By Roger Porter
Party goers know the annual association dinner circuit is in full swing when the Cascade County Tavern Association fete rolls around.
Known as the "grand daddy" of these charity affairs, the December dinner always draws a crowd from far and wide and this year's event was no exception as a record crowd gathered at the Great Falls Civic Center December 6.
From year to year these dinners feature relatively few changes and when they do they are normally minor; they tend not to fix something that ain't broke. However, this year's CCTA affair held more than a few surprises for those attending.
First and foremost the dinner was not held at one of the local convention centers as in the past, but rather at the Great Falls Civic Center located at the west end of the city's major thoroughfare, Central Avenue. The move was motivated by a desire to be able to accommodate more guests.
Judging from the size of the crowd and the guests' many positive comments alluding to the open and inviting layout of the facility, it was a wise decision.
Absent this year were the signature tuxedos of the past which have been worn by all of the organizations directors. Rather, in keeping with this year' theme, "A Cowboy Christmas," the directors were all attired in western garb, a fitting costume for those who live in the heart of Charlie Russell country.
As usual, in the lead was CCTA Executive Secretary John Hayes dressed in a western costume reminiscent of the lead character in Stay Away Joe, especially when he donned his high-domed Stetson.
A high point of this year's dinner was an appearance by Jimmy Bedford, Master Distiller for Jack Daniels Distillery. Bedford made his appearance courtesy of Young' Marketing of Montana and the firm's manager Brett Wiensch.
The local association bought two barrels of Jack Daniels single-barrel bourbon and each decanter drawn from the barrel included a CCTA commemorative medallion. The Daniels bunch had a booth and were pouring sippin' shots of each of the three grades of JD for the crowd to sample. Traffic at the JD booth was brisk the entire evening.
Following through on last year's successful snowball promotion were some comely lasses selling plastic snowballs or tree ornaments, each containing a number. Guests holding those numbers could later check at the silent auction to see if their number matched one of the many posted and, if so, claim the appropriate monetary prize. The super snowball prize of $500 went to Ron Jupka.
This year's auction offerings were great and displayed in such a way that they were easier to shop than in past years. Spearheading the silent auction committee was Joyce Sponheim who keeps bringing in a fabulous selection, year after year.
An added opportunity for guests to take home a little of the green stuff was the "Take It or Leave It" contest, a takeoff on the popular television game, "Deal or No Deal." Three games were played over the course of the evening and the guests were delighted as local radio personality and dance hall owner Dana House kept the action moving right along.
The evening began with a hosted cocktail hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Two bars were set up in strategic locations and the new venue offered plenty of room for guests to roam the room and check out the offerings, or simply sit a their tables and chat with old friends.
This was the first year that entire tables were sold, in addition to individual tickets admitting a couple, and by all reports the table sales exceeded all expectations.
As the cocktail hour wound down long time Master of Ceremonies Jon Tovson called the group to order and began the evening's formal program. Tovson was ably assisted throughout the evening by CCTA President Mike Ferradas and Hayes.
First on the program was the introduction of notables in the crowd which included a number of state legislators, local office holders, Montana Tavern Association officers past and present. in addition to the group' executive director, Diana Koon.
Also on the luminary list were U.S. Senator -elect Jon Tester and State Auditor John Morrison.
Next on the agenda was the call to the buffet tables. The buffet line moved right along with the diners lining up along both sides of two long tables.
This year's dinner carried through the cowboy theme with chuckwagon fixin' catered by the Cattleman' Cut. Campfire fare for the evening included Smokin' Joe' baby back ribs, barbecue chicken breasts, chef-carved New York strip loin served with beef burgundy wine sauce, rosemary garlic red roasted potatoes, cowboy barbecue baked beans, corn bread with honey butter, butter flack rolls and butter, creamy cole slaw, bowtie pasta with peppers and broccoli and a green salad with mixed field greens and ranch or raspberry vinaigrette.
Anyone who still had room left could choose a dessert from blackberry, peach or apple cobbler with whipped topping.
During the dinner tickets are verified for inclusion in the calcutta raffle which constitutes the evening's big giveaway. In recent years the group has used a custom certified program developed by the University of Great Falls for both the verification and the final drawing and it has served to expedite the program considerably.
A brief break in the program served to allow some friends to roast long time Great Falls tavern owner Bill Lindsey who had just recently sold his bar after 30-plus years in the business.
The first of three games of "Take or Leave It" was also played. All in all, each of the three players who participated in the game had a chance to win up to $5,000. However, as it turned out, the games yielded $1,100, $100 and a paltry one cent in prizes.
As things settled down the seating for the Calcutta began. One by one the 12 head table seats were filled with a break for another round of the "Take It or Leave It" game. Once the first 10 seats were filled, the 11th seat was drawn for from amongst the "last chance" tickets and, finally, the 12th seat was auctioned off, with Hayes calling the auction. That seat sold for $1,300!
Hayes also auctioned off one of the two empty Jack Daniels barrels which brought $1,100, with the other barrel featured in the silent auction and bringing $800.
Once the head table was filled the elimination began with each person eliminated making their exit with $200 cash and a Montana Highway Patrol Care Bear. Finally the field was reduced to three and the tension mounts.
Seat number three was drawn and Glenda Doherty picked up her $1,000 to escape back home to Folsom, Calif. Then came the crowning moment of the evening when number two was drawn and Jan Higgins pocketed $1,500, leaving the evening's big winner to tuck $2,500 in his jeans. That turned out to be Dennis Tinker of American Music.
Actually, the evening's biggest winner was Bill Pfennings who won $4,000, which was the top prize in the CCTA' annual cash calendar contest.
Various other holders of last chance and regular dinner tickets took home a total of 15 $50 and $100 bills from drawings throughout the evening. A total of over $9,000 was given away over the course of the evening, a pretty good example of the organization's largesse which, when coupled with their contributions to the community throughout the rest of the year, adds up to a pretty impressive commitment.
Well, a very enjoyable evening drew to a close at the conclusion of the Calcutta auction and the crowd dispersed either to go home or continue their celebration courtesy of the CCTA provided transportation.
With the 36th Annual CCTA Charity Dinner now in the history books, many of the guests must have left wondering what the group will do for an encore in 2007.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Jan., 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.