Thursday, 3 December, 2015
SASA
Attendance was open to all members and voting members had the opportunity to forward nominations for a new SASA Executive Committee (board) during the weeks building up to the meeting, and a new board was elected at the AGM.
SASA is a not-for-profit, membership driven organisation, established in 2011 to promote the sommelier profession in South Africa. After a warm welcome from current Chairman Neil Grant, he went through the agenda starting with the financial report of the previous year and giving feedback on achievements. SASA’s involvement in industry related projects like the Inter-Hotel Challenge, Cape Wine Auction, The Somm Selection and Cape Wine 2015, have been both instrumental and very well received. Projects for 2016 has already kicked off with the first ever SASA sommelier course in South Africa (exam will be in January) and the Best Sommelier of South Africa and the WOSA Sommelier World Cup to look forward to. 2015 has shown a rapid growth in members and SASA is positive about further growth, as more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of wine service in our growing tourism industry.
SASA would like to encourage wine professionals and wine lovers to visit our website for details of our events and tastings, industry updates, and our expanding classifieds platform. Benefit from special promotions and specialised wine tastings by signing up as a member if you haven't done so yet. Application forms and more information available on the website www.sommeliers.org.za
Without any objections the new Executive Committee for 2016 was elected with a unanimous result:
- David Clarke - re-elected
- Joseph Dhafana – Newly elected
- Neil Grant – re-elected
- Joakim Hansi Blackadder – re-elected
- Higgo Jacobs – re-elected
- Pearl Oliver – Newly elected
- Jean-Vincent Ridon – re-elected
SASA extends a warm welcome to the two new members on the board and look forward to achieving more goals and creating a bigger awareness of wine service in South Africa in 2016!