholm. Mr. Winhult then placed before each delegate specimen copies of the type of publication that the publishers had in mind.
Mrs. K. Halmann (on behalf of the UKBG) reminded delegates that they had agreed some time ago, that the UKBG book “Guide to Drinks" should be accepted as the International Cocktail Guide, provided it included an international supplement.  Accordingly the UKBG had first printed a loose supplement, which had been issued with the edition then in stock. Now a new edition was in hand in which the supplement had been incorporated.
A new cover gave the title "International Guide to Drinks". Obviously any other book produced now for the I.B.A would have an adverse effect on the sales of this publication.
It was generally agreed that this had indeed been the case, although Sweden did not appear to have been aware of the facts. In view of the situation they agreed to withdraw their proposition.
However, it was felt that at some time in the future a publication of the type suggested by the Swedish printers might well be considered by the I.B.A.  
In the meanwhile there was no reason why Sweden should not take their suggestion a stage further and present some details of costs etc.   
Mr. Van Vugt, Holland commented that in the main the book produced by the UKBG was a publication intended for the U.K. and all profits went to the U.K.B.G., whereas an I.B.A, publication could produce revenue for the I.B.A.

I.C.C. 1967:    
Mr. Winhult said that although Sweden had, at the Edinburgh Meeting of the IBA requested that the next Competition and Meeting be hold in Sweden, they now felt that the current Liquor Laws made it impossible for them at the present time to undertake such a meeting and they would have to withdraw their offer.   They much regretted any trouble that this might cause.  The laws were undergoing gradual changes and it was their hope that at some time in the future they might again be able to offer to hold the IBA Meeting and Competition in Sweden.

President, Angelo Zola said he had been so sure that Sweden would be hosts in 1967 that he had refused an offer from Venezuela, Mr. Pipoli having assured him that he could organize this in a big way. However, Mr. Zola said he felt that having already held the current I.C.C. in South America., the next should be in Europe and the following either in California or South America.

Spain had proposed in Buenos Aires that the next meeting (without the competition) should be held in Spain.
Mr. Zola now asked the Spanish Delegate, Sr. Manuel Blanco, Vice-President of IBA, if he felt his Association would prefer to undertake the meeting and competition combined in 1967 and to leave 1966 to another country.
Mr. Blanco replied that naturally he would have to refer the matter back to his Association but he was of the opinion that they might be prepared to undertake both 1966 and 1967.

It was stressed again that all delegates had agreed that the International Cocktail Competition should in future be held only once in every two years, but that there should be a meeting only of the IBA decelerates in the intervening year.
Mr. Zola said that in the event of Spain being unable to undertake both 1967 and 1966, and no other country could take on the 1966 meeting, he felt sure A.I.B.E.S. could arrange this.  Mr. Lebet said he would enquire of the Swiss Guild.

The Norwegian delegate, Erling Eriksen asked why it could not be decided at the 1966 meeting where the 1967 meeting and competition would be held. In the past on notice had been sufficient.
It was agreed that any country whose organization would be willing to undertake the 1966 meeting should inform the
I.B.A. President within the next month.

The I.B.A. Training center:    
A special meeting had been held the previous evening with Mr. Schambourg, President of the Luxembourg Bartenders' Association, since he was unable to remain in St. Vincent for the main meeting of the I.B.A.
At a meeting held in Luxembourg earlier in the year, Mr. Leo Van Vugt, President of the Netherlands Bartenders Club, had said he felt that the I.B.A. should do something for young barmen, and from this suggestion had arisen the idea of a Training Center. Mr. Schambourg had been asked to look into the possibilities of setting this up in Luxembourg, which was central for most other countries, at least in Europe.
Mr. Schambourg had said that the Principal of the Luxembourg Hotel & Catering School had agreed to allow the I.B.A. facilities provided this was at the end of May or beginning of June.
It was proposed that the Center should be under the patronage of the I.B.A. and that a supervisory Council should be established consisting of:
Director: Mr. Jean Schambourg
President: Mr. Angelo Zola
Vice-President: Mr. Charles Tuck
Committee: Mr. Leo van Vugt and Mr. Gustave Tops

Full details of the proposition had been set out in writing by Mr. Schambourg in French and English and it was requested that all delegates at the meeting should be given copies to take back to their respective committees.
A discussion then ensued, and all were agreed on the proposal in principle but were of the opinion that the figure suggested of S. 6o per week for a student's accommodation was on the high side, particularly as it might be necessary for Bartenders' Associations to subsidize students who received no wages whilst on the Course, and fares would also have to be paid.
(A copy of the detailed proposal was attached to these Minutes.)

Financial Statement:    
Mr. Roger Lebet, the Treasurer of the I.B.A. stated that of the Sw. Frs l9, 240 held at the Bank, Sw. Frs. 19,185 had been paid for travel expenses to Argentina, leaving a balance of only Sw. Frs 55.   
However, Sw. Frs 2,160 were due in subscriptions.  Those countries, which had not already paid at the time of the meeting in Buenos Aires, had agreed to pay at the St. Vincent Meeting. Finland owed for two years.

Mr. Van Vugt expressed great concern, that the funds of the I.B.A. have been so depleted. He said he had not been aware that any agreement had been reached by the I.B.A. that the travel of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer should be paid from I.B.A. funds. Holland certainly did not and does not agree to this.  

Mr. Zola replied that this had been established at the I.B.A. Meeting hold in Paris since, although funds wore usually forthcoming from the Trade to help barmen participating in the competition, this was not so in the case of the President, Vice-President or Treasurer. However, Mr. Zola went on, he was very happy to ho able to say that, although he could not at present reveal the name of the donor, he was fully confident that a well-known Trade House would shortly be paying a sum of money between Sw. Frs. 18,000 and 19, 000 into the I.B.A, funds. The holding of the I.B.A. meeting in Argentina was exceptional, and it was the first time that major sums of money had been spent. Always before the I.B.A, had been receiving it. It is for this reason that w are to get this money back into the I.B.A. funds.

The first time, Mr. Zola continued, the I.B.A. spent any money was in 1963 when money was paid to Kurt Sörensen, the IBA-President at that time, for the gifts to be handed to the heads of companies who had kindly given functions and entertained guests during the I.B.A. Meeting in Copenhagen.

Only 10 years ago the friends behind the I.B.A. had been much fewer than then were today. Mr. Zola said that the I.BA. was not after all, a financial organization.  What did they holds their funds for, if not to pay for these things.  He was of the opinion that more money might come to the I.B.A. once he had been able to announce the source of the donation he had just mentioned. He hoped that the Trade might help the President, Vice-President and Treasurer.

Mr. Van Vugt replied that whilst he was naturally very happy to learn the good news of the donation, he still did not agree to the expenditure of I.B.A. funds in this way. Sweden agreed in part with Holland, although they did feel I.B.A. funds should be used for the travel expenses of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer.
President Angelo Zola said the I.B.A. could not expect to interest the big Wine and Spirit Producers of the world if they did not hold their meetings in various countries.
The friends on whom the I.B.A. could count are interested in world markets.
Mr. Van Vugt remarked that if this was the case, why had they not given help in sending teams to Buenos Aires.

Mr. Zola asked if the delegates wanted the I.B.A. to stand still, with just the President speaking to them at a meeting each year - or did they want to expend and to meet the bartenders Guilds of the world.  In a few years' time, he continued, it was possible that Europe would be just one team - not as separate countries.   
The I.B.A. must not forget the kind of help and friendship they are receiving and can hope to receive in the future if they go on growing as they have.    
In the first two years of the I.B.A. 30% of the barmen competing got drunk and looked upon the meetings as an opportunity for a good time. Now everybody was more serious and great progress has been made.
Newspapermen were very critical at first, but they had now come to realize that the I.B.A. had serious intentions. Mr. Zola said he was confident they would receive all the help that would be needed.

Voting Procedure:    
Mr. Van Vugt said that in 1963, Mr. Louis Nota, then President of the NBC, had asked to discuss the procedure as his members felt that the candidates for office should be made known by the various countries in sufficient time ahead so that delegates were not surprised at the Meeting.  For some mysterious reason this proposal had not been discussed in 1963, nor did it appear on the Agenda for any following I.B.A. Meetings.
The matter was then discussed and it was generally agreed that the office of treasurer should, without question, remain with Switzerland since the I.B.A. wished their funds to remain in a Swiss Bank.

It was further agreed that six months’ prior notice should be given to I.B.A. Headquarters of the names of those persons whom their respective Associations wished to put forward as candidates for Presidency or Vice-Presidency.
I.B.A. Headquarters would in turn advise all Guilds of these candidates.

I.B.A. News:    
As the IBA News is the only contact which the various Guilds have with I.B.A. Procedure, Mr. Van Vugt asked if the Magazine could not be produced more frequently than four times a year. He asked if would be possible to have a central administration with perhaps a part-time secretary when the President is changed to another country, then that country had to start all over again. Surely it would be better to keep the News permanently in one center,

Mr. Zola said he felt this was a very good suggestion, but the I.B.A. would need to think about this and decide which would be the best center. In the near future, when the I. B A. would be organized as they hoped, with all South American countries and many other countries too, there might be a need to have more than one Vice-President, maybe one in every country.

Honorary Membership.
The President said he felt that the Presidents of each country or  each of the member Guilds should be able to suggest names of persons whose service to the I.B.A. warranted honorary Membership.
These names should be given in advance of every I.B.A Meeting so that each country would be in possession of the information before he attended the Meeting. All present were agreed on this proposal.

The I.B.A. Competition in Buenos Aires:   
The Finnish delegate Mr. Brandtberg, had a complaint concerning the competition in Buenos Aires.  One of their team had obtained very high marks in the first round but in subsequent rounds his points had been very low indeed.
Most of the Judges had been Argentinean. Mr. Brandtberg said he felt the delegates would agree that the panel should be international.
President Angelo Zola said he was trying a new way of presenting a cocktail competition at their meeting in St. Vincent, and if this proved successful it might form a pattern for the I.B.A in the future.
He agreed with Finland on their comments concerning the marks of their team member. To receive a maximum of 24 points in the first round and to get such low marks at the end left room for criticism. It was felt that something might not be quite right, but under the present circumstances, little could be done about this.

The French Bartenders Association:    
The French delegate, brought apologies for absence from their President Mr. Felix Cotto, who also regretted that France had not been represented in Buenos Aires.
The reason was that they were in the process of forming a new Society. The Association for Hotel personnel had joined with "L'etoile", and barmen are to be a separate organization known as the Association des Barmen de France.   
All Guilds will be informed of their new address as soon as possible.

The I.B.A. delegates joined with their President in sending good wishes to the A.B.F.

Proposed I.B.A. Subscription Increase:    
Mr. Roger Lebet, the I.B.A. Treasurer proposed an increase from £20 to £30 per annum, but it was agreed that this proposal should be postponed and would come up for consideration on the Agenda of the following year's meeting.                                  

Mrs. Halmann (U.K.B.G.) commented that if the I.B.A. were proposing to pay £ 1500, - a year for the Training Center in Luxembourg, they were proposing to pay out far more than they received at present in subscriptions.

I.B.A. Rules:    
Sweden’s delegate said he would like to see a copy of the I.B.A. Rules, for these had not appeared in print for some time,

The Meeting than terminated as delegates were already overdue at a luncheon being offered by Martini & Rossi.  

The President said that if delegates considered another meeting should be called he would opportunity was given.

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