Chaine USA National Board of Director's Meeting San Antonio Texas

January 24-27, 2008

This event was scheduled for, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; however, some out-of-state Chaine members were so anxious to get to San Antonio that they arrived on Wednesday and Thursday. For those who arrived early, most had made arrangements to meet Chaine members from San Antonio and start partying before the official function began. The Salomon's, Klein's, and Ray's met different groups and assisted them in fulfilling their desire of getting an early start.

Officially, Friday morning was the beginning of the San Antonio Bailliage playing host to our fellow out-of-town Chaine members.

Here are the statistics:

The following Bailliages were represented:

o  Austin,

o  Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Buffalo,

o  Cape Canaveral, Charlotte, Chicago,

o  Dallas,

o  Fort Worth, Ft. Lauderdale,

o  Galveston, Garden State,

o  Honolulu, Houston, Houston Lacs Et des Bois, Houston L'Etoile Solitaire,

o  Kauai/Oahu,

o  Lafayette,

o  Mayaguez Puerto Rico, Memphis, Mid Hudson,

o  New Orleans,

o  Palm Springs, Beltway Virginia Perpherique, Pinellas Gulf Coast,

o  San Antonio, San Clemente, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Sarasota, Seattle, Sonoma,

o  Tulsa

o  Total Bailliages = 36

o  We had a total of 53 couples - both the husband and wife both belonged to the Chaine. That totals 106.

o We had a total of 24 individuals come whose partner was not a Chaine member or that they did not bring their partner. Non-Chaine members attending this function were not included on the attendance roster from headquarters. As a result, the author does not have an accurate count of out-of-town non-Chaine members who attended this event with their spouse. We estimate that the total number attending for this group is around (24+20=44)

o This puts our total attendance at approximately 150. This number includes our three professional members who provided services, but were not included on the official roster -- Professional du Vin Becker, Maitre de Table Restaurateur Ouanesavanh, and Maitre de Table Restaurateur Marotta (This is not a scientific calculation.)

Sooo, here we go, let's have a good time:

First Day, Friday: Joel Klein, set up an all day trip to Kerrville and Fredericksburg. Everyone traveled by luxury motor coach - complete with fine wine ( just to keep the hands busy). During the morning hours, the group viewed the private art collection of L. D. Brinkman. The art collection is housed in a 90-year old mansion formerly owned by the Shreiner's (founding family of Kerrville). This is an outstanding art collection of Native American, Western, and Southwestern art. A collection that most everyone here in the San Antonio Bailliage has seen more than once. No matter how many times one may see this collection, it is always impressive to see again. And, as with any group touring the mansion and viewing the art collection, it would not have been possible without the assistance of our very own Chevalier Wilmer Carroll and Chargé de Presse Robert Schmerbeck in obtaining permission from the owner to do this.

Some photos taken by various individuals while on the streets of San Antonio, on the Riverwalk, the Buckhorn Saloon and the Native American Art Museum  in Kerrville (Click to enlarge)

Following the art tour in Kerrville, the group traveled to the outskirts of Fredericksburg to Becker Vineyards for a wine tasting hosted by Professionnels du Vin Bunny and Richard Becker, owner and co-winemaker of Becker Vineyards. A five-course lunch was prepared and catered in by Chef Rôtisseur Dawn Ouanesavanh and her husband Leu, of August E's restaurant in Fredericksburg. After lunch and mellowing out on some good Becker wines, the group headed into proper Fredericksburg to visit the Admiral Chester Nimitz Museum, the George H. W. Bush Gallery, and the shops along Main Street. I don't believe that this group did much walking along main street due to the extremely cold weather, so once everyone was back and seated in the bus, back to San Antonio they headed in order that all may prepare for the first big dinner of the event.

The bus arrived back at the hotel at approximately 5 p.m. "Hotel Contessa" was designated the headquarters' hotel for this event. This hotel is a beautiful all-suite boutique hotel on the San Antonio River walk, and it is just 1/2 block from the Zinc Champagne & Wine Bar, location for our dinner later on.

That evening, prior to dinner, everyone gathered in the lounge of Hotel Contessa for a Champagne Reception. (click image to enlarge)

Vice Chancelier- Argentier /Mirella Monoscalco, Dame Vivian Ray, Jonathan Schlueter, Dame Lucille Boston, Officier Jim Ray	Chevalier Wilmer Carroll, Dame Elaine Carroll, Dame Vivian Ray,  Chargée de Presse Honoraire Judy Salomon; Bailli  San Antonio Bill Salomon, Chargée de Presse Helene Burris, The Chaine Foundation Chairman John Burris	Dame Lucille Boston, Bailli New Orleans Rufus Cressend, Vice Chancelier-Argentier Yvette Cressend, Chargée de Presse Denise M. Valliant	Grand Echanson Dan Gulbronsen, Maria  Busalacchi, Mid Atlantic Echanson Provincial Tony  Busalacchi, Echanson Provincial Hon James Pozzi

After the reception, we walked from the hotel to Zinc's Champagne & Wine Bar. Dinner was to be served in the wine cellar. This is by no means a small wine cellar, the wine bottle capacity is 7,000, and the seating capacity is 72, and that's with adequate elbow room between all the tables. This dinner was maxed out for reservation requests, and there were many individuals unable to participate in this most festive event. The owner Maitre Rôtisseur Randy Mathews calculates that the wine cellar's temperature will rise about 2 degrees with 70-72 diners during the hour and a half time frame. Not too many individuals seemed to be concerned about the temperature that evening. Nor were they concerned about the temperature the last time our Bailliage hosted a function in this location. The San Antonio Bailliage had their 2006 Holiday Formal at this very location on December 10. This time, just like the last, everyone had a superb dinner. Randy certainly exceeded expectations for dinner that evening, and as he has always done in the past, and as he will probably always do in the future.

(note: the author of this story did not have access to the dinner attendee's list nor the attendees rank, so please forgive the fact that information will be lacking in some areas.)

Bailli Cheryl & Chevalier Steve Kenny, Lacs Et Des Bois (Houston)	Diane Mathews conversing with Argentier National Michael Parmet & Bailli Provincial Larry Vogel	First Course: Pomegranate Marinated Duck Confit Salad	Bailli Bill Salomon, Conseiller Gastronomique National Roger Tracy & Vice  Conseiller Culinaire Randy Mathews	The settings! If we look closely, we can spot our Chargée de Missions Carol Klein	Chargée de Missions Carol Klein & Bailli Honoraire Joel Klein; Chargée de Presse (Houston) Helene Burris
Bailli de Chicago etc. Jane Tracy listening to Chargé de Missions National Carl Hall	It's now time to break bread.	Second Course: Wood Grilled Langostino  & Spinach Empanada	WOW! I have not heard anything that funny in my entire lifetime!!! Vice Chancelier Délégué Brillat Savarin Steve Gerkin	Valerie & Chevalier Philip D'Addona, Santa Barbara,  Officier Jim Ray & Dame Vivian Ray	Dame Elaine & Chevalier Wilmer Carroll, Chargée de Presse National Sandra Miller
Diane Mathews, Chargée de Presse Honoraire Judy Salomon	Chancelier National George Brown Seattle, Bailli Provincial Southwest Region Mark Bermann, Houston	Entrée:    Tenderloin of Carne Asada with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, Cebolla & Poblano Rajas, Pomegranate, Molasses, & horseradish Glazed Quail . . . etc	Bailli Bill Salomon, Bailli Délégué National Joe Caruso, Vice  Conseiller Culinaire Randy Mathews, Conseiller Gastronomique National Roger Tracy	I promise you. . . if you drink one bottle of wine per day, you will grow up as big as I am. Vice  Conseiller Culinaire Randy Mathews, Bailli Honoraire Mildrid Padow, Ft Lauderdale	Wait, wait, wait, wait. I've been drinking a bottle of wine every day for most of my life, but it didn't make me taller??
Pacific Northwest Bailli Provincial Dick Sponholz	Chargée de Presse National Sandra Miller   (Charlotte)	Conseiller Gastronomique National Roger Tracy (Chicago)	Argentier National Michael Parmet(Houston)	Chargée de Presse Honoraire Judy Salomon; Sénéchal  National Honoraire  Bob Epstein, L'Etoile Solitaire (Houston)	Bailli Bill Salomon keeping a very close eye on Judy . . .

Second Day, Saturday: The next morning was a working morning - Bailli Provincial Meeting at 9 a.m., Policy and Planning Committee Meeting at 10 a.m.

At 12 noon, luncheon accompanied with Small Batch Bourbon Tasting. Look at the size of the "taste" in those glasses). Well, after this lunch, yours truly was wiped out and had to use the rest of the afternoon in order to recuperate for the Argyle dinner coming up later in the day. Yes, I made the Policy and Planning Committee meeting, but I missed the Board of Directors meeting held after lunch. However, San Antonio was well represented with our Bailli and Bailli Honoraire in attendance.

Welcome to lunch	The tables are set	This is the Menu	Here's my Seat.	Bottoms up!!

Yes, I learned my lesson concerning Bourbon tasting. I've scratched that event from future participation, especially if our Société Mondiale du Vin Grand Echanson Dan Gulbronsen is hosting the event.

. . . 6:30 Saturday evening, last dinner of the event, "Dinner at the Exclusive Argyle Club." This is a 15 minute ride from the Hotel Contessa to the Argyle. Dinner at the Argyle Club was a special "Dinner from Spain." Our Société Mondiale du Vin Grand Echanson Dan Gulbronsen selected top of the line Spanish wines to accompany this dinner. Club Manager, Maître de Table Restaurateur John Marotta was on hand to make sure that all went according to plan. . . It did, and all who were there had a great time. Let's take a look and see all that went on during this event . . . (titles will be a little more loose in this last section.)

Our own Vice  Conseiller Gastronomique Honoraire Wayne Bundrick and wife Helen.	Here we have Randy with all the girls: Helen, Diane, Vivian, and Elaine	Our Leader: Bailli Délégué National Joe Caruso, Cape Caneveral	A picture that traveled Nation wide after the Dinner: Chargé de Missions National Carl Hall; Bailli Honoraire Joel Klein, Chargée de Missions Carol Klein, Conseiller Gastronomique National Roger Tracy, Bailli Chicago  Jane Tracy	Chevalier Joe Hoelscher, Dame Carolyn Hoelscher, and Chevalier Wilmer Carroll.	One of these guys gets full salary for working for the Chaine, the other doesn't get anything.
Wilmer is doing some very serious thinking here.	Now that we have that out of the way, bring your wife over and have a toast.	Our two lovely friends from Santa Barbara Phil and Valerie	Sénéchal  National Honoraire  Bob Epstein; Chargée de Presse Provinciale Linda McAulay; C.J. Stelly, Chancelier Délégué Académie de Gastronomie Brillat-Savarin		Bill never has any trouble attracting the ladies. Its gotta be the tie!!  . . .   Mary Alice Parmet & Chargée de Presse Helene Burris (Houston)
Men in Black . . . Conseiller Gastronomique National Roger Tracy, Bailli Bill Salomon, Bailli Provincial Georges Muller, Argentier National Michael Parmet	From now on, both of you guys need to keep this woman away from Randy!	Wilmer, Elaine, Joe, Carolyn for a group shot.	Chargée de Presse Denise Valliant, Chevalier Allen Valliant (Austin), Webmaster, Vice Chancelier-Argentier Yvette Cressend (New Orleans)	(left) Chevalier Steve Kenny, Lacs Et Des Bois (Houston), and Bailli Provincial Southwest	Echanson Provincial Hon James Pozzi with wife Jan, and Société Mondiale du Vin Grand Echanson des Etats-Unis Dan Gulbronson
Number two man National: Chancelier National, Membre, Conseil Magistral Honoraire (Paris) George Brown	Mark, Bailli Kauai/Oahu; Valerie, Mirella, Lucille Boston with Daughter and Son-in-Law	Joel and Carol Klein with Bailli Provincial Walter Padow, Chargé de Missions Carl Hall (right)	The Hoelscher's Table	The Mathew's and the Bundrick's Table	Our Bailli Délégué National, and our Southwest Bailli Provincial
					This missing photo is the shot that I have been kicking myself ever since for not getting. . . . All the party goers on the bus and waiting to be taken back to Hotel Contessa. Yep, that would have been a beautiful shot from the front of the bus towards the rear with all the cheering, hooting,  and hollering. I missed it.
Here's my friend Rufus, Bailli of New Orleans who took a flooded out devastated City and Bailliage and brought the Bailliage back from the brink of extinction to larger than before	Here's Maitre de Table Restaurateur Marotta showing off his fine wines.	The Salomon's Table.	The Ray's Table.	And that's it folks. The party is over.

The next morning prior to everyone heading for the airport to return home. The Contessa hotel provided a luxury breakfast for all who were able still in town. Our Bailliage heroes who made sure that the San Antonio Bailliage representatives were on hand and doing their hosting responsibilities were Bailli Bill Salomon, Chargée de Presse Honoraire Judy Salomon, Bailli Honoraire Joel Klein, and Chargée de Missions Carol Klein.

Yours truly and Yours truly partner were unable to attend this last function. The last three days had done it's toll, and it was now time for additional recuperation.

Oh well, there is always next year.  For Additional Photos of out of town attendees please  . . . ** CLICK HERE ***