Cold weather didn't slow CCTA bash
By Cole Boehler
Montana Tavern Times
Everyone who follows these things knows that the Cascade County Tavern Association holds its annual charity fundraiser dinner in early December.
We've often wondered about the timing, but one doesn't ague with success. This event, of all similar soirees, draws the largest crowds in the state, despite it almost always occurring in the depths of the worst cold of the Montana winters.
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Gleeful winner of the big "head-or-tails" game, Mandi LaPierre, accepting the $1,000 prize from CCTA president and dinner emcee Jon Tovson. The price to play was $20.
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This year, temps were hitting the minus 25 degrees range, but had warmed to nearly zero when all gathered in Great Falls Dec. 9. As a bonus, the winds – and wind chill factor – were only moderate.
But Montanans are a pretty stalwart sort and familiar faces from Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Shelby, Havre and Harlowton were seen there, having rather nonchalantly met the rigors of Montana winter travel. It was estimated somewhere over 500 attended with 70 eight-seat tables nearly filled.
John Hayes, executive secretary of the CCTA, was stationed near the front doors of the Great Falls Civic Center, where the event had returned after a one-year booking at the Four Seasons Arena at the state fairgrounds in 2008. Hayes told the
Montana Tavern Times the Civic Center's somewhat smaller, better appointed room made for a more intimate, comfortable and congenial gathering. And it was so.
Hayes, despite having been running 24/7 in the last weeks preceding the gala, was as chipper and smiley as ever. Dapper, too, in his formal tuxedo, with just the right casual accent represented by his quite informal white running shoes. The rest of the male CCTA directors were also sporting tuxes while the females were well attired in flashy evening dresses or suits.
One would expect a Dec. 9 charity event to incorporate a Yule theme and the ballroom and table decorations reflected that, including the poinsettias gracing the center of each table.
Three bars were stocked and staffed as the cocktail hour opened the proceedings at 5:30 p.m. Tavern owners know that good food always complements good drinks so several long tables were arrayed in one corner of the hall fully laden with all manner of appetizers furnished by Bob Dompier's crew at the 10th Avenue Holiday Inn in Great Falls.
These events aren't just about food and drink, though. They are mostly about fun, and that includes games all night that afford guests the chance to win valuable prizes and cash, as well as the option to bid on a splendid array of fine merchandise in a silent auction.
In late November Hayes conceded he was a little worried about the silent auction, as veteran auction chair Joyce Sponheim had sold her business and retired last summer. Nevertheless, CCTA president Bruce Enott stepped up to take on the task and, in the later going, Sponheim appeared to once again handle the auction mechanics and logistics.
According to Hayes, the auction may have netted the organization around $12,000, which isn't surprising given some of the auction items: a dune buggy that went for $3,100?! a pinball machine someone snagged for $1,300?! Wow!
There were seemingly endless raffle drawings for cash along with games of heads and tails, the first round played for free with a $100 prize to warm the crowd up. The second round had a $20 buy-in but paid out $1,000! That game netted CCTA in the neighborhood of $1,300, Hayes said, and resulted in a lot of excitement. Mandi LaPierre won the $1,000.
The big drawing of the evening is, of course, the "calcutta" raffle. Those who have purchased dinner tickets are automatically qualified. Fifteen tickets are then drawn for each of 10 seats at the head table, with one of the 15 picked to take possession of the seat and remain in the running.
Another seat winner is drawn from "last chance" tickets which are retailed at $10. The final 12th seat is auctioned and this year went for $800 to Dick Zadick's crew associated with the Flamingo Lounge in Great Falls.
Mike and Linda Mettam were the first ticket holders drawn, followed by Kranz House of Flowers, Quality Inn Tap house Grill, the It'll Do, Hoines Law Firm, Club Cigar, General Distributing Company, Montana Coin Machine Operator's Association, Great Fall Pre-Release Center and the Hartelius Law Firm. The 11th seat drawn from the Last Chance raffle went to Bob O'Brien, with the Flamingo gang bringing up the rear.
Little Christmas stockings stuffed with candies and a lucky (or unlucky) number were sold for $20 each. Jim Miller of Gusto Distributing bought the right one and pocketed $500.
Meanwhile the smaller cash raffles continued, interspersed with heads-and-tails and other games. Even which tables of folks got to the buffet serving lines first was determined by random drawing and announced by co-emcees Gary Ehnes and Jon Tovson.
Huge tables laden with all the fixings were spread and many diners had full plates even before they got to the salmon and prime rib entrees. The Barnes family of the Prospector Casinos group was tapped to cater the dinner buffet. The offerings seemed as vast as the Charlie Russell Country itself.
As the evening progressed, local dignitaries were announced including four State Representa-tives (Jesse O'Hara, Bob Mehlhoff, Brian Hoven and past MTA president Rep. Harry Klock), four State Senators (Mitch Tropila, Joe Tropila, Brad Hamlett and Trudi Schmidt, who has filed for the House of Representatives) and a Senate candidate (Bill Wilson). It was noted even U.S. Senator Jon Tester bought a dinner ticket, though could not attend.
Cascade County prosecutor John Parker attended along with three others from that office, and so did County Commissioner Joe Briggs. A couple of city commissioners were on hand (Bill Bronson and Fred Burrow) as was Great Falls Chief of Police Corky Grover. Great Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Mallicott was there, too.
From the ranks of the Montana Tavern Association were executive director Bob Anderson and his wife Mary; past presidents Tom Heisler, Darrell Keck, Jupe Compton and Klock, current president Bruce Enott and treasurer Mary Jane Heisler.
When attention returned to the main "calcutta" drawing, through elimination the head tables seats were quickly whittled down to just three: the Zadick crew, Bob O'Brien and the Great Falls Pre-release. The finalist were vying for $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500 in cash drawings.
O'Brien seemed satisfied with third place and $1,000. Zadick and Great Falls Pre-release declined to pool and split the final two prizes, so one more drawing was made ... eliminating the Pre-releasers and sending them home with "just" $1,500 while the Flamingo group delightfully accepted the $2,500 top prize.
With that, the festivities began to wind down, but a good crowd flowed through the silent auction area once again to see who had the top bids. Emcees announced no one had to drive, cab fare was covered to and from any venue in town if you identified yourself to drivers as coming from the CCTA banquet.
This writer stayed in a hotel two blocks away so simply hoofed it up the street ... until he came to the door of the Club Cigar where a number of other MTA friends had landed. A few more cocktails and a few more steps to my room had me snoring by midnight.
Hayes said everyone from CCTA played a role in pulling off this year's highly successful event, but he singled out Lance Foley, who did the sound and stage production, for special praise, along with RJ Haffner who provided computing and projection power and random digit drawings. He also noted the valuable contributions of Christa Heisler who, under the tutelage of her mother, Mary Jane, handled the "front-end operation" including registration, and Billy Heisler who handled all the banks.
Some worthy causes supported with funds from the CCTA dinner in the past are:Benefis Foundation, Mayfaire, University of Great Falls, McLaughlin Center, Great Falls Development, Girl Scouts, St. Thomas, Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Hockey, Great Falls Electrics, Great Falls Stallions, Central Catholic High School, Four Seasons Sports Foundation and many, many more.