Fuller is first woman MTA president
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Montana Tavern Association elected its first woman president and agreed to eliminate its traditional “No Dinner Dinner Raffle” in favor of another fundraiser at its annual business meeting that concluded the MTA's 56th annual convention in Red Lodge last month.
MTA members unanimously approved a recommendation by the Public Relations Committee to end the $100 “No Dinner” raffle, which had been the group's main fundraiser for several years. However, PR committee chairman Bobby Lincoln in his report to the assembly said selling the $100 tickets have become increasingly difficult in the last few years as the economy remains stagnant. This year, he said, was “a big struggle.”
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JoAnne Fuller takes the MTA gavel.
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Lincoln said the new “On the HousePitality” fundraiser, which the MTA started last year, should adequately replace the raffle.
In that promotion, a $20 ticket entitles the ticket buyer to several free drink tickets for taverns statewide. In addition, the ticket automatically enters the person in a sweepstakes where players participate each of the 17 weeks of the National Football League season with randomly chosen NFL teams. Each week the ticket holder's card lists three teams, and holders of the four highest and two lowest team point totals win cash prizes.
Darrell Keck agreed with the committee's recommendation and said, “I know I struggled selling those tickets.”
“Twenty-dollar tickets are a hell of a lot easier to sell,” he added.
Keck also said tavern customers will be purchasing the tickets in the “HousePitality” fundraiser, whereas MTA members themselves were often buying the “No Dinner” tickets.
Elections
Later in the session, Keck ran the elections for leadership positions in his position as chairman of the Nominating Committee. MTA members selected Joanne Fuller, owner of the Timber Bar in Big Timber, as president. Fuller is the first woman ever elected to the two-year post, succeeding retired president Bruce Enott (look for a feature on Fuller in next month's Tavern Times).
Other newly elected officers are Mike Kenneally, 1st vice president; Bobby Lincoln, 2nd vice president; and Barb Morris, secretary/treasurer.
Keck had encouraged members to run for office, saying “competition is good – it shows interest.” All the races for leadership roles were contested.
In an election that wasn't contested, members selected Butte as the host city for the 2013 convention. Next year's convention will be in Lewistown.
Council Support
Providing the Legislative and Gambling Committee report was Chairman Ralph Ferraro. Though the committee didn't meet during the convention, Ferraro outlined several issues that the MTA will be facing in the next few years.
“The next chairman will have his hands full,” Ferraro said.
In his report to the business meeting, Staples voiced support for continued funding of the Montana Council on Problem Gambling, which recently lost a quarter of its funding when the financially strapped Gaming Industry Association had to drop its contribution.
Staples reminded MTA members that the organization's current contribution to the Council is not only providing help for those who need it, but is less onerous than a state-mandated would be.
“We should do everything in our power to keep it going,” he said of the Council.
Staples also encouraged MTA members to run for the Legislature to help with the MTA's upcoming legislative efforts.
“We need to cultivate among our members,” and those sympathetic to the tavern business, a “willingness to enter the election process for the good of the organization and the businesses it represents,” Staples said.
Budget Report
Giving the Budget and Finance Committee report was Chair Mary Jane Heisler.
Heisler outlined for the full board her committee's recommendation that the organization tap $100,000 from its reserves and apply it to the mortgage on the office building in Helena. Doing so would cut six years off the pay-back term and save about $75,000 in interest.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation.
“We also discussed sprucing up the building,” she said, including the replacement of several windows and exterior paint. “You can see where there's about five different colors of paint,” she said, “and the seals are broke on the windows.”
In addition, she said Orville Johnson had donated a steel door to replace the deteriorating wood door in the back of the building.
Heisler also said the MTA has not been able to rent office space in the front of the building, despite some remodeling inside.
“Helena, like every place else, has a lot of empty space,” she said.
Additionally, she told the meeting that the MTA received a “clean bill of health” from its auditor.
The main office, she added, is “running well” after undergoing some changes in the last two years.
“We've kept this train on the tracks,” she said, but added that the office in the future will need some input and guidance from the board.
Administrator’s Report
Chris Caldwell, office administrator, then reported that 270 people registered for the convention this year, and increase of nearly 50 over last year.
“I want to thank the Carbon/Stillwater Tavern Association for having us this year,” she said. In other business, the outgoing committee heads – Heisler, Lincoln and Ferraro – received plaques for their “exemplary efforts” as chairpersons the past two years.
The MTA board will next meet in Helena Nov. 9 at Jorgenson's.