A brief overview of the 51st MTA Convention
Pub Date: 9/1/2006
For 51 consecutive years, Montana business owners licensed for on-premise alcohol sales have come together to celebrate, to listen and learn, to rub shoulders with their peers and friends and to conduct the business of their association.
Tavern operators will be gathering this year at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center in Butte Sept. 11-14 for a full agenda of recreation, luncheons, informative panels, parties, business meetings, banquets and a trade show.
MTA President Jupe Compton, Havre, urged all MTA members and all licensees to make the trip, promising they will return home with valuable information that will help them run more profitable businesses, and will have "a great time, too."
Diana Koon, MTA executive director, has been at work on the affair, along with her Butte counterparts, for more than six months. She promised four days of informative and entertaining events. "If you're going to do just one constructive thing for your business and industry this year, this would be the one," she said.
Mark Staples, MTA government affairs counsel, promised the legislative and regulatory discussion panels will deal with all related industry issues including automated reporting of video gaming machine activity, a revision of live card game rules and the evolving situations surrounding Indian and internet gambling.
Staples said the convention is the perfect forum for members to ask the tough questions of elected officials, candidates and regulators. "Gov. Brian Schweitzer will be there as will Atty. Gen. Mike McGrath, Gambling Control Division Administrator Gene Huntington, Department of Revenue Director Dan Bucks and Liquor Division Administrator Shauna Helfert, as well as legislators and candidates."
John Perino, long-time MTA member and chairman of the golf tournament committee, promised conventioneers a fun time in a city known widely for its friendliness and penchant for a good party.
Registration can be completed in advance by contacting the MTA office (406-442-5040) or completing and mailing the form in this issue of the Tavern Times, or can be done at the door. MTA members and non-members alike are welcome to attend. Registration is $125 per person. You can book rooms at the convention site at $71.99 (not including tax) a night by calling 800-332-8600.
The big MTA golf tournament kicks off Monday, Sept. 11 and is followed by a 19th Hole Party. The Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament preliminaries get underway that evening as well.
Tuesday features the trade show where about 60 booths have been reserved for industry suppliers. There is a luncheon planned that day in the trade show and a cocktail party will commence there later followed by an industry party that evening. The poker finals will conclude that night as well.
On Wednesday MTA committees may meet and the trade show will be open. There will be a luncheon featuring an address by Gov. Brian Schweitzer followed by the business sessions including the regulatory and legislative panels. When the business is done, a cocktail party will kick off the banquet finale. Awards will be presented during the banquet, particularly the MTA's most prestigious, the Durkee Award, recognizing the industry's top licensee.
A Thursday morning brunch has been arranged prior to the MTA convention business meeting, which should conclude by noon, in plenty of time for folks to begins travels homeward.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Sept., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.