THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 11, 2008
President Dick DePatie opened the meeting with 124 members present, and membership of 485. New Members present were James Rae and Ernest Mysogland. Minister of Health Bob Moylan reported no news is good news.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next week's meeting will be at the Presbyterian Church. Bob Lear has written a new book about New Canaan charitable volunteers. Joe Kelly thanked the volunteer readers at South School. The Nominating committee chaired by Jim D'Acosta presented the following slate to be voted on at the Annual meeting. President, Jack Messert, Vice Presidents, Bob Stephen and Joel Pelzner. Treasurer, Jim Davis, Assistant Treasurer, Wally Pease, Secretary, Harry Hitch, Assistant Secretaries, Eric Musa and Don Hudson.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge, racquetball and paddle as usual.. Amateur Chefs meet on 4/17 for German lunch. 4F's at Red Barn on 4/25. Photography meets on 4/16, 10:30AM @ Lapham to study The Glass House. Trail Blazers walk on 4/17, Aspetuck Trail, 8:30AM. Pete Stair will lead in Brooklyn on 5/7, Prospect Park.
COUTH: April 23 and 30 at the Glass House. Tickets will show times. May13 a visit to the New Britain Museum, leaving at 9:30AM, lunch at the Hawthorne Inn. $75 pp.
HUMORIST Bob Moylan told a dumb blond joke with the blond proving why such jokes are told
SPEAKER: Stephan Brauer, general manager of Pernod Ricard, USA Wine and Champagne business discussed the changes in the wine industry . Wine is only 7% of the alcohol sold with sales of $28 billion a year. Alcohol beverages are the most important factor in grocery store sales. The U.S. is the third largest wine consumer in the world following United Kingdom and France. The growth of table wines has been large as more and more people switch from beer and hard liquor. Imports are up 50%, although domestic wines comprise 73% share. The largest exporters to the U.S. are Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Since the movie "Sideways", Pinot Noir is the fastest growing type of wine leading the fast growing red wine business. Several medical studies have emphasized the health aspects of a glass of red wine each day. The typical wine consumer is well educated, affluent and white. Their usage of wine moves up the price and quality scale as they use more. Interestingly, wine selling for under $10 a bottle is still most popular, but the over $10 bottles are gaining market share The per capita usage in the U.S. is much smaller than in Australia and Europe showing the growth potential. The newest trend is the consolidation of the industry with big companies continuing to buy out smaller ones.
Unfortunately, no free samples were given out, disappointing many of the attendees. On the plus side we learned a great deal about the industry.
Harry Hitch, Secretary