Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(March 4, 2012 - March 10, 2012)
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As I See It... 
Gun 

 

Well, after a refreshing session at Boot Camp 2012, one thing I came back with were the two words "Customer Service."

 

If you were not there, I hope you watched the video on customer service that Paul put into last week's newsletter. I just watched it for the second time and I think many people could benefit from viewing this short video. (Click Here to See the Video)

 

In our industry, or any other retail business, we are here to provide customer service and do our best to ensure the customer is satisfied when leaving and hope they will return to shop with us again.

 

I had a somewhat regular customer in my store a few weeks ago (maybe see her once a month). She always purchases a 12 pack of Pabst. Our 12 packs are on the top rail in the cooler and she was struggling to get it out.

 

When I saw this, I walked back thinking it was stuck up there and I asked her if I could help.

 

She was so grateful and told me her husband had just died the night before and she was a mess. I listened while she talked and cried. It reminded me to always think about what others are going through and not to judge.

 

My city administrator requested all management staff in our city read an article called "What makes a Leader" by Daniel Goleman.

 

It focused on emotional intelligence and listed 5 components that make up emotional intelligence:

 

Self-awareness

Self-regulation

Motivation

Empathy

Social skill

 

It was definitely a good article and I would recommend it to anyone to read. (Click Here to Access the Article)

  

I think we all lose sight of what is important to us and others at times, and we need gentle reminders (or as in the video) maybe a bit more....like a gun to the side of the head. Ok......just kidding on that one; don't go buy a gun if you are treated rudely!

 

Just live by that rule of:

 

Treat others as you would like to be treated

 

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!!

 

Nancy Drumsta

Delano Wine and Spirits

 

 
Cash Shortages
Cash Register 

At the recent MMBA Boot Camp, a member asked:

Can a liquor operation run a bank with their staff making them responsible for their cash?

According to Minnesota Statute:

181.79 WAGES DEDUCTIONS FOR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP, LOSS, THEFT, OR DAMAGE.

 

Subdivision 1.Deduction requirements.

 

(a) No employer shall make any deduction, directly or indirectly, from the wages due or earned by any employee, who is not an independent contractor, for lost or stolen property, damage to property, or to recover any other claimed indebtedness running from employee to employer, unless the employee, after the loss has occurred or the claimed indebtedness has arisen, voluntarily authorizes the employer in writing to make the deduction or unless the employee is held liable in a court of competent jurisdiction for the loss or indebtedness. Such authorization shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding. Any authorization for a deduction shall set forth the amount to be deducted from the employee's wages during each pay period.

 

(b) A deduction may not be in excess of the amount established by law as subject to garnishment or execution on wages.

 

(c) Any agreement entered into between an employer and an employee contrary to this section shall be void. This section shall not apply to the following:

 

(1) in cases where a contrary provision in a collective bargaining agreement exists;

 

(2) any rules established by an employer for employees who are commissioned salespeople, where the rules are used for purposes of discipline, by fine or otherwise, in cases where errors or omissions in performing their duties exist; or

 

(3) in cases where an employee, prior to making a purchase or loan from the employer, voluntarily authorizes in writing that the cost of the purchase or loan shall be deducted from the employee's wages, at regular intervals or upon termination of employment.

 

Subd. 2.Violations by employer.

 

An employer who violates the provisions of this section shall be liable in a civil action brought by the employee for twice the amount of the deduction or credit taken.

 

A State of Minnesota representative summed it up:

 

There is no prohibition under MN labor laws for having an employee run his/her own cash bank during a shift.  There would be a violation of 181.79 if the employee came up short in cash and the employer deducted any losses from earned wages without first obtaining a voluntary, written authorization from the affected employee after the loss occurred.

 
Legislative Update

 

By:   MMBA Lobbyist Sarah J. Psick

 

Omnibus Liquor Bill: The House and Senate Commerce Committees are beginning to work on putting together the Omnibus Liquor bill for the 2012 legislative session.

 

On Wednesday, the House Commerce Committee considered the bill, HF 2432, to allow liquor stores to sell growlers of beer which is not otherwise available in Minnesota in cans or bottles. MMBA President, Tom Agnes, and MLBA Vice President of Off-Sale, Jennifer Schoenzeit, both testified at the committee hearing to provide background and support of the bill. Several concerns have been raised relating to branding, health issues, and other concerns.  

 

The House Commerce Committee will continue to hear liquor related bills next week, and on Tuesday, March 13, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on all liquor bills in the committee's jurisdiction. The bills will not be voted on, but laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus liquor bill.

 

Keep Government Open: A series of bills are working their way through the legislature to allow certain government services to remain open in the event of future state government shutdowns.  

 

Among the services that are being addressed are the Minnesota lottery and racing commission, state parks and recreation areas, the Minnesota Zoo, and the issuing of a few types of licenses including electrical engineers and the "buyers card" for retail bars and liquor stores to buy alcohol from distributors.

 

Most of these bills provide that the funding needed to keep these services open does not come from the state's general fund, but from revenues that are generated by user fees. Democrats in the House and Senate oppose the piece-meal approach to picking which services would continue during a government shutdown and not providing for the continuation of others. They also argue that passing these bills will take the pressure off the legislature to "get their work done on time" in future budget years.

 

Vikings Stadium Update: After announcing an agreement between Governor Dayton, Mayor Rybak, the Minnesota Vikings, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission and Legislative supporters, all eyes have been on watching the House and Senate bill introductions for the Vikings stadium proposal.

 

The bill is expected to be introduced in the legislature on Monday with chief authors Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) and Representative Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead) taking the lead. It is expected that the bill will first be heard in the House Commerce Committee.

 

Senator Gary Kulby (Senate District 20): State Senator Gary Kulby (DFL - Granite Falls) passed away on March 2, 2012 at the age of 68 from ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.  

 

Gary Kubly was a Lutheran pastor who served as a Minnesota State Representative from 1997 to 2003, and as a Minnesota State Senator from 2003 to 2012.  As a legislator, Senator Kubly was a strong voice for rural Minnesota and agriculture.  

 

At the beginning of the 2012 legislative session, Senator Kubly had programmed his iPad to speak a message of thanks on the Senate Floor.

 

In addition to serving his state, Senator Kubly also served his country as a member of the United States Air Force.

 

Special Election: Governor Dayton issued a writ of special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 20 caused by the death of Senator Gary Kubly. The special election will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. If a special primary is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

 

Next Week: The first policy committee deadline is next week on Friday, March 16. This means that committees must "act favorable on bills in the house of origin" in order for a bill to move forward this session.   What this also means is that we can expect the committee agenda's to be lengthy and committee hearings to overflow into the evening hours.

 

Future Dates to Remember!!
  
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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Historical Tidbit
Robber 4

60 years ago (1952)

 

Burglars used nitroglycerin to blow open the safe at the Nisswa municipal liquor store where they made off with $760 in cash.

 

Paper money in the safe was damaged and anyone seeing bills that are torn, or with holes on one end, were asked to call the sheriff.

Robin Hood and His Merry Men are Celebrating....
Robin Hood
Robin Hood and his Merry Men are celebrating their recent triumphs in a local Sherwood Forest pub. 

 They all become intoxicated and soon Friar Tuck begins to sing, as is his wont.  With every drink, the good friar gets louder and louder.
 
Robin, fearing the evil Sheriff of Nottingham might hear the racket, drags the good friar deep into the woods.  He hides him in a hollow log near the river, but the friar sings on. 

Soon, the Sheriff of Nottingham's men arrive to break up the high jinks.
 
The moral of the story?
 
You can lead a drunk to water, but you can't make him hoarse.
 
The pursuit of opportunity will require you to think differently and break the rules that paralyze change
 
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