Labor Day weekend, the last official weekend of summer and usually the busiest before the kids go back to school, has come and gone.

Now I begin planning my monthly liquor committee notes, and my next employee meeting.

Even though the summer ends the work never does.

In my meetings with individuals at conferences, I often hear from members who they don't have liquor committee meetings, or employee staff meetings.

I ask the question" why not?"

As our "wise" director says to us, "You never know when the inevitable day will come." (Well, maybe those aren't the exact words he uses?)

So what does this mean to you?

Well if your city council or employees are not informed with what is happening, the inevitable day could happen.

This could mean we are questioned or asked "Why are we in the liquor business?" or worse- case scenario we are no longer in business.

Every month I meet with my liquor committee.

This committee consists of a few city council members, City Administrator, Human Resources and Finance Director.

In the meetings I let them know what is happening at my location, address concerns, and come up with ideas to present to council.

I provide them with a simple one page list with bullet points.

Also, twice per year I develop a wish list plan for my store.

Some of the list contains things I am working on, as well as long term goals for the store.

I typically go over items that are new and selling well for us.

I also point out the items that don't sell well and how I will be marking them down.

Once per year I present a power point presentation to the city council and Mayor as an overview of what we give back to the community and what items my department needs to be successful.

I feel the more my city council and mayor know about our operation, the better informed they become.

All of our community value programs we participate in are talked about in liquor committee meetings prior to city council approval.

Council members know in advance where all the money and items donated are going.

Much of what we do in this business is usually explained to our council, as many of them may not know.

For the most part, I feel I am explaining everyday what our profits here at the liquor store go towards.

We are in the business to make our cities money.

How do we show that if we never meet?

How do we show our employees what they need to do their jobs correctly if we never meet with all of them?

To summarize. we need to communicate as much as we can, not only our employees but our cities and customers.

Otherwise we will not be prepared when that inevitable day comes!

John Jacobi

A student comes to a professor's office hours.

She glances down the hall, closes his door, kneels pleadingly, "I would do anything to pass this exam."

She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, gazes meaningfully into his eyes.

"I mean..." she whispers, " I would do...anything."

He returns her gaze.

"Anything?"

Anything."

His voice softens.

"Anything??"

"Absolutely anything."

His voice turns to a whisper.

"Would you...study?"