Butte tavern owners throw luau
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Butte-Silver Bow Tavern Association threw a whale of a luau for its annual dinner and fundraiser Oct. 10 at the Copper King Hotel.
Over 250 enthusiastic party-goers participated in the annual shindig – this year with a Hawaiian theme. Two bars at each end of the event center were busy all night (with hosted cocktails for an hour or two) to help folks wet their whistles.
The event, which rotates through several Mining City venues, returned to the Copper King for the first time in several years.
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Nicole White gets her auction item.
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“It was a good turnout,” said Nichole White, secretary for the local chapter. “Everybody had fun.”
She said the volunteer effort to put the dinner on was “awesome,” and she thanked all the organizers for their help.
The Butte-Silver Bow Tavern Association during the festivities honored Jack and Judy Fisher, owners of Sam's tavern in Uptown Butte, with a “special recognition” award as Members of the Year for their commitment to and support of the local chapter.
Of course, since the dinner is held to raise money for local charities, attendees had their choice of several fundraising activities.
Tables with dozens of silent auction items surrounded the large room, and volunteers pushed the obligatory 50/50 tickets. Two boards were also circulated about, one that gave away a pink pistol with proceeds going to breast-cancer awareness, and the other that presented the winner with a “pick your poison” choice: a trip to Las Vegas or a local shopping spree.
And a $20 donation bought a hand in a five-card stud game, which relied on hula girl Cindy Radiff to “sway” dinner-goers to play. No betting was allowed – the best hand won the pot.
Emcee Chris Fisk was his usual entertaining self, and kept the proceedings moving along at an entertaining pace.
Fisk assisted auctioneer Brady Cogdill with a fast-paced live auction. Bidding was active for over 16 items, including a flat screen TV, an I-Pad and accessories, deck-and-table package, pool package, bikes, prints and more.
The traditional Calcutta grabbed the attention of folks after the auction. The simple-but-fun game was run by Bobbi Collins, the long-time BSB Tavern Association member who chaired the Butte dinner for 13 years before moving to Missoula last year.
Those winning “seats at the table” to start the game were Thompson Distributing, which actually won two seats, as well as Lucky Lil's Lounge, World Poker Solutions, Conlin's Furniture, JR Consulting, Keenan's Jewelry, Newland and Co., Uno's, Melrose Bar, and Maloney's.
Thompson Distributing cashed in on its two chances to win, as its second seat lasted to the final two. The other finalist was World Poker Solutions, and representatives of the two businesses – Brian Yelenich of Thompson's and Vinnie Olivieri of World Poker – decided to split the first and second place prizes and each walked away with $1,700.
Conlin's lasted long enough to take third place and win $500.
Those knocked out in the early rounds, but still winners of $200, were Lucky Lil's, JR Consulting, Keenan's, Newland, Uno's, Melrose Bar and Maloney's.
Proceeds will allow the local tavern association to donate to several worthy causes, including a new program that provides a free ride home from any Butte tavern for anyone who has had too much to drink to drive.