GWS Zoom Holiday Gathering – December 19th, 2020

ANNOUNCING GERMAN WINE SOCIETY CAPITAL CHAPTER ZOOM HOLIDAY GATHERING, DECEMBER 19, 2020

Ho, Ho, Ho, German Wine Society Members and Friends of German Wines, it’s nearly time to hang the stockings and dream of delicious German wine!

This year, as a necessary response to the pandemic situation, we are for the first time conducting our annual Holiday event virtually, via Zoom.  We have acquired an annual Zoom subscription for our GWS chapter, as some other wine groups have also been doing due to the restrictions on large in-person gatherings.  You will need to have access to Zoom to participate, either downloaded on your computer or otherwise usable via your browser. 

This will be a much more flexible event than our usual Holiday Dinners.  Participants will choose their own favorite German wines and holiday foods to enjoy during the event.  Dress as you prefer, in festive attire, holiday sweaters or casual – we do not have a Cosmos Club dress code to satisfy.   We will still have one of the favorite features of the traditional Holiday Dinners, though – festive live holiday music performed on the piano.   After some introductory remarks, an anticipated discussion of the 2020 vintage in Germany by Annette Schiller, and the musical program (during which we will ask all guests to mute their own connections for maximum enjoyment by all), we will invite guests in turn to offer brief holiday greetings and remarks to the rest of the group.  Though guests can pass on speaking if they prefer, we want to be sure that everyone who would like to speak has a chance to do so.  You will then be free to discuss with other guests the wines you are enjoying and experiences of the past year.   And, best of all, there will be NO CHARGE for this virtual Holiday Gathering.   We will, however, need to limit the event to members in good standing, so please be sure that you are current on your annual dues when registering.  

The Holiday Gathering will begin at 5:00 pm EST on Saturday, December 19, and continue for about two hours.   Those who register for the event, whether through our website or by returning the registration form, will receive an email with a link for the Zoom event.   Board member Karen Stokes will be organizing our Zoom event.   If you have questions about using Zoom, please send them to me in advance at the email address below, and I will forward them to her.

The deadline for reservations is Monday, December 14, so that we can notify everyone in time of the information needed to participate.   We’ve all missed seeing each other for the past several months, and this is our last chance before the end of the year for the German Wine Society to share a convivial occasion.  So please make your reservations right away and don’t miss out!

There are now two ways to join in the fun.  You can register for the event using PayPal (free with up-to-date membership).  
Event registration date has passed.

Or, you can submit a reservation for the event by mail to the Chapter President and Secretary, with a check for any annual dues owed payable to the German Wine Society, at the following address and using the form below.  Please include names, number of guests, email (essential to participate in this virtual event!) and phone number.   If you are not sure whether you are current on your dues, please contact me and I will check chapter records.   If you did not pay during 2020, however, please assume that a $35 dues payment will be owed, as an individual or couple.

Carl Willner

1014 Reserve Champion Drive

Rockville, MD 20850  

I can be reached by email at carl.willner1@verizon.net, or at 202-674-9044.   Please contact me with any questions or correspondence in response to this notice.  

One of the pleasures of conducting a virtual event is that we do not need to have the same level of concern as usual about members and guests getting home safely, such as using designated drivers (but do please keep those sensible precautions in mind if you are visiting a friend for this event rather than participating from your home).  All Society Members and guests are nevertheless reminded that drinking alcohol can lead to intoxication, and therefore Society members and their guests are expected to drink in moderation at Society events.  Among other things, that will help avoid any mishaps using your computer!

If you no longer wish to receive our announcements, please reply to this email to me as chapter Secretary and let me know.

If registering by mail, please cut and return the reservation form portion of the notice below – do not mail the entire notice.

Carl Willner