Overview

The Birmingham Branch of IW&FS was founded by Dr. Stacy Childs on November 21, 1988 with 22 charter members. In addition to Kris and Dr. Childs, the other charter members were: Mary and Edward Baich, Donna and David Black, Rossi and Frank Cobb, Daryl and Robert Davis, Pat and Wimberly Miree, Nicki and Robert Naftel, Nancy and Paul Nagrodski, Cathy and Gordon Pate, Frances and Frank Stitt, and Becky and Lee Weathers. As of 2025, our current membership is 103 members.

The Branch is managed by our President (Sam Wasko), our Treasurer (Lauren McGiboney), our Secretary (Julie Boteler), our Education Chair (Drew Jones), our Branch Contact (Brad McGiboney), and a Steering Committee consisting of fifteen members: Dick Barnett, Julie Boteler, Jamie Burke, Gordon Connor, Howard Goldberg, Martha Griffin, Drew Jones, John Mayer, Brad McGiboney, Lauren McGiboney, Wimberly Miree, Bradley Pate, Leslie Wright Rubio, Roger Stephenson, and Sam Wasko.

We typically hold 10 to 12 events per year including wine dinners at the best restaurants in town, our annual Summer picnic, our annual Holiday party, and a variety of wine education events. Attendees of the Summer picnic and Holiday party bring exceptional wines from their own cellars to share with all.  We recently added an IWFS-Birmingham Club only wine auction to raise money for selected charities which as been very successful.  Membership is by invitation only.