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TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Amusement & Make sure to thank these groups for their support and encourage others not on the list to participate. Any business interested in joining should call the Wisconsin Amusement & Music Operators, Inc. TLW office at (608) 270-8591 for more information regarding the benefits of the different categories. Remember to “support those who support us.” Music Operators, Inc.

85th Annual

FALL CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

TLW members from around the state reunited at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley in Appleton from October 4 to 7, 2021, for the 85th Annual Fall Convention & Trade Show. By all accounts, the show was a success and everyone was excited to meet after well over a year.

MONDAY’S EVENTS

The conference kicked off on Monday with the TLW Board of Directors meeting all day, while some TLW members attended a national certified food safety class and took an exam. In the evening, the Outagamie County Tavern League hosted a welcome party at the Capitol Centre.

TUESDAY’S SESSION

As registration opened, TLW members mingled and entered their names for drawings. After the Nominating and Rules Committees held meetings, TLW Senior Vice President Cathy Vales kicked off the General Session by welcoming attendees “home” after a long 18 months. Outagamie County Tavern League President Marty DeCoster also thanked everyone for attending, then introduced Jake Woodford, the mayor of Appleton. Woodford related the lessons he learned from working at Mark’s East Side, a supper club in Appleton, to his current job as mayor. “Respect the people you work with, the people who work for you and the people you serve. It all ties into the service I now provide as mayor,” he said.

After the mayor’s speech, TLW President Chris Marsicano shared a video of pictures of TLW establishments, eerily empty in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. “The TLW jumped into action,” he said. “We fought closures, fought mandates and fought for our members to make sure you all got back to making a living.”

Next, Marsicano introduced the keynote speaker, Craig Schiefelbein of Paragon Development Systems (PDS), who cofounded PDS over 20 years ago. He shared how the butterfly effect — the idea that when just one person takes time to inspire change, it can have an impact around the world — applies directly to TLW members. By coaching and leading within their businesses, TLW members are contributing directly to their communities.

He drove home the concept that sustainable, profitable growth starts with loyalty, which is driven by the customer experience, and led by leadership and purpose. “We’ve been stuck for the last 18 months, but it’s time to flap our wings,” he said. “You have the opportunity to impact someone else’s life.”

TUESDAY’S REPORTS

Erin Pulaski, TLW secretary and owner of Around the Corner Pub in Mercer, presented the secretary’s report. She said that, as of Aug. 31, 2021, the TLW had 4,560 members compared to 4,495 last year. She also noted that this year’s convention had 88 vendors and over 100 booths for the trade show.

The 2022 State Golf Outing is slated for Sept. 12, 2022, at Tagalong Golf Resort in Birchwood. According to Pulaski, the American Beverage Licensees (ABL) Annual Meeting, originally scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18 in New Orleans, will be switching to a virtual format due to COVID-19 concerns and flooding.

MAJOR AWARDS

Marsicano presented the Member of the Year award to Don Mjelde, 6th District director, Brown County Tavern League president and owner of Richard Craniums in Green Bay. Marsicano began by reading a letter that Mjelde’s wife wrote to nominate him. She shared his journey of hanging out at his parents’ bar as a child in Michigan, waiting for them to finish work, to purchasing his own bar in Green Bay and getting to truly put his love for beer to work. “I missed all of you last year,” Mjelde said. “I feel home when I’m here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

TUESDAY’S EVENTS

The trade show was open until 5 p.m., along with a silent auction and bean bag toss with donations benefiting the Tavern Industry Political Action Committee (TIPAC). In the first of two educational sessions, Steve Bench, founder of Generational Consulting, shared tips for attracting and retaining Millennial and Gen Z employees. He based it on building an understanding of how each generation views “work” as part of their identity. A second session allowed attendees to learn more about Chapter 125 during a presentation from three special agents with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement Unit.

That evening, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) hosted a party featuring Super Vinyl and all money raised from the live auction went to the Direct Givers Fund.

WEDNESDAY’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

John Bodnovich, ABL executive director, started off with a comprehensive legal report on the industry. He said that bars and taverns were among the hardest hit from the pandemic, with shutdowns for up to 100 days, debt, a lack of additional federal relief and future uncertainty. As such, ABL’s focus has been fighting for federal relief, sharing helpful information, providing economic impact data, speaking out against overly broad regulation and providing tools to support efficient, successful businesses in Wisconsin.

“We’re focused on COVID-19 relief,” he stressed. “From March 2020 to March 2021, U.S. bar and restaurant sales of beer, wine and spirits declined by $90 billion and 33,655 on-premise jobs were lost. We know there’s been an economic recovery in some places, but it’s been uneven.” Bodnovich questioned whether the pandemic has changed everything forever, but reassured TLW members that COVID-19 is a temporary setback. He said that, while the pandemic changed some things, “it is not a license to get rid of thoughtful discourse and deliberative policymaking.”

“It didn’t take long to deplete the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) the first time around,” observed Bodnovich. “The application portal is now closed, but all applications are being held in case more funding is provided by Congress. It’s unfair that only two out of three people got it and others did not. We’re working on it.”

Policies (some temporary, others permanent) enacted during the pandemic that have been positive for local businesses include cocktails to go, package sales delivery, curbside pickup and more.

Meanwhile, labor shortages are cutting across all segments of the industry. “Increased unemployment benefits” is an easy answer, but not a complete one, Bodnovich remarked. And with product shortages, due to a lack of truck drivers, factory workers, etc., “If we don’t’ have it, we can’t sell it.”

Bodnovich noted not only that mid-terms are approaching, but because the pandemic has loosened its hold, some legacy issues — like swipe fees, privacy issues, impaired driving technology and music licensing — are back on the docket.

After Bodnovich’s presentation, Scott Stenger, TLW lobbyist, brought the legislative update a little closer to home. He commended the TLW for fighting to remain open during the pandemic. “There were a lot of challenges none of us anticipated in the last couple of years. We, the Tavern League, drove this issue through the state. If we had not challenged the governor’s stay-at-home order, nothing says that we would be here today. You don’t need an association when everything is good. You need an advocate when there are challenges,” he emphasized. As for St. Patrick’s Day of 2020, when Gov. Tony Evers first issued an emergency order prohibiting mass gatherings in the state, Stenger pointed out, “No other group but the TLW proposed a bridge grant to qualify hospitality businesses for $25,000 to get you through those two months. We were the first ones,” he recalled.

“We needed to pass a rule to give members the right to bring beer back to wholesalers. It was a quick victory and we were happy with that. On April 16, Safer at Home was extended. There was only one group that publicly asked to open up the state with restrictions and it helped elevate our stature.”

Stenger presented a timeline of legislative triumphs over the last year and a half, increasing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) flexibility, waiving license fees, challenging Evers’ mass gathering order, fighting for the RRF and helping pass cocktails to go. He concluded, “We’ve had some successes and setbacks. We’re hopeful that, in the spring, things are more back to normal.”

WEDNESDAY’S EVENTS

After the thorough legislative updates from Stenger and Bodnovich, TLW Managing Director Karie Krantz announced the following operational news: • The 2021 Tavern of the Game program is complete, with another successful season. • 2022 raffle calendar sales are under way. • A record-breaking number of NFL Football FundCrazr tickets — 5,400 — were sold, pummeling the previous record of 3,800. • The TLW Foundation obtained a sales tax exemption certification, which will save thousands of dollars every year. • A total of seven staff members are now dedicated to TLW operations. • Social media posts are getting beefed up, increasing the number of posts a week on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. • The newsletter and website were refreshed. • Member and affiliate member brochures were updated and redesigned, as were the food safety brochures and new member packets. • The new sponsorship prospectus has already yielded $11,000 this year and a new corporate member was added.

Then, Marsicano introduced Mark Finnegan, VetsRoll president, who acknowledged that the TLW donated $75,000 for VetsRoll in the last year, without any in-person fundraisers, for a cumulative total of $250,000 for the duration of the partnership. VetsRoll honors veterans for their sacrifices with all-expense paid trips to D.C. The TLW is also supporting Hogs for Heroes, which Kevin and Audra Thompson started to raise money to buy Harley-Davidsons for Wisconsin veterans.

Following the General Session, the trade show opened, while a League Leader and SafeRide Program meeting took place. District caucuses were held later in the afternoon. After the President’s Reception with Marsicano, TLW members celebrated Pete Madland’s leadership and retirement with a party (sponsored by Badger Liquor), good friends, food, beverages and music.

THURSDAY’S EVENTS

Voting for the next TLW president started off the day. At the General Session, Marsicano updated the audience on the total amount of money raised for the silent auction (over $7,000), live auction ($41,400) and beanbag toss (more than $1,000). He also noted that the conference drew 905 registrants total. According to him, “People were saying: I’m coming to this convention, come hell or high water. Thank you to our new staff for the excellent job they did planning and executing their first TLW Convention.”

After that, Marsicano presented Larry McGinn, a founding member of Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE), with a $15,000 check from the TLW. As McGinn accepted the donation, he said, “CORE has now evolved to be a direct funding organization to hospitality families who are in need of a quick financial fix to get over the hump. That’s what we’re here for. That brings the total money raised from the TLW to around $125,000 over a 10-year period. Thank you for the donations and partnership. Please call use any time you need some help.”

Marsicano introduced former TLW Executive Director Pete Madland to the stage, who thanked everyone for his retirement party: “It was overwhelming, the demonstrations of gratitude from people. I’m still a phone call away. I will come to your meetings. I will recruit. I will meet and greet.” Then all of the new nominations for both executive officers and the Board of Directors for 2022 were called for and confirmed before the Parade of Candidates.

Next came the announcement and swearing in of the new TLW president. Kelly Vecitis of Kelly’s Bleachers, the TLW Rules Committee chair, took the podium to report that presidential candidate Cathy Vales received 57 votes, while Keith Kern earned 245 votes. As Marsicano invited Kern to speak, he mentioned, “It was a race won on civil and friendly terms. Cathy will remain in her position. Thank you for all your service.”

Kern first spoke to Vales: “First and foremost, I couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to run against. We both have the same passion and drive for this industry. I look forward to working with you and the whole Board.”

Then he turned his attention to the audience: “Thank you so much for your support. I want to work with the new TLW staff and communicate with every Tavern League member. We all have to work together to be one. We’re going to make things happen. I look forward to working with each and every one of you. Thank you once again for this unbelievable honor. A lot of people have gotten me to this point and I appreciate it.”

As Kern began a new chapter, Marsicano was ending one. “My goal has always been to help the membership. I can’t describe the feeling of seeing you all again — the camaraderie, the laughter, the fun, the support — it means so much to me. I will always bleed Tavern League red, and I will always be here to help the new president and all of you. I believe in you and what we can do,” he said.

When it was time to announce the drawing winners, DeCoster got everyone back to business, saying, “I don’t have a fancy speech prepared. I’m just going to give away a lot of money.”

To conclude the General Session, the TLW played a video with the following words: “Hello, everyone. Long time, no see. It’s good to be back.” The wrap-up captured many special moments during the convention — people smiling, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. After the General Session, DeCoster hosted a president’s reception at Plan B in Kaukauna to tie a ribbon around the TLW Fall Convention & Trade Show. The TLW invites everyone to join them in 2022 for the Spring Convention & Trade Show in La Crosse for another reunion of the TLW family. It truly was good to be back together. TLW

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT:

FALL 2021 ELECTION RESULTS

Keith Kern, TLW Eighth District director, Superior/ Douglas County president and owner of Jimmy’s Saloon in Superior, succeeded against Cathy Vales, TLW senior vice president, Marquette County Membership chairperson and owner of Mike & Cathy’s Good Old Days in Montello, for a two-year term as president.

President Two years Keith Kern

NOMINATIONS FOR SPRING 2022

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Southern District VP One Year Keith Koehler Southern Zone VP Two Years Dan Taivalkoski Jennifer Collison Eastern District VP One Year Don Mjelde Central District VP One Year Bob Carpenter Central Zone VP Two Years Paul Salzwedel Northern District VP One Year Nancy Lorbetske Dan Ullsperger

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1st District Two Years Renee Peterson 1st District One Year Kelly Vecitis Ray Garreau Wendy Coey 2nd District Two Years Eric Christenson 3rd District Two Years Doug Clausen 3rd District One Year Jerry Hinderman 4th District Two Years Mark Puetz 5th District Two Years Ray Bruch Sharon Kingston 5th District One Year Jim Billings 6th District Two Years Judy Vandenhouten 6th District One Year Terri “Sassy” Buman 7th District Two Years Diane Schwartz 7th District One Year Mike Celt 8th District Two Years Russ Fisher 8th District One Year Chuck Anderson Randy Purdy 9th District Two Years Lorie Helm