Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(July 17, 2011 - July 23, 2011)
 Click Here
for the
As I See It... 
 
Minnesota Flag    

 Wow! What a ride for the liquor Industry

 during the government shutdown....


 * Buyer's cards expiring.

 * Distributor's cards expiring.

 * The possibility of pulling Miller/Coors off our shelves

Well, a couple of days ago the Governor signed the state back into being open for business, and the calm will settle across the land (sarcastic statement), birds chirping and smiles on all Minnesotan's.

The question we must ask is....... "What have we learned from the past 2.5 weeks?"

As a manager you need to be involved with the organization that is here to help you, MMBA.

MMBA checked with several stores at the beginning of June to see when most buyers' cards expired for "Muni's." Turns out it was 12-31-11. To be safe, we then sent an email reminding stores to check their buyer's cards and make sure they renewed ASAP if indeed they had June expirations.

Our lobbyist were hard at work to remind legislators that expired cards needed an extension which will give all liquor establishments until July 31st to get updated licensing.  This was accomplished on page 47 .

By being involved our cities should be poised to prosper and not be in a position of "We have to close the doors."

Thanks again to Paul Kaspszak and out lobbyists Joe and Sarah

Have a great summer selling all of the fine products we represent.

Michael Friesen, MMBA Director
Taking Advantage of Opportunities 

Restroom Sign

  

 

Beer Actually Solved the State Shutdown
 
 
The following is from Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report:

 

Political mischief-maker Robert Erickson (aka Nick Espinosa) has directed a video that, to hear him tell it, was the key to a shutdown-ending deal at the Capitol.

 

No Beer No Work (Click Here to View)  employs a chorus of singing beer drinkers enraged at the prospect of going without their favorite beverage in a protracted shutdown scenario.

 

The threat of losing these hard-working suds lovers apparently galvanized legislative and executive leaders to hammer out a compromise by Thursday afternoon.

 

Normally, we'd remind Espinosa of the pitfalls of post hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy,  but he's made such a compelling argument here that the cause-effect relationship seems undeniable.

 

The Bottom Line of the State Budget Negotiations 
 
Negotiations
 

By Paul Kaspszak, MMBA Executive Director

 

Many have asked my thoughts on the recent state budget negotiations.  

 

Instead of focusing on specific issues and proposals, I like to discuss negotiation concepts that led to the situation.

 

According to Dr David Venter Co-founder and Director of Global Negotiation Academy...

 

A "bottom line" signifies the worst possible outcome that a negotiator might accept. The bottom line is meant to act as the final barrier where a negotiation will not proceed further. It is a means to defend oneself against the pressure and temptation that is often exerted on a negotiator to conclude an agreement that is self defeating. Although bottom lines definitely serve a purpose, they also regrettably foster inflexibility, stifle creativity and innovation, and lessen the incentive to seek tailor-made solutions that resolve differences.

 

In the recent negotiations, here were the bottom lines of the participants:

 

Governor: The Need for Additional Revenue (While he focused on tax increases, his bottom line was more money.)

 

New Freshman Republicans: No Additional Revenue (It was not a "revenue" issue, it was a "spending" issue.)

 

Traditional Republicans: No Tax Increases (However, they wanted to support the Freshman Republicans responsible for creating the legislative majority.)

 

As you can see, these differing bottom lines did lead to a "barrier where the negotiation did not proceed further."

 

Agreement only occurred when the bottom line changed for the Freshman Republicans:

 

The Governor got additional revenue.

 

The Traditional Republicans did not allow a tax increase.

 

The New Freshman Republicans accepted additional revenue (contrary to their initial bottom line position) in exchange for reforms they deem important.

 

The question for the future will depend on the bottom line positions of each negotiator and whether or not the parties believe they have a strong Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA).

 

According to Venter..

 

In contrast to a bottom line, a BATNA is not interested in the objectives of a negotiation, but rather to determine the course of action if an agreement is not reached within a certain time frame. As a gauge against which an agreement is measured, it prohibits a negotiator from accepting an unfavourable agreement or one that is not in their best interests because it provides a better option outside the negotiation.

 

Since BATNA is the alternative to what a negotiated agreement would be otherwise, it permits far greater flexibility and allows much more room for innovation than a predetermined bottom line. When a negotiator has a strong BATNA, they also have more power because they possess an attractive alternative that they could resort to if an acceptable agreement is not achieved.

 

In other words, what course of action will parties take should future negotiations fail?

 

Another shutdown?

 

Only time, bottom lines, and BATNAs will tell.

 

 

When you have the right staff,

potential skyrockets

Future Dates to Remember!!
 2011 MMBA Regional Meetings
  
Fall 2011
  
2012 MMBA Boot Camp
  
February 21-22, 2012
Breezy Point Resort 
  
2012 MMBA Annual Conference
  
May 20-22, 2012
Arrowwood Resort
  

 

Ask A Director

Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163

Cathy Pletta
Kasson
507-634-7618
  
Vicki Segerstrom
Milaca
320-983-6255
  
Brian Hachey
Stacy
651-462-2727

Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578

Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020

Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747

Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349

Steve Grausam
Edina
952-903-5732

Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035

Michelle Olson
Sebeka
218-837-9745
E-Mail Me

Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113
  
Shelly Dillon
Callaway
218-375-4691
  
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
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Happy 84th Birthday Helen!!

Buy American Statute Repealed

The omnibus higher education finance bill passed in the recent special session included a provision to repeal the statute requiring public employers to buy American products.

 

A small provision included on the last page of the omnibus higher education finance bill repeals Minnesota Statutes, section 181.986 , the

so-called Buy American statute that was enacted in 2010. The repeal is retroactive to July 1, 2011.

 

 The statute prohibited public employers from "knowingly purchasing or acquiring, furnishing, or requiring an employee to purchase or acquire for wear or use while on duty" any uniform, safety equipment, or protective accessories not manufactured in the United States.

 

Click Here to See All of the Special Session Legislation