Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(October 26, 2014 - November 1, 2014)
 Click Here
for the
As I See It...

The October food drive is coming to a close.

 

Did you and your store participate?

 

With the help of Miller-Coors and the MMBA, it is easy to promote the food drive and what a nice way to show the community that you care.

 

There are always those in the community who do not drink or think government should not be in the liquor business. It is up to us as managers and employees to educate them on the plus we are to  

the city.

 

We are a small facility (on and off) and do not bring huge profits to the city.

 

But we participate in city functions, promote community programs, and handle the charitable gambling for our volunteer fire department.

 

Their charitable gambling profits have greatly benefited our fire department and therefore keeping our taxes lower than they could be.

 

We participated in the MMBA animal shelter fund raiser last spring.

 

We had an animal costume contest and had so much fun that we are already looking forward to next year.

 

By offering different activities we draw different people and show them we are contributing to the community.

 

We had a new patio with a roof added to increase our outdoor seating for our summer meat raffles and bingo.

 

With a new speaker system and new juke box speakers our outdoor customers will be able to participate in all our activities.

 

The trend has been toward outdoor seating as more and more customers prefer to sit outside when they can. Ours was just too small.

 

We have plans for a possible outdoor grill and a portable bar.

 

We are located at a crossroad and one of the roads was under construction from April until October, making business a little slower.  

 

It was the perfect time to add on.

 

With the new addition and new road we are looking forward to a busy summer next year.

 

We are small town and have hosted retirement parties, birthday parties, luncheons, and other celebrations and even a funeral.

 

We will continue to show citizens we are contributing to the community by being available to its needs.

 

Our goal is to make a profit for the city while controlling the sale of alcohol in our community.

 

Toni Buchite

Fifty Lakes

 

Proprietary Products


Contrary to popular belief, in Minnesota proprietary brands sold by Total Wine & More and others must be made available to all retailers.

For example, the Target box wine pictured above is now being sold at Rogers Wines & Spirits.
Alexandria to Hold Beaujolais Noveau Event

The Alexandria city council approved a special event permit for the city-owned Downtown Liquor.

 

It plans to hold a run/walk on Thursday, November 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the first wine pressing of the year, a Beaujolais Noveau French wine that is released for sale all over the world annually on the third Thursday of November.

 

City officials will compete in a one-block race while trying to balance a plastic wine bottle and plastic wine glass on a tray.  

 

The winner will be whoever runs the fastest, spills the least and shows the most style, according to Liquor Store Manager Andy Mellgren.

 

The event will take place on Sixth Avenue from Broadway to Hawthorne Street.  

That's Interesting


Last week, your humble executive director went to cheer on the Golden Gophers in Champaign, Illinois.

They didn't win, but it was a good trip.

While exploring the town, he found in Champaign all alcohol servers had to wear a number while working.

The number is assigned by the establishment and designed to help law enforcement better identify servers who improperly serve alcohol.

As you can see above, our server, Hannah, is number 013.

Surrounding communities do not have this requirement.
My Dream

This actual note was sent to your humble editor by Buffalo Lake Liquor manager Karissa Kurth.

Apparently she is influencing today's youth in their career decisions!





Future Dates to Remember

2015 MMBA Boot Camp 

 

February 17 & 18
Breezy Point Resort

2015 MMBA Annual Conference

May 16 -19
Arrowwood Resort
Ask A Director

Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163

Cathy Pletta
Kasson
507-634-7618
  
Bill Ludwig
Paynesville
320-250-3325
  
Candice Woods
Hutchinson 
320-587-2762
  
John Jacobi
Isanti
763-444-5063

Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747

Lisa Kamrowski
Nevis 
218-652-3135

Steve Grausam
Edina
952-903-5732

Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035

Brenda Visnovec
Lakeville 
952-985-4901
 
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113
  
Shelly Dillon
Callaway
218-375-4691
  
Karissa Kurth
Buffalo Lake
320-833-2321
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
Click Here For Newsletter Archives 
Sunday Sales: Convenience at What Cost?
The MMBA website now contains comprehensive information on Sunday Sales. 

It is a reference for members, legislators, media, city councils and the general public.

Click Here for the Website

 

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Beverage Alcohol Training

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 Contact Bob Leslie at:
 
320-766-3871
 


Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

The Four Ways Sound Impacts Us 

Playing sound effects both pleasant and awful.

 

Julian Treasure shows how sound affects us in four significant ways.  

 

Listen carefully for a shocking fact about retail environments and noisy open-plan offices.


Click Here

Remember to Turn Your Clocks Back One Hour This Weekend
Wall Clock
When local daylight time is about to reach:

Sunday, November 2, 2014, 2:00:00 AM, clocks are turned backward 1 hour TO

Sunday, November 2, 2014, 1:00:00 AM local standard time instead.

Nature gave men two ends, one to sit on and one to think with.

Ever since then, man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most.

Trinchero 
Contact Trinchero Family Estates 
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Contact Ste. Michelle Wine Estates


Contact Shamrock Group


Contact Oven Baked Eats
NABCA
Contact the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association
MillerCoors

Contact MillerCoors


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Contact Anheuser-Busch