By Roger Porter
One of the benefits of traveling around the state attending local tavern dinners is the opportunity I get to bask in some of the finest scenery this country has to offer.
From Red Lodge to Hamilton, then on to Kalispell and all points in between, we get to see the "best of the best."
Annual trips to the Kalispell area always pose a problem as it is difficult to choose which scenic route to take. So in order not to miss anything I usually go to Kalispell via the Seeley/Swan valley and return by skirting the southern border of Glacier Park over Marias Pass and then on to East Glacier and Browning. Being the adventurer I am, I sometimes even reverse the order.
Considering the wild swings in Montana weather, I have been very fortunate when attending the annual Flathead Charity Dinner to have hit beautiful weather 98 percent of the time and my recent trip was no exception.
I continue to be fascinated by the Flathead affair since I have attended that dinner over a period of 10 years and have personally observed the metamorphosis of the event.
I date the rebirth of the dinner as a major event which coincided with the association's move to the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell where everything just seemed to come together. I'm also sure that much of the success of the event can be attributed to Jill Frampton, the executive secretary and tireless worker on behalf of the Flathead group.
This year's event, the 13th such, was once more held at the Outlaw which offered a bright and cheerful venue to the guests who were greeted by a NASCAR theme. Plush NASCAR centerpieces graced each table and if you were not on your guard they disappeared as if Houdini were plying his trade.
Checkered flags and racing memorabilia were in evidence everywhere and the only thing lacking was the emcee announcing, "Gentlemen start your engines."
For the cocktail hour two bars were set up at strategic spots and every guest seemed to be enjoying a libation as they passed the time perusing the items included in the upcoming silent and live auctions.
Once more the Flathead group's display of auction items was mind boggling. Each auction item sported a different theme and the items included aptly reflected that theme.
It was divulged that one of the secrets of the great auction offerings is the fact that the group conducts a contest in which each participating establishment or individual vies for the traveling trophy which is awarded to the auction item garnering the highest price. Certainly seems to work as a number of the items brought in excess of $600!
The evening's impresario was Tim Lannaghan who was sporting his new look as "nouveau man"--fashionably long hair and a loose-cut suit directly out of GQ. He was assisted throughout the evening by Jill Frampton, his wife MJ and association president Dan Skiles. Throughout the evening this quartet distributed scores of mementos to those whose names were drawn.
Done with the giveaways. the call for dinner came and the guests began an orderly march to the buffet tables. The evening's menu consisted of chef carved baron of beef, filet of sole, roasted red potatoes, mixed vegetables, pasta salad, tossed green salad and rolls and butter.
Dessert was baked Alaska, a menu item not often seen in Montana.
Special thanks to catering and convention chef Dereck Mahoney, catering operations manager Jacque Corbett and catering sales manager Rachel Starr.
An unexpected surprise for the association came in the form of a contingent of 21 from Tri-State Restaurant Supply' earlier sales meeting where each person in attendance was treated to a ticket for the event courtesy of Craig Christopherson, sales manager.
In addition to the auction items guests could also try their luck at the cash wind tunnel and a chance at the flat screen TV donated by Pepsi. Tickets were also available for those who wanted to take a chance on winning an all-expense-paid trip to a NASCAR race in Las Vegas.
After introducing a couple of VIP' present, namely Jupe Compton, President of the Montana Tavern Association, and Roger Porter of the Montana Tavern Times, Lannaghan began the popular brown bag auction where bidders bid on sacks each holding an evelope describing the winner's prize.
The two top prizes of the evening were an iPod and a flat screen TV, won by Ron Fisher and Mary Frampton respectively. Bids for the bags ranged from $350 to $550.
The final item on the evening's formal program was the Calcutta raffle for which seven people were seated at the head table by random drawing with the eighth seat auctioned off for $550.
Once the eight were seated the elimination began with those eliminated pocketing $150 each. The three who remained at the head table would each take home one of the cash prizes of $1,500, $750 and $500.
When all was said and done, the $1,500 found its way into the pocket of Tim Redmond, the $750 went to Elva Anderson and the $500 was taken home by Megan Greene.
With the formal program concluded, an intriguing act by Jym Elders, Mentalist, proceeded. Elders' performance was short yet he wowed the crowd with his psychic powers.
Thanks were given to all who helped make this 13th dinner a resounding success with special thanks to Flathead and Fun Beverage.
Finally the evening concluded with many of the guests adjourning to the lounge to make their good byes.
Once more it was a great party. Just think what the MTA Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Outlaw in Kalispell might bring. Don't miss it, September 10-13.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, June 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.