President White: MTA doesn't need fixing
Pub Date: 10/1/2007
By Dennis White, President
Montana Tavern Association
Wow, what a convention the Montana Tavern Association just put on in Kalispell!
There were certainly many highlights for many folks, but for me, of course, it was my election to the Presidency of this venerable old organization.
We heard a fabulous panel by five candidates for Attorney General and I know a couple of them said with regard to our hospitality tax rates, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it."
That is a sound philosophy and one I plan to use to guide me during my term as president.
The MTA is a first-rate business organization with an active and smart membership, top flight executive leadership, fantastic guidance through its executive board, effective committees headed by dedicated chairmen, and a lobbying effort, though small in size, that is second to none.
In other words, it ain't broke so it doesn't need fixing.
Instead, I'll just keep my hand on the tiller of this ship that is sailing smooth and true.
I plan to retain our current crop of committee chairmen, if they'll stay on board: Mary Jane Heisler, our Secty.-Treas. at Budget, Kent Frampton at Insurance, Pat Kelly at Legislative and Gambling, Sue Foster at Public Relations and Jim Grubbs at Resolutions and Bylaws.
I believe that, at this time, our main point of focus must be on supporting our state's status as a "liquor control state." This means Montana assumed the right and responsibility the 21st Amendment gave all states - to regulate alcohol appropriately for Montana, not elsewhere, including production, distribution, consumption and taxation.
For decades Montana has had a policy of strict control of alcohol distribution, tying the number of on-premise outlets to the population. That is sound public policy and should be continued.
nother ball we can never take our eyes off is our tax rates. One tax some folks always want to raise–unfortunately as a way to punish our businesses–is the 15 percent gross revenue tax on gaming.
That tax has been proven to be set just right as it grew almost $4 million last year, topping $60 million, and now has produced since its inception in 1990 over $600 million in taxes–taxes that don't have to otherwise be levied. We will defend this tax rate with all the vigor we can muster.
There are a few other items I have been thinking about and one of them is the demographics of the organization. I'm happy to see we are more and more gender balanced as more and more women have proven they are quite capable of running licensed businesses. We look forward to seeing more of them taking their place in the officer corps and leadership positions.
But another demographic angle has me a little troubled: our membership - tavern owners - is aging. We have quite a few new, younger folks coming into the business and it is important that we get them into the MTA and eventually into positions of responsibility, seasoning them along the way.
I was delighted to see "Bobby" Lincoln, Jr. come in as Second Vice President. I would like to see more of our younger members step up and actively seek leadership positions. I will be looking for opportunities for these energetic "youngsters" when we have officer and committee openings.
I also want to see the MTA as accessible to members as possible. I plan to be at the MTA office every Tuesday afternoon. I am also planning to have a meeting with our executive staff and lobbyists one Tuesday afternoon per month. It will be open to any and all MTA members and any range of topics could be covered.
Finally, we will continue to cultivate the many relationships we have built in government over the years at the local, county and state level, and we will always work to do good within our communities and responsibly serve our customers.
I'm looking forward to a good two-year term and with all your help, together we will be successful.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, September, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.