Lewistown-area owners form MTA chapter
By Paul Tash, Montana Tavern Times
A new local chapter of the Montana Tavern Association has been formed in the heart of the state.
The Central Montana Tavern Association, catering to licensed operators in the Lewistown area, is now up and running.
“We're on our way,” said Kris Jupka, owner with her husband Ron of Doc's OK Korral and an organizer of the new chapter.
Jupka said the new organization ratified its constitution in an energetic meeting in March.
Lewistown-area tavern owners won a bid last September to host the annual MTA convention in 2012. So they decided they'd better create a local tavern association to officially sponsor the event.
“We actually did it a little backwards,” she said with a laugh. “We just felt that Lewistown would be such a nice destination because there's some much to do here.”
Jupka said that 22 people representing 19 establishments in the Lewistown area attended the organizational meeting.
“It was a great evening,” Jupka said.
Several of those attending were MTA members, she said, but some were not.
“We will get additional MTA members,” she said. “It's something people wanted to be a part of to sound off and learn about issues affecting them.”
New officers for the Central Montana Tavern Association are:
Kris Jupka, president, Doc's OK Korral, Lewistown;
Bill Kobitisch, secretary/treasurer, Glacier Tavern, Lewistown;
Jeff Whitcraft, board member, Judith Shadows Golf Course, Lewistown;
Mary Jenni, board member, Elk's, Lewistown;
Frank Carr, board member, Winifred Tavern, Winifred.
If you own a licensed establishment in the Lewistown area and would like to join the new association, call Kris at 868-4693.