The following was sent to all Washington Wine Ambassadors on June 6th 2009:
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June 11, 2009
Dear Ambassadors,
It is amazing how far the Washington Wine Ambassador (WWA) Program has
come since it's inception in 2003. We began as the brain child of
Barbara Shotwell, a retired stock broker turned wine volunteer. She
convinced the Board of Washington Wine Commissioners of the value of
Washington wine enthusiasts who could help spread the word about the
state's wonderful wines. As a result, the Ambassador Program was
developed under the auspices of the Washington Wine Commission.
After six years, this program has grown from a very small group of
people to one with over 1300 members, giving thousands of volunteer
hours to the Washington wine industry. Not only have these volunteers
provided between 2000 and 3000 man-hours annually for Taste Washington
alone; the program has been a great source for industry staffing
positions; a labor pool for seasonal requirements; and as always,
fabulous at teaching people about Washington wines both locally and
abroad. The Washington Wine Ambassador Program has been such a
success that other states are mirroring this effort.
We have gotten a lot of notice for all our great work, however, with
success comes exposure. With our growth over the years, the
Washington Wine Commission legal counsel has became concerned about
liability issues for the program. As a result, the Wine Commission
informed the WWA Cork Board that it could no longer continue under the
Washington Wine Commission. The only option for the Ambassador
Program to continue was for it to become it's own non-profit entity,
otherwise the program would have to be terminated. As WWA Cork Board
is made up entirely of volunteers like you, to become a non-profit
organization, the Ambassador Program would need a dedicated staff and
a revenue stream to pay for the legal, insurance and operating
expenses, etc.
Because of these issues and constraints, the WWA CORK BOARD HAS
ELECTED TO DISSOLVE THE WASHINGTON WINE AMBASSADOR (WWA) PROGRAM AS IT
CURRENTLY EXISTS, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2009. This has not been an easy
decision for the members of the Cork Board. We know how much each of
you care about this Program and how much you have given to all the
groups that we have helped. Your support, energy and enthusiasm are
valued assets. We encourage you to continue to volunteer for your
favorite organizations and wineries as a continuing legacy to the
Washington Wine Ambassador Program.
All the Best,
The Cork Board
Washington Wine Ambassadors