Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(May 17, 2015 - May 23, 2015)
 Click Here
for the
As I See It...
Leadership2

We just finished up another great annual conference.  

 

As I was driving back home I was reflecting on the conference and thinking about what to write about today.  

 

The thought that kept coming back to me was that our Association is so strong because of all of the leaders we have in our membership.  

 

There is the leadership of the Board of Directors that is continually striving to bring initiatives forward to help our members grow and prosper.

 

Plus, there is the leadership of our members who each play an important role in their individual communities by operating a successful business that helps enhance their cities.  

 

It reminded me of an article I once read that talked about the differences between being managers and leaders.  

 

Leaders look ahead to the future and look at how what they are doing today will have a long-term impact.  

 

Managers are more concerned with today, the current policies and tasks at hand.

 

They often do them very well, but don't think about the long-term impacts.

 

Leaders look beyond the single task at hand and think about how it will impact other aspect of their operation.  

 

They will ask "Why are we doing it this way?" and are not satisfied with, "Because that's the way we've always done it."  

 

Managers tend to be task oriented and are striving to the operation running efficiently and are not so focused on the "why."

 

Leaders influence beyond their boundaries.  

 

They think in terms of, "How will this help others?"  

 

Other communities take notice of their successes and look to them for assistance.   

 

Managers are most concerned about operation and don't look beyond those boundaries.

 

I think we are very lucky to have great leaders in our Association who are looking beyond today and thinking about how we can be more successful in the future - whether it be serving the Association or back home in our individual communities running successful businesses.

 

Bridgitte Konrad  

City of North Branch 

New Tall Grass Liquor Using Social Media During Construction


The public can now check on the progress of the City of Marshall's new liquor store.

"Tall Grass Liquor" is now on Facebook and Twitter.

A website is in development.
Did You Know???
(A New Weekly Feature)



MMBA invested over $7000 in professional   speakers at the recent annual conference.

Note: The Powerpoint presentation of Tom Shay, one of the presenters (who was very well received by attendees), can be found by clicking here.


Community Value of the St. James Municipal Liquor Operation


The St. James City Council recently reviewed this year's budget to see if they could create a $10,000 Community Education fund, and they approved funding for 2015 with money from the liquor store.

 

Found Only at Sam's Club?  NOT!

Remember, according to Minnesota Law, "proprietary" brands must be made available to all retailers.

 

In other words, the wine above is available to all retailers and is now on sale in an MMBA member facility.

7 Bartender Bad Habits

By George Barton, Nightclub & Bar

 

The age of mixology is upon us and never has the voice of the bartender been more respected. 

 

Bartenders possess the resources and ability to design a fabulous beverage menu and execute an effective bar program. 

 

However, they aren't infallible.

 

Here are seven bartender bad habits and behaviors that can impact your ability to build bar revenue.

 

Do you need change? This is a loaded question and puts customer in an awkward and uncomfortable position. 

 

It is not the bartender's job to dictate, ask for or question a tip. 

 

Additionally, a bartender should never count their tips in view of your guests; they should wait until the end of their shift.

 

Over serving. Over serving will not provide more income to bartenders in the long run. 

 

Rather, it can jeopardize team members and the bar itself.   

 

Understanding of the signs of intoxication and how to prevent it should be every bartender's most important duty.

 

Not following recipes. Bartenders shouldn't get in the habit of constantly going off menu and creating their own concoctions. 

 

There's nothing wrong with improving upon and upgrading existing drink items but renegade behavior can derail the customer experience. 

 

The menu needs to be respected.  

 

Discourteous behavior. The competition for market share is entirely too fierce and there's no room for a bartender with a bad attitude. 

 

Bartenders should be in the habit of wowing each and every guest.  

 

Not offering food. Bartenders that don't offer appetizers, small plates, burgers (whatever is on the menu) to every guest are hurting your bottom line. 

 

Offering food with alcohol beverages also supports responsible alcohol service.   

 

Abusing the use of comps. You can't afford to let bartenders spend (or steal) your money by comping drinks at their discretion (or lack thereof). 

 

It's an age-old practice and can improve tips dramatically but it can easily damage your bottom line. 

 

If your guests expect freebies every visit, they won't value your bar.

 

Leaving Early. If your bartender doesn't want to be behind the bar, you don't need them. 

 

Find someone else, a rock star who wants to put in the work necessary to succeed and work their shifts consistently. 

Not Long Ago, There Was a Woman Who Wanted to Know....

Not too long ago, there was a woman who wanted to know how her husband would react if she left without telling him where she had gone. 

She decided to write him a letter saying she is tired of him and didn't want to live with him anymore.

After writing the letter, she put it on the table in the bedroom and then climbed under the bed to hide until her husband got home. 

When he eventually came back home, he saw the letter on the table and read it.

After a few moments of silence, he picked up the pen and added something to the letter.

Then he started to get changed, whistling happy tunes and singing and dancing while he did so.

He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. 

His wife listened from under the bed as he started chatting to someone.

"Hey babe, I'm just changing clothes then will join you," he said.

"As for the other fool, it finally dawned on her I was fooling around on her and left.

I was really wrong to have married her; I wish you and me had met earlier.

See you soon, honey!" 

Then he hung up and walked out of the room.

In tears and very upset, she climbed out from under the bed and stumbled over to read what her unfaithful husband had written on the end of her letter. 

Through teary eyes, she read: "I could see your feet you idiot, I am going out to buy bread."
Future Dates to Remember
2015 MMBA Regional Meeetings

September and October

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

Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-549-3710
Brenda Visnovec
Lakeville 
952-985-4901
 
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113

 Karissa Kurth
Buffalo Lake
320-833-2321
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925
Click Here For Newsletter Archives 
Minnesota SMART

The SMART campaign: Supporting Minnesota's Alcohol Regulations and Traditions, is a renewed public education and grassroots advocacy effort in support of Minnesota's current alcohol regulations and three-tier system.

 

We believe Minnesota's current alcohol regulations are smart, balanced, and supported by many citizens and our local small businesses.    

    

They work well for Minnesota!

 

The SMART campaign functions to help you engage in advocacy efforts with state legislators and others in support of Minnesota's current alcohol regulations, and to oppose issues-such as Sunday alcohol sales.

We want to make it easy and effective for you to engage.

 

Take action and send an email to your state legislators today through the new SMART campaign website.   

 

We have sample letters and legislator contact information put together that is ready to go.   

 

  Click Here for the Website
Join Our Mailing List

Beverage Alcohol Training

BAT Logo
 Contact Bob Leslie at:
 
320-766-3871
 


Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

A Thrilling Look at the First 21 Days of a Bee's Life
We've heard that bees are disappearing.

But what is making bee colonies so vulnerable?

Photographer Anand Varma raised bees in his backyard - in front of a camera - to get an up close view.

This project, for the May 2015 issue of National Geographic Magazine, gives a lyrical glimpse into a bee hive - and reveals one of the biggest threats to its health, a mite that preys on baby bees in the first 21 days of life.

With his incredible footage, set to music from Magik*Magik Orchestra, Varma shows the problem ... and what's being done to solve it.

Click Here 
Let's be honest.

There's not a business anywhere that is without problems.

Business is complicated and imperfect.

Every business everywhere is staffed with imperfect human beings and exists by providing a product or service to other imperfect human beings.

 
Contact Sutter Home
Ste. Michelle Logo

Contact Ste. Michelle Wine Estates


Contact Shamrock Group

NABCA
Contact the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association
MillerCoors

Contact MillerCoors


Contact Beam Suntory

AB Logo

Contact Anheuser-Busch