I've been hearing some troubling stories from around the state.

It seems to me some of our liquor operations are losing sight of why we are in the business.

It may not seem fair, but as a City owned business we need to hold our management and staff to a higher standard. We are not a part of the good old boys club!

It saddens and frustrates me to see that there are managers and staff being reprimanded for misconduct. One of the reasons for a municipality to be in the liquor operations is to control the sale of alcohol in our communities. I challenge everyone to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are a positive role model in your community?

I know there are great managers and staff in City owned stores. But every time something bad happens, it is all over the news and then people offer up the question.....Why are cities in the liquor business??

I can attest to some very hard working managers and staff who are providing their cities with thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in tax relief each year to their city residents. The dollars these managers produce in their stores and what they do for their communities often gets lost.

When a private owner or large box store comes to town and wants to open a liquor store, is our business valued enough by our city leaders to stand up and say no to them and keep our stores in business. Are we as managers and staff doing everything we can to promote the liquor business and ensure we are adding to the bottom line?

As budgets get tighter and tighter it is very important for all of us to stay fresh. Don't stay stagnant in the business. Promote great values and expect your staff to be professional. Lead by example. Do not get lax in your position. I understand change is hard sometimes but it is necessary all the time.

I was in a store recently visiting, and was surprised to see that the manager had not implemented the .49/.99 pricing yet. This is a store that does a good business and is valued in the community. I wonder why this small task had not been done yet? Too busy? Doesn't believe it will add to the bottom line?

If you have not done it, ask someone who has. It is well worth the time and you will see the benefits on your bottom line.

Lara Smetana

Voyageur Bottle Shope (Pine City)

Is it finally time for Minnesota to overturn its Sunday liquor store ban?

Yes, according to the majority of State Fair goers who participated in the 2012 Minnesota House of Representatives opinion survey.

The survey is unscientific, and polls Minnesotans on issues likely to be discussed in the upcoming legislative session. Of the more than 9,000 who participated this year, 63 percent say they believe liquor stores should be able to be open on Sundays, about 30 percent oppose the reform, and 7 percent are undecided.

The poll also asked if we should adopt a "Stand-Your-Ground" type law, meaning Minnesotans could defend themselves against an attacker -- including with the use of lethal force -- and no longer have the duty to retreat. About 48 percent voted against it, 40 percent for it, and 12 percent are undecided.

A few more highlights:

* 93 percent don't think employers should be allowed to require employees to give up their social media passwords.

* 53 percent want a higher threshold for getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

* 85 percent believe Hmong-American and Lao-American vets who fought on the U.S. side in the Vietnam War should be eligible to be buried at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

* Fair goers are split on whether we should legalize bottle rockets and other fire crackers.

Click Here to See the Poll

From Minnesota Public Radio

Taxes on new electronic pull tabs are supposed to help pay for about one-third of the new Vikings stadium. And the games could be in gambler's hands in Minnesota in less than two weeks. That's the word from the Minnesota Gambling Control Board and from the first manufacturer given the go ahead to bring the pull tabs to this state.

Treasures of the Jungle is one of a handful of the new games getting a final check by state regulators. The state's chief gambling regulator says he thinks the games have a good chance of winning approval at the next meeting of the state's gambling control board Sept. 18. The games could start taking bets within hours of approval.

Click Here to Read More & See a Demonstration

In an effort to help members Promote the Community Value of their Municipal Liquor Operation, MMBA, in partnership with MillerCoors is coordinating the Fifth Annual Municipal Liquor Food Drive benefiting your local food shelf.

This effort generated 11.5 tons of food donations to local food shelves in the first year,

20.5 tons in the second year, 28.75 tons in the third year and 34 tons last year!!

Again this year, there will be two competition brackets, based on 2010 annual sales:

$1,000,000 and Above

Below $1,000,000

The individual facility (not city) in each category with the highest weight donated will earn a $1,000 donation to their local food shelf from MillerCoors and MMBA.

In addition:

Through a random drawing, ten $100 donations will be made to food shelves of participating facilities, other than the category winners. So, everyone has a chance to win!

Here are additional details:

* The food drive will run from October 1 - October 31, 2012.

* Each participating MMBA member will collect dry food, can goods & cash for donation to your local food shelf of choice. Anything your food shelf will accept is eligible to be counted, including, but not limited to, field produce and canned / bottled water. Each $1 in cash donations will be counted as 1 pound of food.

* At the end of the event (November 1), please take the collected food and cash to the food shelf to be weighed. (Contact the MMBA office if you need assistance locating your local food shelf.)

* A week or so after the conclusion of the event, an MMBA director will call you for the weight total given by your food shelf. You can also send the MMBA office the information at: kaspszak@visi.com, phone: 763.572.0222, 866.938.3925 or fax, 763.572.8163.

* One 7 foot banner, one 2 foot by 3 foot sign and two counter cash buckets will be created and provided by MillerCoors. Additional signage can be obtained by contacting your MillerCoors Distributor. Materials will arrive mid-September.

Here are some successful ideas to promote the event:

* Facility product discount for those donating food.

* Stapling a flyer to carry-out bags.

*  Displaying the food in the front of the store to catch customer eyes.

*  Reference or total focus in advertising mediums.

*  MillerCoors wholesaler could build a platform of MillerCoors cases for the food to display on, or a wall of cases around an area where donations will beplaced.

*  Local newspaper story.

*  Collect contributions by participating in other community events.

If your municipal lqiuor operation would like to participate in this event, contact the MMBA Office at:

Phone: 763-572-0222 or 866-938-3925

Fax: 763-572-8163

Email: kaspszak@visi.com

Beverage Alcohol Training

On his parent's 50th wedding anniversary, Steve remarked to his father that he and Mom never seemed to fight.

"We've battled," he said, "but it never amounted to much.

After awhile, one of us always realized I was wrong."