MTA Convention is about fun and learning
Pub Date: 9/1/2007
For 52 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 Bulldog Convention Center WestCoast Outlaw Hotel in Kalispell Sept. 10-13 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 Kalispell 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 legal and government affairs counsel, promised the legislative and regulatory discussion panels, as well as an Attorney General candidate forum, will deal with all related industry issues including licensing legislation, automated reporting of video gaming machine activity 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 speak likely just before a regulatory panel convenes which will feature Atty. Gen. Mike McGrath, Gambling Control Division Administrator Gene Huntington, Department of Revenue Director Dan Bucks and Liquor Division Administrator Shauna Helfert.
Convention registration can be completed in advance by contacting the MTA office (406-442-5040) or completing and mailing the formfound just to the right on this page, 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 $87.95 per night for single or double (not including tax). MTA has also blocked rooms at the Aero Inn across the street for $81 for a single and $84 for a double.
The big MTA golf tournament kicks off Monday, Sept. 10 and is followed by a 19th Hole Party. The Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament preliminaries get underway that evening as well.
Convention transportation is being underwritten by Summit Gaming so attendees can attend all off-campus functions without having to worry about any driving hassles.
Tuesday kicks off with two committee meetings as well as the featured trade show where close to 70 booths have been reserved for industry suppliers.
There is a luncheon planned that day in the trade show venue and a cocktail party will commence there later as well, followed by an industry party elsewhere in the city that evening. The poker finals will conclude that night, too.
On Wednesday MTA committees will meet and the trade show will be open.
There will be separate luncheons for men and women followed by the business sessions including the regulatory panel.
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 where an important leadership election will be conducted.
All should conclude by noon, in plenty of time for folks to begin travels homeward, or to take a little extra time to see the sights so prolific in northwest Montana.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, September, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.