CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DOUGLAS RUSSELL
Candidate for President 2008-2010
One of 5 founding members of the Vancouver American Wine Society since 1981, the year of its inception and the Society’s current Past President, Douglas has fulfilled the capacity of President for 5 previous 2-year terms during which many new events and programs were introduced.  He is the senior executive director for the Western Canada region of Sunrise Senior Living and a wine enthusiast who – in addition to having previously served as a Director, Vice President and Events Committee Chairman of the Society – has been a member of the Executive and Events Committees for more than 20 years.  As our Cellar Master during that same time period, he is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Society’s extensive cellar collection.  A frequent visitor to the wineries of Oregon, California, Washington and the Okanagan and a member of several other wine and food oriented groups – including the Society of Wine Educators – Douglas is a regular speaker at wine tasting functions.  For many years, he has been our Society’s representative in the planning of the major charity-related festivals featuring American wine held in Vancouver and our principal contact with both the Children’s House Society of British Columbia (Ronald McDonald House) and the United States Consulate General, co-sponsors of our operation.

RON SIMPSON
Candidate for Director 2008-2011
Ron Simpson has been a member of the Vancouver American Wine Society since 1991, and has served 3 terms as a director.  During that time he has acted as newsletter editor, as a member of the Events Committee and, since 1998, as membership chair and website administrator.  He manages to attend most of the VAWS events and has led several tastings. He has also been on many wine-tasting excursions to California and the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the world. Ron is a professional geoscientist and consults on mining projects throughout North and South America.

DENIS MAC AREE
Candidate for Director 2008-2011
Denis Mac Aree has been an active member of the Vancouver American Wine Society for over seventeen years.  He is currently President of the Society, has been a director and Treasurer of the Society, having previously served as treasurer for two terms.  You will have seen him at most society events except while on vacation, etc.  In addition to helping with the pouring of wine before Tastings, he also assists the Cellar Master with wine deliveries as required.  He is also a member of Events Committee.  Denis volunteers annually for the International Wine Festival, the California Wine Fair, and other wine festivals as needed.  Being a wine enthusiast, he has traveled and tasted wines in more places that he can recall.  His business background is in management and finance.

BRIAN GLAUM
Candidate for Director 2008-2011
Brian Glaum has been a member of VAWS since 1997 and has previously been a member of the Executive Committee as well as being active in the Events Committee, helping to organize dinners and tastings. He is also active with the BC Wine Appreciation Society, helping to plan events and bus tours.
An enthusiastic amateur wino, he enjoys going on wine tours and is a frequent visitor to the Okanagan valley with his partner Kristal to stock up the cellar.
He would look forward to serving another 3 year term as a Director.

DONALD KAVANAGH
Candidate for Director 2008-2011
Donald Kavanagh was born 11th of 12 on a potato farm in Grand Falls, NB. and graduated from Loyola (Concordia) in Montreal and from Parsons of New York in Interior Design. He moved to BC in '71 starting hes Design Company / Construction Management and was full time Faculty member in Interior Design at Douglas College for 10 years.
•    Member of Interior Designers of Canada since '73, was President and Chairman and in '86 was named a Fellow of IDC. Represented Canada in London in '76 and in DC in '78 at the International Interior Design Association / IFI.
•    Member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, '79, A Paul Harris Fellow, Past President and now  Assistant Governor for BC
•    Member of The Vancouver Club and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
•    Active member of Pius X in North Vancouver, former member of the Board of Directors of STA High School
•    Member of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
•    Current President of the North and West Vancouver Mental Health Board
•    Member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs

My Design work takes me International: Custom Homes; 1,000's of renovations;  28 Suite Beach Front Condo in White Rock; Fishing Resort; 30+ Medical Offices; Animal Hospital; Funeral Homes; Restaurants including 3 Sirlioner's, The Bistro and Beatty Street Pub at THe William Tell.  
 
I have visited 10+ Countries in Europe; Singapore; Nepal; Thailand; Australia (4) and New Zealand; St. Thomas and most of Canada and the US.
 
I have been a member of our Wine group for more than two years, have attended and poured at two summer BBQ's; two wine evenings and about four dinners. And Years of GREAT wines and Friendship with The Hayto Family.