Good Fellowship, Excellent Cuisine, and Fine Wines Enhances Members' Lives
The Metropolitan Washington D.C. Chapter held it first event in 1998 with some 22 new Members under Pat Bray's leadership. The D.C. Chapter has hosted at least two Black Tie events each year since. In 2002 and 2017 the Washington D.C. Chapter joined with the International in hosting the four-day annual event - called The Annual Convergence. In 2002 the host hotel, the Willard Intercontinental on Pennsylvania Avenue, is steps away from the White House. Friday's reception was held at the Embassy of Canada at the foot of Capitol Hill. Saturday's cocktails and formal dinner was held on the rooftop of the Kennedy Center overlooking the Potomac River, Roosevelt Island, and Georgetown. In 2017 the host hotels were the St. Regis and the Capitol Hilton adjacent to Lafayette Square. Thursday's cocktail reception was held on the rooftop of the Hay Adams hotel overlooking the White House and the Friday cocktail reception was held on the roof of the Canadian Embassy overlooking the Capitol. Saturday's cocktail reception was held on the terrace and lobby of the St. Regis with the formal dinner in the ballroom preceded by the Honor Guards of the United States and Canada presenting their respective national flags with the anthems sung by the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington. Saturday's after-party was at P J Clarks across from the St.Regis on Black Lives Matter Plaza. Sunday Brunch took place at the Old Ebbott across from the US Treasury and the Sunday evening's stragglers party, including a drag show, was at Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Crystal City. Beginning in 2003 under C. Ray Flynn's leadership the chapter continued to expand. In October 2009, Robert Pullen became chapter President. In October 2013 Robert Jamroz became chapter President. In May 2022, Armando Rascon became chapter President.
The Metropolitan Washington D.C. Chapter has held the following events:
1998 ~ The Morrison Clark House - The Henley Park Hotel
1999 ~ DC Coast - L'Auberge Provencale in White Post
2000 ~ 17th Street Bar & Grill - Embassy of New Zealand
2001 ~ Embassy of Canada - The Jefferson Hotel
2002 ~ Black Tie Convergence a the Willard Intercontinental - The Washington Plaza Hotel
2003 ~ The Park Hyatt Hotel - The Georgetown Club
2004 ~ The City Club at Benjamin Franklin Square - DC Coast
2005 ~ L'Auberge Provencale in White Post - The City Club at Columbia Square
2006 ~ Arcadia - The Virginia Squire in Winchester
2007 ~ The City Club on Franklin Square - The Capitol Elite
2008 ~ A Tenth Year Celebration:
The National Press Club - The City Club at Columbia Square
2009 ~ The Mimslyn Inn in Luray - The Hay Adams on Lafayette Square
2010 ~ The University Club - The J W Marriott at Francis Scott Key Bridge
2011 ~ The Hotel Madison - The Army Navy Club on Farragut Square
2012 ~ The Renaissance Hotel on Mount Vernon Square - The Virginia Squire in Winchester
2013 ~ La Bergerie in Old Town Alexandria - The Ritz Carlton
2014 ~ The Cosmos Club - The National Press Club
2015 ~ The Mayflower Hotel - The University Club
2016 ~ The Army Navy Country Club in Arlington - The National Elite
2017 - Black Tie Convergence at the St. Regis and Capitol Hilton - The Ritz Carlton
2018 ~ A Twentieth year Celebration:
The National Press Club - The St. Regis
2019 ~ The Army Navy Club - The Tower Club
2020 ~ Events cancelled due to COVID 19 Pandemic
2021 ~ The Army Navy Country Club in Arlington
2022 ~ The National Press Club - Ruth's Chris
2023 ~ J Gilberts - The Morrison-Clark Historic Inn
2024 ~ Annabelle, DC
Pat Bray