On Premise March April 2020

The Official Publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin

MARCH/APRIL 2020 TLW.ORG

85th Annual Spring Conference Preview Roaring into the ‘20s with the TLW

ALSO INSIDE: Common Audit Triggers Summer Beverage Trends The Latest News from Washington

PARTNERS -IN PROGRESSHosts of the World’s Largest Dart Tournament & the Nation’s Largest Pool Tournament TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN • Co-sponsor of TLW Legislative Day • Underwriter of TLW Video on Jobs and Employment • Provider of Coin-Operated Games at TLW Conferences & Shows to Benefit TIPAC • Sponsor of the TLW Trip Give-away at TLW Spring Conference & Show • Donor of Large Screen TV at TLW Fall Convention & Show

LOCAL TAVERN LEAGUE PROGRAMS (Saferide, Golf, Others) • Contributions and support from individual WAMO members • Matching Funds from WAMO to Tavern League Locals • Contributions to SafeRide Program, Golf and Others • Active Participation and Attendance

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Visit www.WAMO.net for more information.

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WISCONSIN AMUSEMENT & MUSIC OPERATORS PO Box 259506 Madison, WI 53725 608.709.1960 608.824.2205 EMAIL amanda@wamo.net PHONE FAX

A complete list of WAMO members can be found at www.WAMO.net.

The Official Publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin MARCH/APRIL 2020 VOLUME 38, NO. 2

FEATURES

BEWARE THE RED FLAGS. . 8 Remember these common audit triggers and tips for when you’re handling an audit.

FIND SUCCESS

BY EMBRACING SUMMER TRENDS. . . . . . . . . . 18 Ignore these hot-for-summer beverage trends at your own risk.

SPRING CONFERENCE

85TH ANNUAL TLW SPRING CONFERENCE PREVIEW. . . 11

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Radisson Hotel & La Crosse Center, La Crosse April 6–9, 2020 • Schedule of Events & Entertainment • Keynote Speaker & Seminars • Hotel Information & Registration Form • Host League & Trade Show Exhibitor List • TLW Live Auction Form

LEAGUE SPOTLIGHTS LEAGUE PROFILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Manitowoc County

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Good Times Restaurant and Banquet Hall

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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Ant Hill Mob Motorcycle Club

MEET THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. . . . 31 Dan Taivalkoski

DEPARTMENTS President’s Perspective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Corporate Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Front Rail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ABL Dispatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Legislative Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Accounting on Tap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Corporate Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Featured Affiliates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Affiliate Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Local League Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27 32 34 36 37 38

SOCIALIZE WITH US:

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MARCH/APRIL 2020

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE TLW SPRINGING INTO ACTION THIS SEASON

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pring is upon us. We survived another Wisconsin winter and I hope you all had a successful season! One sure sign of spring is the arrival of the Annual TLW Spring Conference coming up April 6–9. This conference is our 85th and will be hosted by the La Crosse City/ County Tavern League. The La Crosse league is an old pro at hosting us and always provides a good time, not to mention a few surprises thrown in.

We have a great list of events and speakers lined up for all attendees, including keynote speaker Craig Purser, president and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), and seminars on food safety and labor laws. I encourage everyone that can take the time away from their business — even just for a day — to try and attend. It also helps that La Crosse is a great place to visit other members with dozens of establishments within walking distance of the La Crosse Center.

For the full agenda, lodging options, registration form, exhibitor list and details on the TLW Live Auction, please visit our website at tlw.org and search under events, or check out pages 11–17 of this issue of On Premise.

This last winter was a very busy one for the TLW in Madison.

We monitored, and fought for and against many bills that would affect your business and income. (See Pages 22–25 for details on the legislative front.) The 2019-20 legislative session was highlighted by: • The TLW would secure a $25 increase to the SafeRide surcharge, generating up to $500,000 annually for the state’s SafeRide Program, with the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 869. SafeRide is an 80/20 state grant program, with up to 80% of the funds coming from the state. There are two state funding sources. In 2017-18, for example, 4.9% of the driver improvement surcharge generated $449,000 and the $50 SafeRide surcharge generated $554,300.

• Passage of AB 840 would require the Department of Workforce Development to permit the use of an electronic signature in a point-of-sale (POS) system to certify an employee tip declaration, protecting TLW members from frivolous lawsuits.

• 2019 Wisconsin Act 166 streamlines the process of obtaining an operator’s license by allowing the governing bodies

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The TLW has always been known for its grassroots efforts and we must continue to make our voices heard.

of municipalities to designate someone to issue the license.

• 2019 Wisconsin Act 6 eliminated the 4-liter restriction on sales of intoxicating liquor from a Class B establishment for off-premise consumption.

• The Department of Revenue (DOR) will enforce illegal video gaming at Class A retailers.

With the upcoming elections this fall, it is more important than ever for you — our members and our local leagues — to become involved in local elections. The TLW has always been known for its grassroots efforts and we must continue to make our voices heard.

I also look forward to seeing the great turnout at Legislative Day this month. Thank you in advance to all who plan to take the time to attend. It is very important to let our legislators know that you care and are paying attention to what they are doing in Madison.

Please continue to monitor all of the TLW’s efforts on our social media platforms, including: • Facebook (facebook.com/TavernLeague or facebook.com/ TavernLeagueofWisconsin) • Twitter (@tavernleaguewi) • YouTube (youtube.com/channel/ UCfYiCKbijxeTr1jMzMmQvoA) I look forward to seeing all of you in La Crosse.

Salute!

Chris Marsicano TLW President

www.tlw.org

CORPORATE MEMBERS Support Those Who Support our Association

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Amusement & list to participate. Any business interested in joining should call Make sure to thank these groups for their support andWisconsin encourage others not on the Musicthe Operators, the TLW office (608-270-8591) for more information regarding benefits ofInc. the different categories. Remember “Support those who support us.” www.tlw.org Make sure and thank these groups for their support, and encourage others not on the list to participate. Any business interested in2020 joining should call 5 MARCH/APRIL On Premise the TLW office (608-270-8591) for our brochure that lists the benefits of the different categories. Remember “Support those who support us.” n

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PRESIDENT

Chris Marsicano

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Cathy Vales

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LSC Communications, Pontiac, Illinois On Premise (ISSN #1051-4562) is a bimonthly publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin Inc., 2817 Fish Hatchery Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53713, Phone: (800) 445-9221.

On Premise is produced by Nei-Turner Media Group Inc., 400 Broad St., Unit D, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Gary Nei, Chairman; William Turner, President; Barbara Krause, Publisher.

SILVER $250 Annual Membership Level

Printing is by LSC Communications, Pontiac, IL. For advertising information, please contact Cindy Micha, (262) 903-8633, cmicha@ntmediagroup.com. Subscriptions included in TLW membership dues; non-member subscriptions cost $15 per year. Postmaster: Send address corrections to the Tavern League of Wisconsin Office, 2817 Fish Hatchery Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53713-5005. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI and other additional offices.

For more information on becoming a Special Club Member, call the TLW office at (800) 445-9221.

©2020 Tavern League of Wisconsin Inc. Permission to reprint must be secured in advance of publication, and credit given to author and On Premise.

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EDITOR

Pete Madland, Executive Director, Tavern League of Wisconsin

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FRONT RAIL GIVE LOCAL MEETINGS A TRY

BY PETE MADLAND, TLW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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s I speak to groups around the state, I often talk about the importance of our local leagues and how vital it is to our association to keep them strong.

To demonstrate this, I relay the story of a visit I had a while ago from the executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, Minnesota’s version of the TLW. He was relatively new at his position and told me he wanted to make his association just as strong as Wisconsin’s.

We talked for a couple of hours and, finally, I told him that Minnesota could never duplicate what we have in Wisconsin. He asked, “Why?” I told him it was because the state doesn’t have local leagues.

Instead, the state is comprised of several large districts. This makes it much more difficult to address local issues and communicate locally. Since the association does not have as many members as we have, I understand that it may not be practical for it to have a local league in every county. For us, however, the county league is our backbone.

Most of our local leagues meet every month, and if you don’t take the time to attend, you are missing out. You are missing out on an important and effective tool to help your business and make our league stronger. You are missing out on relationships and conversations with other small business owners that could help you avoid issues that others may have faced. And you are missing out on learning ways that have helped others grow their businesses that could help yours as well.

I often say that the TLW provides you with the tools, but it is up to you to use them.

Local league meetings are the best way to find out what is happening in the state, as well as in your backyard, regarding our industry. Not everything is on the internet. Local meetings also provide you, the member, an opportunity to voice concerns or objections to actions the Tavern League may have taken, or may take, or policies that have been set.

Strong local leagues equal a strong association. Strength is not only measured by the number of members — but more importantly — www.tlw.org

“Strength is not only measured by the number of members — but more importantly — by member participation.”

by member participation. We have members who don’t miss a meeting, but we have many more who don’t ever make it to one.

More often than not, it seems to be the member who refuses to take the time to attend finds reasons to complain.

We expect a lot from our local league leaders, and we are working to ensure they are informed and current on issues facing our industry. They do their best to provide you an orderly, efficient and informative meeting.

Why do our leaders do what they do? Because they care and because they understand. They understand the importance of a strong local league. They understand the issues that face our members that could prevent our businesses from succeeding in this industry. This is why a strong local league is such a valuable tool.

Why don’t you give it a try? If you haven’t been to a meeting lately, I think you may be pleasantly surprised. By attending, you have the opportunity to become informed and ask questions.

You may learn something to help your business increase sales or decrease costs.

Just as importantly, attending a meeting demonstrates your appreciation to the efforts of leadership. Remember, you don’t have to like your leaders to appreciate what they do, as they are doing what most of our membership does not want to do . . . lead.

Your attendance may also strengthen the league by increasing participation. More people in the room increases the knowledge, experience and views on subjects discussed, and that makes for a stronger league and that benefits us all.

So give it a try, who knows what you may learn or what others may learn from you? One thing is certain, your attendance is appreciated by those who work hard to make your league successful. It’s a great tool, but it’s up to you to use it. TLW MARCH/APRIL 2020

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BEWARE THE RED FLAGS Remember these common audit triggers and tips for when you’re handling an audit.

By Amanda Wegner

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liver Wendell Holmes Jr., a Supreme Court justice in the early 1900s, once said, “I hate paying taxes.

But I love the civilization they give me.”

Too true. Taxes are a fact of life for all of us, whether that’s as a homeowner, consumer, seller or business owner. There is no way around paying taxes . . . lest you don’t mind taking a chance on being audited. But that’s not something Tavern League members should roll the dice on.

“If you’re not in compliance, get in compliance, because if you get caught, it’s more expensive and nastier than you could imagine,” says Pete Oettinger, a partner in Wegner CPAs’ Baraboo office. “It never ceases to amaze me, after my years in practice, that people come in and think, ‘It’s not a big deal, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.’ They don’t understand the feds and state are fed up with business owners not paying. They are prosecuting, and you could go to prison, or pay massive fees and fines.”

Whether you find yourself subject to an audit or want to minimize your chance of one, this article covers the common triggers of an audit, practical tips to keep your business above the line and what to do if your business is facing an audit.

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THE RED FLAGS The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), says auditor Todd Lambie, “is very data-driven. We take all sorts of data, sales tax information, business tax information . . . And we share information with other agencies [like the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)], pull data from all over, and it all goes into our system. From there, we run discoveries and programs to find red flags.” These red flags may put a business on a list for an audit.

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One of the biggest red flags is not paying or reporting any use tax.

Use tax is often misunderstood. Assessed at the same rate as sales tax (5% for the state, plus any county tax), use tax is owed on anything that is purchased tax-exempt and subject to sales tax with the intent to be resold. In the tavern industry, use tax applies to the free drinks or food given to patrons, employees and ownership. www.tlw.org

“When you purchase an item for resale — beer, liquor, food — you do not pay sales tax when you purchase it,” explains Oettinger. “This exemption to vendors [means] that you charge that tax to the ultimate consumer. When you provide free drinks or comp food, you are the ultimate consumer and the tavern owes the use tax.”

Some businesses have more use tax than others, but no use tax or very little, particularly for a bar or restaurant, raises a red flag, says Lambie. “You might not be audited necessarily, but it’s at least going to get a review.”

The penalties and interest fees for misrepresenting and/or underpaying use tax, says Oettinger, are steep: The penalty can be 25% of the tax owed or up to 75% if fraud is alleged. The normal interest rate is 12%, but the delinquent rate jumps to 18% if a return was never filed or you can’t pay.

“It can become very expensive very quickly,” says Oettinger.

“One of the biggest red flags is not paying or reporting any use tax.”

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A final issue that raises eyebrows, both for the state and federal government, is video gaming machines.

Video gaming remains illegal in Wisconsin. If an establishment has five machines or less, it is a civil crime. If there are more than five machines, it is a felony.

Adds Lambie: “We aren’t a very friendly bank.”

Another red flag is gross receipts. Business owners purchase products that they are expected to sell for profit; if the cost of goods sold isn’t within an industry-accepted standard of total gross receipts, flags go up, says Lambie.

Either an amusement company or a business owner can own and operate video gaming machines. Both the state and federal government are specifically looking at the business-owned machines, and whether the business is claiming the income made from them on their taxes.

“Again, because we are data-driven, every industry has a standard ratio for the cost of goods sold compared to gross receipts. It’s a fairly wide gap, but if you’re under that gap, someone’s going to review that account for gross receipts.”

While the DOR isn’t explicitly looking at video gaming income as it reviews data to identify potential offenders, if you’re selected for an audit, any video gaming machines you own and operate may be subject to review.

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No employees reported? Red flag.

“Don’t get me wrong; owners are there a lot, but realistically, most establishments can’t operate the hours they are open without having employees. If we see no employees, that’s a flag” for the state, says Lambie.

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From a federal perspective, an area of interest for the IRS is reported tips for employees.

“Of course,” says Oettinger, “employees don’t want to report their cash tips, but if they report, there is a 100% credit for any taxes the bar or restaurant owes . . . it doesn’t cost any money to comply and they give you credit.”

However, if you’re found to not be reporting tips, you owe the employer portion of Social Security and Medicare, plus a 25% underpayment of the tax. And because these are “payroll trust taxes,” they never go away.

“Even if you close or file for bankruptcy, they are there,” says Oettinger, adding that he has several clients in this situation.

“It’s worse than a high-interest credit card to get out of if you get behind because the penalties and interest keep running. The worst part with cash tips is that it doesn’t cost owners anything to comply. Why take a risk with something that doesn’t cost any money?” www.tlw.org

“More and more taverns are choosing to operate these machines themselves,” says Lambie. “Gaming can be a flag — not as a major flag for selecting businesses for audit, but definitely an issue when the audit starts.”

If taverns are the operators of the video gaming machines, they are the ones responsible for the sales tax on the gross amount going into the machines before expenses (payouts).

Oettinger notes that the IRS currently has a criminal taskforce in the Madison and Wisconsin Dells areas, and is pursuing indictments on business owners who are not claiming income from gaming machines.

“Those investigations are ongoing, so make sure you are in compliance,” he says. “They will find you; it’s a matter of when, not if.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE SELECTED FOR AN AUDIT First, know that, while it may seem like it, taverns aren’t being singled out for audits.

“We work across many industries,” says Lambie. “[Taverns are] a large part of the business atmosphere in Wisconsin, therefore, there are going to be some audits and it may feel like they are being audited more.”

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Lambie sees a variety of recordkeeping and accounting systems in his line of work, from notebooks with a total in and out for each day of the month to high-end point-of-sale (POS) systems.

“A POS is always the best system,” he says. “If someone gives me a notebook, with close and open, and has no backup or no record of where the money is coming from — beer, liquor, soda, food, gaming machines — those aren’t good. The worse the records, the greater the chance of an audit.”

On your POS system, adds Oettinger, have a button to record comped drinks and food to assist in accurately tracking use tax.

Keep all records for a minimum of six to seven years.

If your business is selected for an audit, the DOR mails you a letter. You are then responsible for responding within five business days to start the process. The letter contains a suggested start date for the audit, but that date can be changed.

Oettinger recommends that, if you’re selected for an audit, review your returns for accuracy.

“Do the best you can to compute what you owe,” he says. “If you voluntarily right it, the penalties may be waived and you may be given a lower interest rate to come into compliance.”

Gather together all your records and, if you are missing some, get them. Because Wisconsin requires bars to purchase their liquor and beer through distributors, your distributor should have a record of your purchases in the event you are missing any invoices. Ensure you have your gross receipts, any video gaming receipts and information, and any records related to employee status and pay.

Once the audit begins, always be cooperative, says Lambie: “It’s never good to not cooperate and most do when we do the audit.”

You are welcome to have your accountant or other staff participate in the audit, but know that the department likes to have the owner’s participation, particularly on the first day.

And finally, perform your own internal audits on a regular basis to ensure your money is where it is supposed to be — in your business and not walking out the door via wasted product, unnecessary comps or greedy hands. TLW

HELPFUL TAX PUBLICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE The following publications can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website at revenue.wi.gov. Simply search for the publication title.

• Publication 236: Restaurants and Bars: How Do Wisconsin Sales and Use Taxes Affect Your Operations?

• Publication 114: Wisconsin Taxpayer Bill of Rights • Publication 105: Field Audit of Wisconsin Tax Returns • Publication 506: Taxpayers’ Appeal Rights of Audit Adjustments

“They know their business,” says Lambie.

Also, ask questions throughout the process. “Ask whatever you want; we are here to inform you of the audit process,” says Lambie.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCE OF AN AUDIT Lambie and Oettinger agree that the No. 1 way to minimize your chance of an audit is to keep excellent records.

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85th Annual Spring Conference Preview Roaring into the ‘20s with the TLW SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 KEYNOTE SPEAKER & SEMINARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 13 HOTEL INFORMATION & REGISTRATION FORM. . . . . . . . . 14 HOST LEAGUE & TRADE SHOW EXHIBITOR LIST. . . . . . . . 15 TLW LIVE AUCTION FORM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2020 Spring Conference Schedule of Events MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Food Safety Class & Exam – Boardroom B (Class registration open to members and non-members.)

9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. TLW Board of Directors Meeting – Hotel Ballroom A 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. Board Lunch – Hotel Ballroom B 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Registration and $2 Bill Exchange – South Hall Lobby 6:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. La Crosse City/County Tavern League Welcome Party Location: Moose Lodge Entertainment: The Freezers

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Registration and $2 Bill Exchange – South Hall Lobby 8:45 A.M. to 9:15 A.M. Nominating Committee – Boardroom A 8:45 A.M. to 9:15 A.M. Rules Committee – Boardroom C 9:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. General Session – South Hall B Attendance Drawing Host League Introduction – Jim Pickett, Southern Zone Vice President Opening Ceremony – Michael Brown, La Crosse City/County President Color Guard Presents Colors President’s Report – Chris Marsicano Secretary’s Report – Erin Pulaski Treasurer’s Report – Tom Dahlen Keynote Speaker – Craig Purser, President and CEO, National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) President’s Award Attendance Drawing First-Timers’ Orientation

12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Seminar: Food Safety Presented by: Dana Skillrud, senior instructor for the TLW’s Food Safety Course South Hall B 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Seminar: An Employee’s Guide for Best Practices in Becoming a Successful Employer Presented by: Sue Matis, director of Workforce Solutions LLC South Hall B

3:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Winter Getaway Presentation by Chambers Travel – South Hall B 3:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. District Caucuses: 1st and 9th District – Ballroom C 2nd District – Conference Room 3rd District – Ballroom B 4th District – Boardroom A 5th District – Boardroom C 6th District – Ballroom D 7th District – Boardroom B 8th District – Ballroom A

8:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. Tuesday Night Party – South Hall B Entertainment: Slow No Wake Sponsor: American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP)

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

President’s Reception ($25 donation to TIPAC) Location: Terrace Sponsor: La Crosse Distilling Company

9:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. Live Auction (proceeds to Direct Givers) – South Hall B

9:00 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. Voting (delegates only) – Boardroom

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Registration and $2 Bill Exchange – South Hall Lobby 9:00 A.M. to 1:45 P.M. Silent Auction for TIPAC – Trade Show Lobby 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. General Session – South Hall B Attendance Drawing ABL Report – Terry Harvath and John Bodnovich Legislative Report – Scott Stenger Parade of Candidates Good and Welfare Attendance Drawing 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Trade Show – South Hall A Bean Bag Toss, Donations for TIPAC 11:45 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. League Leader Meeting – South Hall B

12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Trade Show – South Hall A Bean Bag Toss, Donations for TIPAC

2:00 P.M. to 2:45 P.M. Vendor Giveaway (attendees must be present to win) – Trade Show Area

12:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Silent Auction for TIPAC – Trade Show Lobby

2:45 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Exhibitor Drawing (exhibitors must be set up to win) – Trade Show Area

THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. General Session – South Hall B Attendance Drawing Rules Committee Report Swearing in of Officers Nomination Committee Report Parade of Candidates Host League Drawing Foundation Raffle Silent Auction Drawing Buyer Raffle Drawing Winter Getaway Drawing by Chambers Travel Good and Welfare DVD Presentation President’s Closing Remarks Attendance Drawing Retiring of Colors 12:00 P.M. Foundation Meeting – South Hall B 12:00 P.M. La Crosse City/County President’s Reception La Crosse City/County President Michael Brown Location: Mike’s Logan Bar 1400 Caledonia St. La Crosse, WI 54603 Note: Times and events are subject to change without notice.

2020 Spring Conference Entertainment MONDAY NIGHT: THE FREEZERS

TUESDAY NIGHT: SLOW NO WAKE

The Freezers are back for 2020. The band has been bringing the party to the Coulee Region since being formed in 2006. The Freezers are once again ready to bring the party, playing everyone’s favorite hits from all genres of rock, country, funk and even a little rap/hip-hop.

Slow No Wake specializes in a genre called yacht rock — prepare for the smoothest radio sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

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www.tlw.org

2020 Spring Conference Keynote Speaker Keynote Address Craig Purser President and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) TUESDAY, 9:15 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. GENERAL SESSION NBWA president and CEO Craig Purser serves as the leading advocate for America’s independent beer distributors. In this role, Purser is responsible for the strategic development and tactical execution of the association’s mission in the areas of government, public, industry and political affairs. He led the charge to strengthen the three-tier system of beer distribution and state-based alcohol regulation.

A veteran of Capitol Hill and numerous political campaigns, Purser served on the staff of former U.S. Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles (R-OK) and managed the successful election of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK).

Purser serves as a trustee for the Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) and previously served on the board of the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation (ABMRF). He also serves as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Association Committee of 100, the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE’s) Key Industry Associations Committee (KIAC) and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society Board of Trustees, and served as chairman of the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Board of Governors. Purser additionally served as a guest lecturer at the University of North Carolina, George Washington University, the Washington Campus and the University of Oklahoma.

A native of Oklahoma, Purser is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Gretchen, reside in Alexandria, Virginia, with their three children.

2020 Spring Conference Seminars TUESDAY 12:30 P.M. TO 1:30 P.M., SOUTH HALL B FOOD SAFETY Presented by: Dana Skillrud, senior instructor for the TLW’s Food Safety Course.

TUESDAY 2 P.M. TO 3 P.M., SOUTH HALL B AN EMPLOYEE’S GUIDE FOR BEST PRACTICES IN BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYER Presented by: Sue Matis, director of Workforce Solutions LLC.

More TLW members are now serving food and food safety must be a priority. E. coli and salmonella are examples of a long list of food source illnesses that could sicken your customers and kill your business. Skillrud will update you on new rules established that dictate how food is to be stored, prepared and served, as well as answer any questions. If you have a restaurant license, serve only pizza or a full buffet, this is important information for you.

You own a business, therefore you are an employer. This seminar will provide an overview of best practices, key insights and tools that will assist you in becoming an effective employer. Matis will equip you with feasible, easy-to-implement practices that will assist in attracting and retaining quality employees, along with the dos and don’ts of firing. If you have employees, this seminar will help you and your business.

Since 1994, Skillrud has been at the forefront of food safety curriculum in Wisconsin. As well as being the senior instructor for the Tavern League’s Food Safety Course, she was the co-author of the book used in the course, and represents the TLW on several state, regional and national committees in relation to the promotion of food safety.

Matis works with multiple industries, and has successfully built and rebuilt human resources and development departments. She supports businesses by providing a unique perspective and appreciates that human capital is a business’ greatest investment. Her areas of expertise include human resources, organization development, training and culture.

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2020 Spring Conference Hotel & Registration “Roaring into the ‘20s with the TLW” 85TH ANNUAL TLW SPRING CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW

APRIL 6-9, 2020 RADISSON HOTEL & LA CROSSE CENTER La Crosse, WI HOST HOTEL

ALTERNATE HOTELS

SOLD OUT RADISSON HOTEL LA CROSSE

HOLIDAY INN & SUITES LA CROSSE DOWNTOWN (across street from convention center) 200 Pearl St. La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 784-4444 Ask for TLW block Rate: $139/night

200 Harborview Plaza La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 784-6680 Ask for TLW block Rate: $139/night

HOME2 SUITES BY HILTON LA CROSSE

GRANDSTAY HOTEL & SUITES - LA CROSSE

(0.4 miles or 7-minute walk from convention center) 525 Front St. N La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 796-1615 Ask for TLW block Rate: $109/night

HAMPTON INN & SUITES LA CROSSE DOWNTOWN

(0.4 mile miles or 7-minute walk from convention center) 511 Third St. N La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 791-4004 Ask for TLW block Rate: $139/night

(down street from convention center) 210 Jay St. La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 881-6666 Ask for TLW block Rate: $119/night

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT LA CROSSE DOWNTOWN/MISSISSIPPI RIVERFRONT

(0.2 miles or 5-minute walk from convention center) 500 Front St. S La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 782-1000 Ask for TLW block Rate: $129/night

SUPER 8 BY WYNDHAM LA CROSSE

(2.6 miles or 7-minute drive from convention center) 1625 Rose St. La Crosse, WI 54603 (608) 781-8880 Ask for TLW block Rates: Singles $49/night, Doubles $59/night, Suites $79/night

2020 Spring Conference Registration Form - Radisson Hotel, La Crosse First Name

Last Name

(required)

Nickname

(required)

Business Name City/State/Zip Business Phone

Cell Phone

Local League

Email Address

Full Registration………………

Member Non-Member $50 $70

One Day Only………………

Member Non-Member $30 $35

(Circle one: Tuesday - Wednesday)

This is my first convention If you would like to add a donation please check all that apply

.

TLW Support

$

SafeRide

$

CORE

$

Total Registration & Fees Due $

Check #

Card #

Security Code

Expiration Date

Cardholder Name

Signature

Please complete and return (mail, email, fax) this form with payment to: TLW, 2817 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, WI 53713 14

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2020 Spring Conference Registration Form - Radisson Hotel, La Crosse

Host League & Trade Show Exhibitor List Your 2020 Spring Conference Host League LA CROSSE CITY/COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE The La Crosse City/County Tavern League welcomes TLW members, vendors and guests to the 2020 TLW Spring Conference and Trade Show in La Crosse.

BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Joe Berra, Dale Clements, Tim Groth, Chris Olson, Michael Brown, Kyle Prentice, Andy Brye and Jason Kneifel FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Bob Twite, Diane Groth, Mike Genz, Glenn Garbers, Gary Bahr and Art Ekern Not pictured: Shannon Foster

2020 Spring Conference Exhibitor List as of 03/11/20 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SERVICES Booth: 14 Terry Keyzer W2899 Otter Ln. Rib Lake, WI 54470 (715) 427-0135 Financial Services

ANHEUSER-BUSCH INC. Booth: 17 and 18 8750 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Unit 700 Chicago, IL 60631-3549 (630) 232-7525 Anheuser-Busch Products

B&K BAR SUPPLIES Booth: 119 and 120 Donald Falk 7100 W. Greenfield Ave. West Allis, WI 53214 (414) 259-9161 Bar Stools, Pub Tables, Chairs, Booths, Glassware, Chemicals, Snacks, Pourers, Bar Chips, Etc.

BADGER MATS Booth: 53 Nick Filardo P.O. Box 222 Mineral Point, WI 53565 (608) 574-3736 Anti-Fatigue Bar Mats, Logoed Entrance Mats, Kitchen Mats

BADGER MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Booth: 31 and 32 Melissa Theisen 1635 W. National Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53204 (800) 837-7833 Personal and Commercial Insurance

BARABOO SYSCO FOOD SERVICES Booth: 11 and 12 Tony Miller 910 South Blvd.

Baraboo, WI 53913-2723 (608) 355-8313 Wholesale Food, Equipment, Supplies and Disposables www.tlw.org

BENEDICT REFRIGERATION SERVICE Booth: 113 and 114 Tony Benedict 1003 Harlem St. Altoona, WI 54720 (715) 834-3191 Refrigeration, Food Service, HVAC

BLUE HONEY BIOFUELS INC. Booth: 59 Todd Debruin P.O. Box 194 Ettrick, WI 54627 (715) 896-2196 Grease/Fryer Oil Recovery, Septic Pumping, Portable Restroom Rental, Grease Trap Line Cleaning

BOWLING CENTERS ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN Booth: 37 Yvonne Bennett 21140 W. Capitol Drive, Unit 5 Pewaukee, WI 53072 (262) 783-4292, ext. 2 Trade Association - Bowling Industry for State of Wisconsin

BRAKEBUSH BROTHERS Booth: 105 Al Neumann N4993 Sixth Dr. Westfield, WI 53964 (800) 933-2121, ext. 1360 Frozen Value-Added Chicken Products

BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE WISCONSIN Booth: 39, 40, 49 and 50 Mark Cirillo 500 W. North Shore Dr. Hartland, WI 53029 (262) 617-0504 Wine and Spirits Wholesale, Craft Beer

BREW PUB LOTZZA MOTZZA PIZZA Booth: 108

Denny Terrance 3027 W. Mason St. Green Bay, WI 54313 (920) 883-7851 Frozen Pre-Made Pizza, Lotzza Motzza Pizza

(256) 655-1687 Advertising Glassware, Plastic Tumblers and Coffee Cups

In-Pack Chance Promotions - Coupons and Sweepstakes

COOKIES FOOD PRODUCTS

BROMAK SALES INC.

Booth: 102 Walter Malone 614 First West St. Wall Lake, IA 51466 (712) 664-2683 Sauces, Salsa, Seasonings, Gluten-Free

Booth: 90 Michael Dutton 517 Idlewild St. Kaukauna, WI 54130 (920) 915-3662 Credit Card Processing and Solutions Marketing, POS Machines and Equipment

Booth: 116, 117 and 118 Gary Keller E9770 Seventh St. Clintonville, WI 54929 (715) 823-4429 Broaster Company Equipment, Supplies and Broaster Foods

CAPTAIN KEN’S FOODS Booth: 101 Tom Traxler 344 S. Robert St. St. Paul, MN 55107 (651) 298-0071 Homemade-from-Scratch Products, Beef Chili, Macaroni and Cheese, Taco Meat, Baked Beans

CHAMBERS TRAVEL Booth: 75 Colleen Chambers 2121 Innovation Ct., Unit 1100 De Pere, WI 54115 (920) 496-9596 Full-Service Travel Agency

CLEGHORN HEMPSTEAD Booth: 115 2070 Cleghorn Rd. N Waupaca, WI 54981 (715) 281-8377 Family-Owned Farm

COMBINED INSURANCE Booth: 74 8750 Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 (800) 225-4500 Insurance

COMMUNITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Booth: 68 Ron Lilge 107 Guindon Blvd.

Fond du Lac, WI 54935

CORNERSTONE PROCESSING SOLUTIONS Booth: 63 and 73 Brad Palubiak 1600 S. Main St. Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 651-8888 ATM, POS, ECRS, Credit Card Processing and Equipment

FLASHBANC INC.

FLEIS INSURANCE AGENCY INC. Booth: 61 Jim Adkins 1824 E. Main St. Onalaska, WI 54650 (608) 783-5206 Independent Insurance Agency

FOREMOST BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Booth: 94 Patrick Lazarus 600 E. Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 385-5200 Hotel and Gaming

Booth: 72 Lori Alwin 4834 Park Glen Rd. Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 920-8449 NCR/Aloha POS Systems, Tableside Ordering, Gift Certificates, Online Ordering

DELICIOUS FOODS OF WISCONSIN INC.

GREATER INSURANCE SERVICE CORP.

EL CORTEZ HOTEL & CASINO

Booth: 38 Kemper Willcut II 300 De-Lish-Us Ave. Waupaca, WI 54981 (715) 258-7683

EDGE ONE INC. Booth: 30 Kris Zahn 161 Business Park Circle Stoughton, WI 53589 (608) 873-3311 ATM Sales and Service, Credit Card Processing

FACE CARD PROMOTIONS/ADTABS Booth: 83 Sandy Mitchell 5330 50th St. Kenosha, WI 53144 (262) 657-4801

Booth: 33 Heather Heidtke 414 Atlas Ave. Madison, WI 53714 (800) 747-4472 Life, Health, Personal and Property Insurance Products

HOGS FOR HEROES Booth: 110 822 Ondossagon Way Madison, WI 53719 (608) 228-0026 Non-Profit Organization Honoring our Vets

HOLIDAY WHOLESALE INC. Booth: 96, 97 and 98 Dixie Marquardt 225 Pioneer Dr.

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2020 Spring Conference Exhibitor List as of 03/11/20 Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 (608) 254-8321 Candy, Snacks, Food Service, Disposables, Cleaning Supplies, Novelties, Tobacco Products and More

THE HOUSE OF INSURANCE Booth: 66 Marty Lindquist 7431 W. Coldsprings Rd. Greenfield, WI 53220 (414) 327-3800

HUNGER RELIEF Booth: 79

KAUFHOLD’S KURDS INC. Booth: 103 Anthony Drummond 400 E. Business Way Ellsworth, WI 54016 (715) 273-3561 Lightly Hand-Breaded Cheese Curds from Wisconsin that Are Preservative and RBST Free

LA CROSSE DISTILLING COMPANY Booth: 62 Lee Berken 129 Vine St. La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 881-8800 Organic Distillery that Distributes High Rye Light Whiskey and Fieldnotes Vodka and Gin

LAMERS BUS LINES Booth: 29 Erica Dakins 2407 S. Point Rd. Green Bay, WI 54313 (800) 236-1240, ext. 10139 Wisconsin’s Premier School Bus and Motorcoach Company with 33 Locations Statewide

MAGNUSON INC. Booth: 21 Jason Gough 3005 Kishwaukee St. Rockford, IL 61109 (800) 435-2816 Posi-Pour Portion Control Pourers and Full Line of Bar Supplies

MASS APPEAL INC. Booth: 8, 9 and 10 Thomas Wilkinson 2247 Ullmer Ct. Green Bay, WI 54303 (920) 469-2000 Thousands of Advertising Items to Promote Your Business

MCCAIN FOODS Booth: 107 Mark Bastable 3120 Brossman St. Naperville, IL 60564 (630) 730-7711 Sale of Restaurant

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Equipment and Broaster Food Line

METROPOLITAN FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT Booth: 65 Mark Lavick 2618 Birch St. Eau Claire, WI 54703 (715) 318-2337 Commercial Food Service Equipment

MILLERCOORS Booth: 51, 52, 57 and 58 Matt Swentkofske P.O. Box 482 Milwaukee, WI 53201 (414) 931-3129 MillerCoors Products

NATIONAL METALWARES FURNITURE Booth: 13 Kim Bronke 900 N. Russell Ave. Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 844-2585

NEI-TURNER MEDIA GROUP INC. Booth: 81 Cindy Micha 400 Broad St., Unit D Lake Geneva, WI 53147 (262) 903-8633 High-Quality Print Materials, Visitor Guides, Magazines and Customer Publications

NOBLE INSURANCE SERVICE Booth: 6 Sherry Noble W5822 Hwy. OS Onalaska, WI 54650 (608) 779-5500 Business Insurance, Life Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance

NORTHERN OASIS SPIRITS Booth: 82 Samantha Schierl 2201 Madison St. Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 345-5060 Marketing and Promotion of Northern Oasis Spirits

PABST BREWING COMPANY

PRETZELHAUS BAKERY/FUNACHO

RIVERSIDE FOODS INC.

Booth: 104 Ken St. Clair 17565 Evergreen Ct. Brookfield, WI 53045 (262) 309-9902 Shelf-Stable Pretzels, Lightly Salted and Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels, Cheese Sauces with Warm Holding Equipment

Booth: 64 Mike Coenen 2520 Wilson St. Two Rivers, WI 54241 (800) 678-4511 Breaded and Battered Appetizers and Seafood

QUAKER BAKERY BRANDS Booth: 95 Jeff Pearcy 1207 N. Mason St. Appleton, WI 54914 (920) 734-9206 Homestyle Bakery Buns, Breads, Rolls and Pizza Crusts

QUANTUM MERCHANT SERVICES/YETE TECH Booth: 34 Rob Olson 7300 Hudson Blvd., Unit 255 Oakdale, MN 55128 (651) 209-9200, ext. 302 POS Computer Systems, Restaurant Mobile Applications for Ordering Online, Credit Card Processing, Website Design and Hosting

REINHART FOODSERVICE LLC Booth: 24 and 25 Michelle Jerome 1500 St. James St. La Crosse, WI 54603 (608) 793-9227 Broadline Food Service Distributor and Equipment Supplier

RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES Booth: 76 2250 Pilot Knob Rd., Unit 100 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 (262) 347-8605 Restaurant Supplies, Advanced Kitchen Automation Services

RHINELANDER BREWING COMPANY/ MINHAS

Booth: 84 Val Blaska 7742 Krause Rd. Columbus, WI 53925 (608) 206-3814 Beer

Booth: 89 Dennis Rego P.O. Box 397 Monroe, WI 53566 (608) 293-0758 Beer and a Variety of Liquor

PRECISION POURS INC.

RIVERLAND EXPRESSIONS

Booth: 56 Richard Sandvik 12837 Industrial Park Blvd.

Minneapolis, MN 55441 (800) 549-4491 Manufacturer of the ThreeBall Liquor Pour MARCH/APRIL 2020

Booth: 35 Sue Gage 317 Main St. Lansing, IA 52151 (563) 538-4751 Screenprint, Embroidery and Ad Specialties

RUSH CREEK DISTILLING Booth: 55 Mark Stricker 1501 W. Diggins St. Harvard, IL 60033 (815) 943-7874 Craft Spirits - Vodka, Gin, American Gold and Trophy Whiskey

SANIMAX USA LLC Booth: 36 Nate Miller 605 Bassett St. De Forest, WI 53532 (888) 726-4629 Collection and Recycling of Used Cooking Oil and Grease Trap Cleaning

SOCIETY/ANSAY & ASSOCIATES Booth: 19 and 20 Matt Disher 2916 Church St. Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 344-8383 Property, Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance

SPORTS IMPRESSIONS

for Taylor Ice Cream, Henny Penny Cooking and Perfect Fry Equipment

TRICKY DICK SPECIALTY 2 Booth: 1, 2 and 3 Robert Manteufel 2209 S. Berry Dr. Appleton, WI 54915 (920) 213-6666 Novelties

TRI-MART, MIDWEST FOOD & TOBACCO GROUP Booth: 67 Steve Sundby 4603 Domain Dr. Menomonie, WI 54751 (715) 235-2151 Wholesale Distributor

U.S. BANK PAYMENT SOLUTIONS/ELAVON Booth: 54 Alicia Purpur 425 Pine St. Green Bay, WI 54303 (920) 664-2476 Merchant Services and Banking

VEMOS Booth: 28 Parag Shah 323 N. Washington Ave. Minneapolis, MN 54401 (877) 388-7872 ID Verification for Establishments Including Data and Analytics

Booth: 111 731 Superior St. Wisconsin Dells, WI 59365 (608) 254-4919 Custom Screen Printing, Custom Embroidery, Promotional Items

VETSROLL

SUPERIOR BUSINESS SYSTEMS

VIKING ENTERTAINMENT

Booth: 60 Craig Figgins 34945 N. Leonard Ave. Ingleside, IL 60041 (847) 682-1931 Focus POS Dealer for State of Wisconsin

TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN Booth: 69, 70 and 71 Pete Madland 2817 Fish Hatchery Rd. Fitchburg, WI 53713 (608) 270-8591 Non-Profit Trade Association Serving the Retail Beverage Alcohol Segment of the Hospitality Industry

TAYLOR ENTERPRISES OF WI INC. Booth: 106 Earl Hansen N8108 Maple St. Ixonia, WI 53036 (262) 567-7286 Sales, Service and Parts

Booth: 77 1777 Gardner St. South Beloit, IL 61080 (800) 383-2267 Non-Profit Organization Honoring our Vets

Booth: 22 and 23 Bob Viking 533 West Conant St. Portage, WI 53901 (888) 262-7357 Novelties, Beads, Hats, Glow Items

WISCONSIN SOUVENIR MILKCAPS Booth: 109 Walter Bohrer 1860 Executive Dr., Unit E Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (414) 217-1731 Promotional Milkcap Pulltabs, New and Used Vending Machines for Pulltabs

XTREME BAR BINGO Booth: 112 Todd Korves 517 S. Illinois St. Belleville, WI 62220 (618) 234-0388 Free Bingo

www.tlw.org

2020 Spring Conference TLW Live Auction

Each year at the Spring Conference, members gather Tuesday evening for the TLW Live Auction.

The TLW Live Auction is one of the larger parties held during the four-day festivities, and members have fun bidding, toasting and dancing! In addition to the Tuesday night function, members also have the opportunity to participate in the silent auction that runs Tuesday, noon to 3:30 p.m., and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (The silent auction room will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday if you would like to drop off items.)

In the past, auction items have included travel packages, sports memorabilia, fine clothing, electronics, art and more. To ensure easy transport by buyers, as well as those handling objects during the auction, please keep items to a manageable weight and size.

Auction chairperson Judy Vandenhouten coordinates the auctions that benefit TIPAC. Donating an item is simple: 1. P lease fill out the form below and mail it to: Judy Vandenhouten E2904 Hwy. J, Kewaunee, WI 54216 Email: houtrvle@gmail.com Cell: (920) 493-4329 2. B ring your item to the Lawrence Room upon arrival to the Spring Conference. The auction committee decides if the item goes into the live or silent auction.

All items purchased at the auctions must be paid for by personal check, credit card or cash.

Thank you for your contributions!

Auction Item Form — TLW 2020 Spring Conference If your league or members will be bringing auction items to the Spring Conference, please complete the form below and send it to the Auction Chairperson Judy Vandenhouten.

Donor (Individual name and League) Contact Person Phone (business)

(home)

Please describe the item(s) your members will be donating to the TLW auctions.

Item:

Value:

Item:

Value:

Item:

Value:

Item:

Value:

Item:

Value:

Thank you for your participation!

Return this form by March 25, 2020 to Judy Vandenhouten, E2904 County Rd. J, Kewaunee WI 54216 www.tlw.org

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FIND SUCCESS BY EMBRACING SUMMER TRENDS Ignore these hot-for-summer beverage trends at your own risk.

By Jennifer Bradley

O

n Premise asked a few of the state’s leading beverage experts what trends may rise to the top this year. Here’s what they had to say.

April showers may bring May flowers, but Wisconsin begins to smile even wider at the first glimpse of summer. For TLW members, the summer season means patio service, outdoor recreation customers and a new drink menu to celebrate the hottest months of the year, both in temperature and sales.

Dan Dufek, beverage development specialist at Breakthru Beverage Wisconsin, says the trend extends beyond just providing that lightened-up offering. Adding fresh juices and other health-conscious ingredients to drinks is important as well.

LIGHTEN UP Customers are loving low-alcohol, low-calorie drinks, a sentiment all of our experts agree on.

“They still want great flavor and a balanced cocktail, but using different alcohols, which are less in strength,” says Jerry Zavorka, president of Capitol-Husting Company. He says Japanese sake, wine-based cocktails such as sangria and vermouth-based drinks are becoming more and more popular.

Hard seltzers and sparkling wines are also seeing strong sales, and are sure to be in high demand again this summer. “Five years ago, rosé was not anything in the marketplace and today it’s a dominant player in the wine category,” says John Boulahanis, Badger Liquor’s executive vice president of sales.

Zavorka is seeing this trend, too. “Any member that doesn’t have a rosé wine on the menu is really missing out,” he says.

“It continues to garner a lot of market share and is growing.

Sparkling wine and even a sparkling rosé is a must for any establishment.”

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“Last year, for the first time, I had a number of clients ask about using kombucha in their cocktails, which I’ve seen out there before, but was surprised by how many people had that on their mind,” Dufek says. (Kombucha is a fermented, sweetened black or green tea drink.)

Zavorka says people still want to go out and have a good time, but are watching their alcohol level and intake more closely than in the past. “The key to understand is: [Customers are] not going to be sitting at the bar having five, six or more drinks anymore.”

DRINK LESS, DRINK BETTER Following that line of thought, Boulahanis says people may drink less, but they also want to drink better-quality, bettertasting cocktails.

“This is something that’s going to continue; it started with the millennials and continues to work its way up, and is crossing over to the wine side as well,” he adds. “Don’t be afraid to sell premium products. People want to buy them and will pay more if you offer high-end drinks.”

Dan Werner, Badger’s general manager for spirits, explains the bourbon craze isn’t going to end any time soon either. It’s a premium spirit that can be offered for a premium price.

Dufek agrees. “We’re seeing it in every segment of our business:

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“Don’t be afraid to sell premium products.

People want to buy them and will pay more if you offer high-end drinks.”

John Boulahanis, Badger Liquor beer, wine and spirits. Everything is trending up in terms of craft beers, premium wines and spirits. People are willing to pay more for a good cocktail, have one or two, and they’re out.”

He says quality over quantity is going to be a continuing theme and that customers are desiring more “authenticity” in their drinks.

Summer is time to rework the bar menu, and think about the rewards that come with building a menu that has desirable ingredients and a staff trained to deliver them. Zavorka advises TLW members to give their menus thought and consider summer trends while planning.

“If people are rushed and don’t know what to order, I think they just order a beer,” he says. “It’s easy. But I think today is so competitive, you really have to try to set yourself apart and have a nice beverage program.”

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He offers old fashioneds and bloody marys as examples — they’re traditional drinks that can be made more appealing with a few tweaks, even those premium options. “There are some techniques that can make a great, high-quality cocktail,” Zavorka says. “If you have a menu with some of those items on it, it’s a great way to trade up your customers.”

TAKING ON TEQUILA The traditional margarita has always been strong in Wisconsin, says Werner, but now the trend is to drink tequila straight up.

This is becoming even more popular for females, he adds. His colleague, Boulahanis, says that tavern owners should not be afraid to take on categories that are “really, really hot” like tequila. “People think tequila doesn’t sell, but it already surpassed gin and is going to give vodka a fight.”

Then there’s the paloma, the lesser-known sister to the margarita. That’s the talk of the tequila drinks this summer.

According to Dufek, right on track with the fresh fruit juice trend, the paloma consists of grapefruit juice/soda with lime and tequila, and it’s perfect for summer drink menus. It can also be “fancied” up with fresh juice or a grapefruit liqueur, but either way, the paloma is garnering a lot of interest in the tavern industry.

Zavorka confirms, “It is a fantastic drink. The top places will do fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and with the summer coming and the tequila craze, this will continue to be a top seller.”

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Margaritas are still hot, too, but again, the experts recommend using premium spirits. Zavorka says everyone loves a really well-made margarita and jokes that there are plenty made poorly. “But if you can make a really great-tasting margarita (put in some premium tequila, fresh lime juice and nice orange liqueur), you’ll definitely command a higher ring.” All agree: Tequila is a must-have for summer!

www.tlw.org

THE CAN APPEAL In addition to ease of use for outdoor activities, cans are easy to recycle and that factor alone is making a big impact in the beverage industry. Dufek says the trend of canned cocktails is pushing the boundaries of what’s been previously seen in the category. More full drinks are available in cans, in addition to the already popular seltzers, sparkling drinks, hard ciders, beers, etc.

Also, Boulahanis explains, canned spirits and seltzers contain less alcohol, but are very enjoyable to customers. “In on premise, you’re seeing more of an influx of [these cans at] our traditional taverns; people are starting to order them,” he says.

“It’s very difficult if you’re not carrying them and become out of sight, out of mind.”

Summer is on its way. Regardless of the specific trend, Zavorka says customers have (and appreciate) many choices, but the bottom line is to make an establishment enjoyable.

“For me, summer means fun,” he says. “As long as your cocktail menu is fun and introduces a couple of new things, I think it’ll be worth it for people to stop in and see what you’re all about.”

Boulahanis concludes by saying: “It’s good for owners to understand what the trends are, so they can think outside the box. There’s nothing wrong with suggesting instead of a $4 sale during happy hour, it’s $6.”

“In on premise, you’re seeing more of an influx of [these cans at] our traditional taverns; people are starting to order them.”

John Boulahanis, Badger Liquor

He says the taste buds of Wisconsin drinkers have changed.

They want more than the standard go-tos. And tavern owners should also remember the large amount of tourists that frequent their businesses and may be used to unique drinks from their areas.

“All we need to do is make sure everybody’s open-minded enough to understand this and realize certain things sell much better in certain areas,” Boulahanis adds. “It’s not about the buzz anymore. It’s about the experience.”

All agree, summer in Wisconsin is itself an experience worth waiting for. Now make it the best one yet! TLW

VetsRoll extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Tavern League of WI Members and Your Customers Your belief and support of our program has allowed us to provide CLOSURE*GRATITUDE*RESPECT to more than 2,000 American heroes, since 2010!!

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ABL Update: The Latest Industry News from Washington

BY JOHN BODNOVICH, ABL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

REGISTER NOW FOR THE ABL ANNUAL MEETING

ABL URGES TOBACCO 21 COMPLIANCE DESPITE LACK OF FDA GUIDANCE

The 2020 American Beverage Licensees (ABL) Annual Meeting in New Orleans is just around the corner.

Now is the time to register. For more information, please visit ablusa.org.

While more speakers are being added, the annual meeting sessions already include:

On Dec. 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed legislation that amended the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.

• State of the State of the Beverage Alcohol Industry Mark Brown, President and CEO, Sazerac Company Inc. • A Look at the U.S. Beverage Alcohol Market Brandy Rand, COO of Americas, The IWSR • Wine and Spirits — The Wholesale Perspective Michelle Korsmo, President and CEO, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America • Alcohol Legal Update Neal Insley, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association • Impaired Driving — Policy and Technology Brandy Axdahl, Senior Vice President for Responsibility Initiatives, Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility • Tariffs and Taxes John Beaudette, President and Founder, MHW Ltd.

Despite expectations that the shift to 21 would go into effect sometime in 2020, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) posted a message on its website announcing that the legislation took immediate effect upon being signed by the president on Dec. 20, before the FDA could issue regulations for the law.

The abrupt implementation failed to consider how complicated the transition may be for retailers who must retrain employees, update signage, reprogram point-of-sale systems and inform customers, many of whom could legally purchase tobacco products before the law change.

Despite unanswered questions about when and how the FDA plans to enforce the Tobacco 21 requirement, ABL urges all retailers to take the appropriate steps needed to come into compliance as the FDA stated, “It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product — including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes — to anyone under 21.” The law does contemplate a regulation to provide retailers with clear direction on age verification rules for any purchase under 30 years old and the legality of enforcement.

ABL will monitor the issue and update members when there is more news. Tavern League members can also check the Tobacco Products — Compliance, Enforcement & Training section of the FDA website for updates.

IMPAIRED DRIVING FATALITIES DOWN IN 2018; NEW LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities decreased by 3.6% (397 fewer deaths than in 2017), accounting for 29% of 2018 overall fatalities, according to crash fatality data released on Oct. 22 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

This 29% of overall fatalities is the lowest percentage since 1982, when NHTSA started reporting alcohol data.

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Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone (RIDE) Act of 2019 or Senate Bill (SB) 2604. The bill would extend the 2015 ROADS SAFE Act’s dedicated funding to anti-drunk driving technology research — specifically the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS).

There is concern that the RIDE Act could redirect funding from DADSS to another, more invasive anti-drunk driving technology to be mandated in all new cars with no requirement that it be set at 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). ABL is working with industry partners and other stakeholders to support sensible solutions for drunk and drugged driving problems, not one-size-fits-all mandates.

MADD GETTING MAD AGAIN? On Jan. 29, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) released its report card for the 50 states (and D.C.) on their laws to reduce drunk driving. For 2019, MADD awarded an average national rating of 3.16 out of 5 stars, which is a slight increase from 2.96 in 2018.

Wisconsin received 2 out of 5 stars, with the report stating, “Lawmakers should be applauded for taking action in 2019 to increase incarceration for those who kill someone in a drunk driving crash. Lawmakers need to do much more, including legalizing sobriety checkpoints, requiring interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers and making any drunk driving offense a criminal misdemeanor like in 49 other states.”

“ABL is working with industry partners and other stakeholders to support sensible solutions for drunk and drugged driving problems, not one-size-fits-all mandates.”

Only one state — Arizona — received 5 out of 5 stars in 2019.

Eight other states performed well above the national average in 2019: Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma and West Virginia, which each received a rating of 4.5. Montana received the lowest rating, with just a half-star. Michigan, South Dakota and Wyoming also received ratings of 1.5 stars or lower.

HAWAII AND NEW YORK JOIN VERMONT WITH 0.05% BAC LEGISLATION Bills were introduced in New York and Hawaii that would lower each state’s legal limit for drunk driving from 0.08% to 0.05% BAC. In Hawaii, SB 2234 passed unanimously out of the committee. The bill also has a provision that would allow for a driver to be charged if that individual “is under the influence of any drug that impairs the person’s ability to operate the vehicle in a careful or prudent manner.”

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Rep. Felix Ortiz (D-NY) and Sen. John Liu (D-NY) want New York to lower the blood alcohol limit to 0.05% BAC. Assembly Bill (AB) 3208 and SB 5117 would lower “the blood alcohol concentration required for driving while intoxicated from 0.08 of one per centum to 0.05 and for aggravated driving while intoxicated from 0.18 per centum to 0.12.”

Hawaii and New York join Vermont (SB 291), which proposes lowering the BAC limit from 0.08% to 0.05%. Currently, Utah is the only state to have lowered its legal limit to 0.05% BAC.

ABL RAISES MUSIC DECREE AWARENESS

LICENSING

CONSENT

ABL staff, along with MIC Coalition counterparts, met with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill to raise awareness about the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division potentially moving to terminate, sunset or otherwise modify the consent decrees for American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI).

The ASCAP decree was last amended in 2001 and the BMI decree was last updated in 1994. However, both decrees were reviewed as recently as 2016 with the DOJ recommending no changes to them. During this review’s public comment period that ended in August 2019, nearly 900 comments were filed, including those from ABL and the MIC Coalition, and were overwhelmingly in support of not terminating or modifying the consent decrees.

ABL also reached out to the Trump administration, urging it to continue to promote marketplace competition and efficiency by preserving the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees in their current form. ABL and its coalition partners pointed out the enormous disruption of the marketplace with immediate broad-ranging adverse economic impacts that would occur should DOJ Antitrust Division decide to end, sunset or alter these consent decrees.

ABL ENGAGING IN TARIFF FIGHT ABL participates in an industry coalition that opposes the tariffs being placed on imported alcohol products and the

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harm they are causing (and will continue to cause) the alcohol industry and consumers, and is lobbying to remove the tariffs.

ABL met with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the impact of tariffs on the beverage alcohol industry.

Since Oct. 18, 2019, the U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on single malt Scotch whisky; single malt Irish Whiskey from northern Ireland; liqueurs/cordials from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK; and certain wines from France, Germany, Spain and the UK in connection with the World Trade Organization (WTO) case concerning aircraft subsidies. A proposed 100% tariff on French wine has been delayed until later this year. TLW American Beverage Licensees is the voice of America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers in Washington, D.C. The ABL represents the TLW and its many members, as well as thousands of other on- and off-premise retailers of beverage alcohol across the United States.

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LEGISLATIVE NOTES THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

BY SCOTT STENGER, STENGER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

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he old saying is there are two rules in business: Rule No. 1 is the customer is always right and Rule No. 2 is see rule No. 1.

That may be an oversimplification, however, it makes the point of how TLW members run their businesses — focus on the customers in order to be successful. In the alcohol beverage industry, taverns and restaurants are the customers of the thousands of manufacturers competing to have their products in retail establishments. It is no surprise that most brewers, wineries and distillers strive to build strong relationships with their customers in the hopes of having their products available to the public. Strangely, Wisconsin craft brewers, wineries and distillers are opting for a different business model.

The Assembly State Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on Assembly Bill (AB) 869, which, as originally introduced, contained the following provisions: • Extend bar closing hours to 4 a.m. statewide during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) July 13 to 16.

• Clarify the licensing issue at Road America.

• Address the vendor permit issue at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

• Close the brewery loophole that allows their retail operations to stay open all night. Under the bill, they are required to follow Class B retail closing hours.

• Require that private event venues get a state permit to operate and follow Chapter 125 regulations.

• Extend winery hours, requiring them to close at midnight rather than 9 p.m.

The Wisconsin Craft Brewers Guild, Wisconsin Winery Association and Wisconsin Distillers Association feverishly worked to kill the bill. According to their own testimony, they opposed the bill, which established minimum regulations for private event venues like wedding barns, because winery hours were extended (something they long supported).

They killed a bill that would have helped their customers and wineries without sound reason. In addition, they told the committee they supported the closing hours for breweries, which are the same as taverns, contained in the bill. Had they www.tlw.org

raised substantive issues about the bill, that is one thing, but their meritless opposition to the bill is a curious way to treat their customers.

Democrats and Republicans on the committee questioned why the group opposed provisions of the bill they long supported.

It made no sense to the legislators on the committee. There was nothing in the bill they testified against other than the winery closing hours — something which they strongly supported for the last four years!

A brewery, winery or distillery should want to make every effort to build a strong relationship with TLW members and retailers across the state in the hopes they sell their product.

Yet they all lined up to oppose the bill, a priority issue for the TLW and its members. There was nothing else in the bill that would adversely impact manufacturers.

Every business model links the success of manufacturers to the sale of their products through retailers. Manufacturers need retailers more so than retailers need manufacturers.

That is why it doesn’t make sense that the craft industry tries so hard to alienate TLW members, the very people they need to sell their product and expand their business. They certainly have a right to support or oppose any bill they wish — and we have that same right to make our members aware of their efforts to hurt the business of mom-and-pop tavern owners in Wisconsin.

If the craft industry had legitimate issues with the bill, we would work with them to address those issues, but they did not identify any. Just like the legislators on the committee, we were perplexed by their opposition to the bill. However, we stand ready to meet with anyone at any time.

AB 869 eventually passed the state Assembly with a provision we successfully lobbied — to increase funding $25 per operating while impaired (OWI) conviction for our SafeRide Program. The funding will add to the success of the SafeRide Program and continue to help reduce alcohol-related fatalities in Wisconsin. The final bill contained the following provisions and was sent to the Senate for action: • Increase the SafeRide surcharge by $25 per OWI conviction.

• Extend bar closing hours to 4 a.m. in southeast Wisconsin during the DNC. • Clarify the licensing issue at Road America.

• Address the vendor permit issue at Wisconsin State Fair Park. TLW MARCH/APRIL 2020

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ACCOUNTING ON TAP ENTITY STRUCTURE

BY DAN BERGS, CPA

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t is important to know how to structure your business. The best entity for you today may not be the best entity for your business in the future.

An integral part of your business planning is to consider what form of business is best for you.

There are different planning factors in determining an initial business structure versus an established business. There are two primary factors to consider when forming a business.

The first primary factor is the legal liability for the business.

The legal liability includes how to best protect your business and personal assets against claims of vendors, customers and other creditors. The second primary factor is tax implications.

This includes how to minimize taxes in the short term and in the long term. Making a decision to benefit the short term can sometimes be costly in the long term when selling or transitioning a business.

There are other factors to consider as a business matures.

Those factors include succession, investors and employee benefits. Succession has to do with passing on the business to your family or key employees. There are many ways to structure a business transition and a business entity structure can have a significant impact on how your business is taxed.

One scenario that impacts an entity structure is when a business seeks investors, which could include taking on active business partners or outside investors. When seeking business partners, it is important to review your business structure to ensure you have the proper liability protection.

It is always advised to talk with a legal advisor on deciding the

“Making a decision to benefit the short term can sometimes be costly in the long term when selling or transitioning a business.� best business entity to help protect your business. Addressing the business entity is also very helpful in order to address multi-owner situations. Planning in advance can help avoid potential issues in the future.

Another important factor to consider is employee benefits.

Employee benefits are not only important for your employees, but also very important to you. Health insurance, life insurance, cafeteria plans and retirement benefits are all important benefits to consider. The deductibility for these benefits can change depending on your entity choice.

The ability to provide benefits for yourself and your family certainly should be considered when thinking about your business entity structure.

Looking at the list of possible business structures is a daunting task. You may choose from a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or LLC (taxed as a disregarded entity, a partnership, a C corporation or an S corporation), limited liability partnership or LLP, or a corporation (taxed as a C or an S corporation). Each type of entity structure has advantages and disadvantages in regard to succession planning, investors and employee benefits.

Selecting an initial form for your business is not a decision to be made lightly. It is important to consult your attorney and your accountant prior to making this very important decision. In addition, it is vital to plan a periodic review of your business structure to be sure it is still the right choice for you.

The timing of these decisions are crucial and periodically reviewing the business entity structure is beneficial for longterm business planning. TLW Dan Bergs, CPA, is a supervisor in the tax and business services department with Wegner CPAs LLP. Wegner CPAs LLP has offices in Madison, Baraboo, Waukesha and Janesville. This article is not intended to give complete tax advice, but a general review of subject matter. For more information, please contact Bergs at (608) 442-1986 or dan.bergs@wegnercpas.com.

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CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT SOCIETY INSURANCE

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LW corporate member Society Insurance calls Fond du Lac home, but its impact reaches statewide in Wisconsin and even beyond the state’s border. For more than 30 years, Society Insurance has served Tavern League members as a corporate member and even longer as a business since it opened in 1915. This insurance company offers exclusive property and casualty coverage through its Top Shelf Program, specifically designed for TLW members.

Rebecca Kollmann, a corporate marketing manager at Society Insurance, says it sees and values the strong pride of ownership in TLW members, a sentiment she says is special and unique to the organization.

In addition to statewide representation through independent agents for insurance coverage, TLW members should take advantage of the value-adds Society Insurance offers its policyholders, according to Kollmann.

“How can we help [customers] manage risks within their business?” she says is a main focus for Society. “It can be one less thing to worry about, and that allows them to focus on running the business and the things they want to do for their customers.”

In-person classes and quarterly webinars are available to Society’s clients and their staff, who have seen great results through the years. Policyholders can access these online or ask their agents about in-person needs. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour and 30-hour trainings are a popular option.

Additionally, cybercrime continues to be a focus for the company, as it arms clients with vital information they need in order to protect themselves from modern-day threats to business.

That’s just the beginning of resources when it comes to risk management, though. Kollmann explains that dedicated risk control staff work full time on providing assistance and education opportunities. She says the team works as consultants with policyholders, sharing resources and addressing hot topics.

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“Are there things you may want to improve, or if you’ve been in business a long time, things to brush up on?” she asks. “Available resources help address things a member may want to improve, but also find ways to protect their business, their livelihood.”

Kollmann says a full listing of reports, videos, past webinars and more can be found online. Topics range from slips and falls to fire protection, crime prevention, food service safety and more.

Copies of state and federal posters can even be accessed through the online library.

She says Society knows that many TLW members are smaller businesses, and these options provide an efficient and costeffective way to access resources otherwise not available. The risk management offerings are important to members, but also to Society, she adds.

Why does Society invest in this for its policyholders? Kollmann says it’s simple, really. “It’s about prevention,” she explains. “We see the pride of ownership in our TLW clients and that’s a big deal to us. We have been in Wisconsin for over 100 years and are part of the community.

“We’re big enough to offer the benefits of a large company,” Kollmann concludes. “But we’re here in the smaller community of Fond du Lac, and many TLW members are businesses we’re surrounded by. We’re living in those communities. That’s one of the reasons we really value the partnership, too.”

Society Insurance finds value in being a corporate member of the TLW, but truly wants to offer value as well. Kollmann says representatives attend local and state league events, and she encourages TLW members to reach out to a local agent if they want someone to present at a meeting.

Members can find more information about Society’s insurance plans and member benefits online or by contacting a local agent.

For more information about risk control offerings, please visit societyinsurance.com/risk_control/default.aspx. TLW

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LEAGUE PROFILE MANITOWOC COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

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hen Tim “Tippy” Tomchek recruits members for the Manitowoc County Tavern League, he talks about the many benefits the county can offer. And quite frankly, those benefits are “outstanding.”

To start, the Manitowoc County Tavern League membership is 128 strong.

“For the size of our county, that’s pretty outstanding,” says Tomchek, who owns Tippy’s Bar & Grill in Two Rivers. “I think we’re the seventh biggest in the state.”

He adds that what makes the county league unique is that everyone gets along.

“We have 40 to 70 members who attend meetings,” he says.

“We work well together.”

One reason the Manitowoc County Tavern League has such a strong and large membership is its SafeRide Program, another benefit Tomchek promotes. He explains that the county’s four cab companies cover 90% of the county and the program provides 300 to 400 rides per month.

“It’s one of the biggest benefits of our local league,” he says.

It also helps that each member who attends the monthly meeting receives 10 free SafeRide vouchers; vouchers are normally $4 each.

“We started that [initiative] almost 10 years ago,” says Tomchek, who has been the Manitowoc County Tavern League president since 1993. “We’ve given out 22,000 free vouchers and saved our members $90,000 over 10 years.”

The Manitowoc County Tavern League funds SafeRide through its Fun Run Drink Book, which lists all members that choose to be in the book. It costs $100 to get in the book, but

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participating members get five books to resell for $10 each.

The most recent book included 104 of the county league’s 128 members.

Every patron who participates, whether his or her book has one stamp or 104, is invited to a party that includes free beer and food. For the most recent Fun Run, the league had 59 books turned in where the purchaser received stamps from all 104 stops. Another 111 purchasers hit more than 40 stops.

“Members are getting their money from the investment and we raise money for SafeRide,” explains Tomchek. “We raised over $8,000 at our party on Saturday. That will fund SafeRide for a year.”

Other events include a June banquet that is open to the public; proceeds from that event benefit the Manitowoc County Tavern League’s general fund. The league also has a golf outing in July.

Another perk of membership comes when your establishment hosts a monthly meeting. Held the second Monday of the month, meetings generally last 90 minutes and include lunch.

There is also a cash bar available before and after. And the host receives $10 per attendee.

“Places usually do come out ahead,” says Tomchek. “When you host a meeting, people come and see what your place is about, and they tend to hang out after. Members ask a lot if they can host.”

While SafeRide, the Fun Run and monthly meetings are great perks for the local league, Tomchek touts the state benefits as well: “Of course, we also tell members about all the state benefits, too, [such as] health insurance, and discounts on music licensing, food safety or bartender service courses. Every little bit helps.” TLW www.tlw.org

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT GOOD TIMES RESTAURANT AND BANQUET HALL

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aving spanned three centuries, it’s fair to say that Good Times Restaurant and Banquet Hall in Mishicot has stood the test of time.

“It’s an old, old building,” says Michelle Peroutka, who owns the establishment with her husband, Scott.

The building is so old that the Peroutkas had the Wisconsin Historical Society assess and research the building. It first appeared on the plat map in 1893. Through the years, it fulfilled a number of roles, including a dance hall back in the 1940s, but since the 1960s, it has always served as a “bar and restaurant sort of place.”

“The [business] in there the longest, that I know of, was Carol Koeppel’s La Fiesta from the 1960s for about 12 years,” reports Peroutka.

When the Peroutkas opened Good Times in October 2012, they “kind of went in by the seat of their pants,” she says.

“I used to drink a lot in the tavern,” says Peroutka with a chuckle, “but we never owned any kind of facility,” though she did spend 17 years in the franchise restaurant industry. The husband-and-wife team works full time at the establishment.

“We really enjoy it. There’s always something new,” she says.

Good Times is open Monday through Thursday for breakfast and dinner, and all day Friday through Sunday. The menu features typical bar fare like appetizers and sandwiches, but also steaks, chicken and seafood, including a Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib special and Sunday fried chicken.

“All our stuff is hand-breaded and homemade,” says Peroutka.

“Our breading is an old family recipe, handed down through generations.”

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Aside from the home-cooked food, she adds that what makes Good Times so special is its family-friendly atmosphere. “We try to keep it very personal. Any time we are open, one of us is here,” she says.

Good Times’ banquet hall is regularly abuzz with events, everything from birthday parties to weddings and high school sports and club banquets. It can seat 160 family-style; add in the dining room and the capacity boosts to about 200.

In addition to being a social center for this farm-oriented area, the Peroutkas are charitable: “Oh my goodness . . . we donate a lot to just about anything . . . benefits, sportsmen’s clubs, organizations, you name it.”

With its rural location, the establishment also boasts a baseball field, which the Peroutkas allow the local youth baseball team, the Mishicot Indians, to use.

“We donate it to them and they have full usage of it. They run and take care of the field all baseball season,” she confirms.

A member of the Manitowoc County Tavern League since June 2013, Peroutka has served as the league’s secretary for the past four years.

“When you get in, you are there for life,” she says of Tavern League. “I just enjoy all the people, the amazing friends we’ve made, and that we are all in for a common goal.”

She adds that everyone should be a member of Tavern League: “It’s such a benefit. The [TLW] keeps us informed on everything from politics to good business practices. And our SafeRide Program is amazing!” TLW

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CHARITY SPOTLIGHT ANT HILL MOB MOTORCYCLE CLUB

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hile it takes its name from a gangster-inspired Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Manitowoc County’s Ant Hill Mob Motorcycle Club isn’t about crime and hijinks, but caring and giving back.

“When we started out, we were little troublemakers,” explains longtime member Fuzzy Bellin. “But there came a point when we decided to stop doing that and do positive work for the community.”

“We are just a group of men and women motorcycle enthusiasts who like to support the county we live in,” adds club president Perry Bunnell. “We are fun, and we like to give back and make someone’s day a bit brighter.”

Since 1983, the group has donated more than $1.2 million to charitable interests in Manitowoc County and across the state.

The club has about 100 members and it is a member of the Manitowoc County Tavern League.

All this charitable giving started with what has become the club’s signature event, its annual bike show. The 38th Annual Northeastern Wisconsin Charity Motorcycle Classic will be held April 25 and 26 at the Manitowoc Expo Grounds. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Manitowoc County Police Department’s K-9 unit, the Association for the Developmentally Disabled of Manitowoc and Camp Sinawa. The event includes a dance, which draws between 1,500 to 2,000 people. The show itself draws about 2,000 people.

“It’s been a very fun thing to do,” Bellin, former club president, says. “We were just a bunch of 20-year-old kids with an idea.

The first two years we had to borrow money . . . we had to borrow money to give it away! But we got very lucky and it took off to where it is today.”

Bunnell and Bellin both give credit to the Hoban family, who

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own a motorcycle repair shop in Osman, for their longstanding support: “Without them, we wouldn’t be here. When we started, Mom and Dad Hoban helped us out to have this bike show, and it’s been growing ever since. The fact that we even have a bike show of this size in Manitowoc is pretty huge.”

The Ant Hill Mob Motorcycle Club also hosts an annual charity ride, which will be held in July this year, and a fun run. Books for the fun run will be available soon and it ends with a party in mid-October. All events are open to the public.

Bunnell notes that the bike show and charity ride benefit organizations in Manitowoc County, whereas proceeds from the fun run benefit statewide organizations, as that event extends beyond the county. Since it started in 1983, the bike show alone has benefitted more than 60 organizations. Last year, the club raised about $60,000 to donate.

In addition to putting on its three annual events, the club also supports area organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manitowoc County by participating in its Bowl for Kids’ Sake bowl-a-thon, supporting the live animal auction at the Manitowoc County Fair, participating in the annual Winter Miracle Splash and partnering with the Vietnam Vets Chapter 731 at their variety tent/beer stand at the county fair.

Of course, says Bunnell, the Ant Hill Mob Motorcycle Club couldn’t do this without the support of people in Manitowoc County and beyond.

“We thank the community, Manitowoc County and surrounding communities for the great support they’ve given us for all the events that we do,” says Bunnell. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do any of these things.”

For more information about the Ant Hill Mob Motorcycle Club and its upcoming events, please visit anthillmobmc.com. TLW www.tlw.org

MEET THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER DAN TAIVALKOSKI Dan Taivalkoski is the TLW southern zone vice president.

Q. YOU REPRESENT DISTRICTS 1, 3 AND 9. ARE THERE SPECIFIC ISSUES UNIQUE TO THESE AREAS?

Q. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

I don’t believe there are any issues that are unique to the southern zone that other areas across the state are not experiencing. Our industry is one of the most heavily regulated and taxed, and we’re under constant scrutiny and attack from forces both inside and outside the industry that either do not understand our business, or are looking for an unfair advantage by avoiding the regulations and/or taxes to fairly compete with us.

I was born and raised in Racine. My wife of six years, Chris, comes from upper Michigan. My first venture into the industry was shortly after I left the Army in 1975. I leased my first establishment, Dan’s Rock Palace, with a partner — my good friend and mentor, Jerry Rasmussen from the Brat Stop. (Rest in peace.) I purchased my current location, The Beacon Tavern & Grill, in 1991 from longtime owner, friend and Tavern League member Al Trossen.

Q. WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN BECOMING A TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBER? There are no other organizations out there that look out for the interests of the on-premise hospitality industry like the TLW.

Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER AND WHAT OFFICES HAVE YOU HELD? I joined the Racine City Tavern League in 1991 when I first purchased The Beacon. At that time, there were only five or six members, but our membership has grown to over 70 members.

I have held the positions of director, secretary, treasurer and SafeRide coordinator locally. At the state level, I started as the first district director and moved up to my current position. I serve on the Membership, Evaluation and Convention Committees.

Q. WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBERS TODAY? Unlicensed event venues, alcohol delivery and some of the folks that produce the products that we sell trying to compete directly with us!

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Q. YOUR BUSINESS IS IN DISTRICT 1. WHAT SPECIFIC ISSUES ARE UNIQUE TO THE AREA? Most of our local leagues are very good at monitoring agendas for local government policies that would affect our businesses.

We have developed a good relationship with local politicians to the point that they communicate with us and seek our input prior to introducing policies that would affect our members.

Q. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION WITH THE TLW? The camaraderie with other leaders from across the state is wonderful. For the most part, we all share the same challenges and work to solve them. Seeing the way our members rally in support of others, whether it’s a charitable organization, or just one of our local counties or leagues experiencing a hardship, makes me proud to be a part of this organization.

Q. HOW ELSE ARE YOU INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? I am employed full time as the executive director of the Racine County Food Bank. I serve on the Sewer and Water Commission for the village of Mount Pleasant, and on the Douglas Avenue Business Improvement District board for the city of Racine. TLW

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FEATURED AFFILIATES

CORNERSTONE PROCESSING SOLUTIONS

PECATONICA BEER COMPANY

President Brad Palubiak says that Cornerstone Processing Solutions began working with the TLW in 1999 and has attended 41 consecutive trade shows. “We are a service organization,” he says. “The products and services we offer really cater to the taverns, bars and restaurants throughout Wisconsin.”

Tom Quinn and his twin brother, Tim, were born and raised near the Pecatonica River in southwest Wisconsin. Their hobbies of growing hops, home brewing and remodeling old buildings, then turning them into taverns, eventually brought them full circle into running their own craft brewing company.

When asked what’s new, Palubiak says TLW members should know that, in many cases, credit card rates are lower than they’ve ever been and that Cornerstone offers low-cost, high-efficiency point-ofsale (POS) systems. The company is based in Oshkosh, but serves the entire state of Wisconsin and even clients nationwide.

“We saw there was a void of sessionable, good-tasting beers and we wanted to make beers to fill that space,” Tom says.

Sales manager Robert Sawitski explains that the company’s POS systems are easy to use, but for those who want to go even simpler, cash registers are available that are fully programmed and offer a lifetime replacement warranty for TLW members. He says the company understands that tavern owners don’t want to look through a thick book and try to program a register, so Cornerstone Processing does that and provides support for the product.

Sawitski explains that one of the topics affecting TLW members right now is how to handle cash discounts and surcharging programs. “If [the system] is set up incorrectly and not compliant, businesses are putting themselves at risk of incurring fines to being shut down,” he adds. “We set them up correctly, provide the correct signage and, in a lot of cases, save them upwards of 80% to 90% of their credit card costs and fees.”

Compliance is always a huge issue, but Palubiak and Sawitski say Cornerstone simply wants to help TLW members save on the fees that have been thrown at them when the system is not set up properly.

Palubiak says that, with a decades-long relationship with the TLW, he considers Cornerstone a consultant to the organization and explains the company is happy to offer help to members, even if they’re not customers.

“We’re not afraid to tell people they’re getting a fair deal and it’s in their best interest to stay where they are, even if it’s not beneficial to us,” adds Sawitski. “We just want to make sure you’re getting the best option from a provider that you can talk to and not just a sales rep.”

In addition to its commitment to helping taverns, Cornerstone maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a level of achievement these two are proud of. “That’s extremely hard in our industry,” admits Sawitski.

The flagship product for Pecatonica Beer Company was its Nightfall Lager, a dark lager that offers a light, crisp flavor. He says it isn’t as heavy as other dark beers, and is a good drink in both winter and summer. One year of pulling it from the shelves in winter led to people asking for it, so the company now brews it year-round.

Quinn’s Amber Lager, the company’s second beer, won a gold medal at the 2015 World Beer Championship and is what Tom calls a “good, classic Wisconsin amber.” Next, Pecatonica came out with a Pecatonica India pale ale (IPA) made from Centennial and Cascade hops, mostly from Wisconsin.

A seasonal favorite is the company’s Oktoberfest beer, but its bestseller by far is its final offering, the Muskelager. It’s a 4.2 alcohol by volume (ABV) beer that Tom says is an all-day drinker — a light, golden lager. The label graphics show two men holding up a large musky, which he jokes about, saying Tim and himself are in the Northwoods having a good time on the lake.

The Muskelager is available in 12- and 16-ounce cans, as well as on draft and in bottles. It’s a good fit for the outdoors market, which is thriving in Wisconsin. The other Pecatonica brews will be available in cans in the future. TLW members can find these beers statewide, through General Beverage and Fabiano Brothers.

“We have a well-rounded selection of beers and they have been tested in the market for years now. People love them,” Tom says.

“We’re not looking to do anything different this year, but are out in the market a lot, working hard.”

He says the TLW is a strong partner and, as longtime tavern guys themselves, he and his brother (along with the business’ other partners) trust in the organization’s mission and vision. “It’s always good to see a TLW sign on the door walking into a business, knowing they share our commitment to hard work, quality products and extraordinary service.”

PECATONICA BEER COMPANY

5875 Main St., Unit 1A, Gratiot, WI 53541 (608) 558-1943 | pecatonicabeer.com

CORNERSTONE PROCESSING SOLUTIONS

1600 S. Main St., Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 651-8888 | conerstoneps.net

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PRECISION POURS INC. In terms of profitability, Rick Sandvik, owner of Precision Pours Inc., says that one-eighth of an ounce of liquor can make the differ4.875" ence in three to four shots per bottle and this is where his company comes into play. With decades in the business, Sandvik says the TLW does a great job for its members, and takes really good care of its trade show vendors and, in his case, affiliate members.

“What our company does goes hand in hand with the Tavern League, which is one of the strongest trade organizations in the country,” Sandvik explains. “We help [members] save money on liquor costs, and ensure the guest experience is the same no matter who’s pouring or how busy the tavern is. Each drink tastes the same every time it’s poured.”

Portion control is a must in this industry. Sandvik uses burgers as an example to show the impact it makes. “If you’re in the food business, and your chef was making third-pound burgers versus quarter-pounders, you’d be losing money,” he explains. “The same concept applies here. If you’re losing four to five drinks a bottle, that’s probably $15 to $20 each bottle.”

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He is an admirer of the TLW’s SafeRide Program, and says it’s something he’s proud of the organization for pursuing and offering to members. Sandvik encourages all taverns to become members of the TLW, saying that it costs pennies a day, but that cost is recovered so fast in discount programs.

As for Precision Pours, the company is excited to share its newer spouts with flip-top shields, especially as Wisconsin approaches the summer season. He says patio bars, outside tables and other outdoor venues are looking for ways to control fruit flies, and these shields are just the fix.

“If [some states] find a fruit fly in your bottle, they make you dump the entire inventory out and fine the tavern,” he says.

Another new item is the tap beer brush, which he says toes into the nozzle of the tap and helps clean it, but can also be left right in the tap overnight to keep fruit flies (again) from being pests.

Precision Pours has been a TLW affiliate member since 1997 and isn’t looking to stop anytime soon. Sandvik says he went to his first show in 1980 and hasn’t looked back.

He thanks you all for your business and is excited to see you at the TLW Spring Conference!

PRECISION POURS INC.

12837 Industrial Park Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55441 (800) 549-4491 | precisionpours.com

www.tlw.org

WALLY 414-217-1731 DAYTON 262-510-4513 wimilkcaps.com MARCH/APRIL 2020

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NEW MEMBERS TLW NEW MEMBERS OCT. 23, 2019 TO MARCH 5, 2020 STATE ONLY The Mortar Tavern David Wright Gratiot, WI Country Side Bar & Grill LLC Sean Steffes Saint Cloud, WI

Flat Iron Tap Dave Wingate Lake Geneva, WI Thumbs Up Kimberly Freely Lake Geneva, WI Walworth County Lindey’s on Beulah Lindey Neudorff East Troy, WI

VFW Badger Post #328 Quartermaster Stoughton, WI

Sammy’s Place Sam Bresler East Troy, WI

DISTRICT 1 Kenosha City La Bontana Bar & Grill Antonio Lopez Kenosha, WI Kenosha County Wild Child’s Tavern & Grill Ryan Child Twin Lakes, WI

DISTRICT 2 Columbia County The Upper Crust Pizzeria Casey Lyons Pardeeville, WI Cimaroli’s Supper Club Jamie Cimaroli Portage, WI

Racine City Kafana Slobodan Lazarevic Racine, WI

Dodge County Topper’s Tap Richard Topper Beaver Dam, WI

Neighborhood Bar of Racine Slobodan Lazarevic Racine, WI

Jefferson County Kim’s Gourmet Pizza Pub Kim Thompson Oconomowoc, WI

Racine County Pudgy’s Clay Clark Racine, WI

Whisper’s Road House Whisper Klawitter Waterloo, WI

Rock County Fast Eddy’s Bar & Grill Darren Kirchner Janesville, WI

Madison/Dane County 7 Iron Social Colin Smith Madison, WI

South Central Horseshoe Saloon Samuel Laws Monroe, WI

Waukesha Alumni Club Josh Teuteberg Menomonee Falls, WI

Walworth The Boar’s Nest Jenny McFarlin Darien, WI

Sportz Pub & Grill Christine Pawlak Menomonee Falls, WI Michael’s House of Prime Rick Buckley Pewaukee, WI

Leon’s Sports Bar & Grill Kevin Valadez Darien, WI

Boondocks Sports Bar & Grill Greg Russell Wauzeka, WI Dells/Delton Area The Grateful Shed Truckyard Jason Field Wisconsin Dells, WI Grant/Iowa County Yesterdaze II Nicole Grattan Beetown, WI Moon’s Town Pump James and Rachelle Moon Cassville, WI Stroz Inn Jen Strozinsky Hollandale, WI Jezebel’s Deanne Von Bergen Patch Grove, WI Speakeasy Fifty50 Lisa Haas Platteville, WI Roadhouse 2 Dave Farrey Potosi, WI Tenosi Pump N Go 327 Nitpreet Kohli Potosi, WI Juneau County Pine Cove Bar & Grill Aaron Cuyler New Lisbon, WI Double R Bar & Grill Ridge Revels Wonewoc, WI La Crosse City/County Rumors Bar & Grill Jenna and Mike Grant Bangor, WI 4 Sisters La Crosse, WI 4 Sisters Bar & Catering La Crosse, WI Tailgators Matthew Van Riper La Crosse, WI

DISTRICT 4 Fond du Lac City/ County Fat Boys Bar & Grill Josh Sippel Saint Cloud, WI

Green Lake Area Buckeez Den Brad Jesko Dalton, WI

Oshkosh/ Winnebago County Missing Links Indoor Golf Joseph Nichols Neenah, WI

Firehaus BBQ & Saloon Dan Prill Markesan, WI

The Avalon Ronald Martiny Oshkosh, WI Magnet Billiards Bar & Grill Tylor and Tamara Peterson Oshkosh, WI Village Pub Bar & Grill Jake Perry Winneconne, WI Ozaukee County Tom and Jodi’s Fredonia Inn Jodi Gamerdinger Fredonia, WI Spanky’s Hideaway Mary Moran Mequon, WI Sheboygan County Frank’s Place Scott Wachowski Sheboygan, WI GM’s James Passmore Sheboygan, WI NZ’s Bar & Grill Jason Neels Sheboygan, WI Scenic Bar & Restaurant Kurt Wolf Sheboygan, WI Washington County Little Red Inn Joan Kenny Hartford, WI

The Rustic Pub Heather Gernhofer Delavan, WI Turtle Lake Tap & Grill Jeff Hufford Delavan, WI

Station Pub & Grill Danielle Zinda Waukesha, WI

Blue Roadhouse Bar and Grill Tamara Shabty Elkhorn, WI

DISTRICT 3

Snow Flake Golf & Bar Steven Clemment Westby, WI

Crawford County Backwater Bar Brian Nichols Prairie du Chien, WI

Monroe County Pony Express Lucas Bender Kendall, WI

Adams County Jack Pine Saloon Dennis Rathermel Adams, WI

Desperados Wonder Bar & Grill Soldiers Grove, WI

Sauk County Hillpoint Hideaway Stepheny Cox Hillpoint, WI

Big Horn Bar & Grill Colleen and Kevin Livernash Arkdale, WI

The Pitt Stop 67 Timothy Zalenski Elkhorn, WI The Bottle Shop Beth Tumas and Howard Koller Lake Geneva, WI

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Western House John and Julia Rupp Friendship, WI

Manitowoc County Side Street Station LLC Amanda Kienappel Mishicot, WI

Boomarang’s Bar & Grill Zbigniew Gacek Waukesha, WI

That Foreign Place Robbi Wolff La Crosse, WI

The Old Mill Sonya Franks Arkdale, WI

The Pour House David Morey Hartford, WI

DISTRICT 5

Langlade County The Nutshell LLC Paula Schielke-Roman Antigo, WI Crab N Jack’s Brent Hipke White Lake, WI Our Happy Place Gary and Sandra Janka White Lake, WI Marathon County TKO Barrel Inn Tammi Bernarde Hatley, WI Tine & Cellar Eric Pupols Weston, WI Marquette County Oasis Lance Achterberg Endeavor, WI Jim’s Halfway Bar Jim George Neshkoro, WI Weekendz Tom Bowman Packwaukee, WI Shawano County Lumberyard Bar and Grill Diane Nolan Bonduel, WI George’s Eagles Nest George Retzlaff Bowler, WI Ship Wreck’d Troy and Emily Pahlke Cecil, WI Reds Bar & Grill Jessica Stolp Gresham, WI J & H Game Farm Inc. Diane Redmann Shiocton, WI Waupaca County Jeanne Rose Sports Bar Bill Bohn Clintonville, WI JD’s Corner Bar Jeff Domask Iola, WI

www.tlw.org

NEW MEMBERS Marion Recreation Jeff Flink Marion, WI Simpson’s Restaurant Daniel Dehay Waupaca, WI Weyauwega Arts Ian Teal Weyauwega, WI Waushara County Two 20 Main Rusty Grimm Wautoma, WI Wood County DJ’s Corner Bar & Event Hall Doug and Connie Beggs Bancroft, WI The Crow Bar & Grill Austin Collins Nekoosa, WI Jokers Bar & Grill LLC Lisa Hewitt Wisconsin Rapids, WI

DISTRICT 6 Brown County Green Bay Axe Clinton Melendez Ashwaubenon, WI Birch Street Pub & Grill Richard Hendricks De Pere, WI C&C Pub & Grill Jacob Vieau and Gregg Curnell De Pere, WI Pasquales International Cafe Tye Hartwell De Pere, WI Pub 338 Wade Conard De Pere, WI Burkels One Block Over Kevin Burkel Green Bay, WI Glass Nickle Pizza Co Daniel Krause Green Bay, WI Iron Duck Restaurant Caleb Suda Green Bay, WI Jam-Rock GB LLC Neil Recardo Green Bay, WI Rami’s River Run Ramiro Cerda Chavira Green Bay, WI The Slammer Lori Coopman Green Bay, WI Soriah Hospitality LLC Kareh Barakhshop and Ian Huskey Green Bay, WI www.tlw.org

Door County Hugel Haus Ray Linden Ellison Bay, WI

Wilson Creek Inn Jim Maguire Menomonie, WI

The Mill Supper Club Cory Lehman Sturgeon Bay, WI

Eau Claire City/County Bowl Winkle’s Eric Platt Eau Claire, WI

Florence County Mine Shaft Bar & Grill Brian Huth Florence, WI

My Office Lounge Mohhamad Hashlamoun Eau Claire, WI

Aurora Liquors Brian Pearson Niagara, WI

Jackson County Rozario’s Pizza Pasta Pub Daniel Cobb Black River Falls, WI

Red Brick Inn Kathie Strand Niagara, WI Marinette County Edgewater Sports Bar Andrew Biehl Marinette, WI Rail House Restaurant & Brewpub Ronald Beyer Marinette, WI Oconto County CJ’s Country Club Carol Kealiher Abrams, WI Prospect Lodge Inc. Denise Jackett Lakewood, WI McGuire’s Sports Bar & Restaurant Denise JagielloDiehlmann Lena, WI Sunset Resort Thomas Derrickson Townsend, WI Outagamie County Club Ritz Mandy Waite and Abbie Quella Kaukauna, WI The Hawk’s Nest Mike Verkuylen Little Chute, WI

DISTRICT 7 Chippewa County Drywood Tavern Lyle Goettl Cadott, WI Eagles Club of Hallie Hanna Hengst Chippewa Falls, WI Wayside Bar & Grill Sherri Jo Gutowski Chippewa Falls, WI Old 53 Bar & Grill Sheri Eslinger New Auburn, WI Dunn County Diablo Blue Paul Wilkes Menomonie, WI

Patti Jo’s Crossroads LLC Patti Jo Lamberty Medford, WI Squirrelz Nest Wendy Humfeld Taylor, WI Pepin County Twisted Sister Saloon Jessica Bignell Arkansaw, WI Pierce County Century Saloon Baillee Huber Ellsworth, WI DS Liquor Shaun Macioch Ellsworth, WI Gaslite Grill & Tavern Michelle Gunness Ellsworth, WI Polk County Lumber Jack’s Saloon & Pizzeria Stacy Irwin Milltown, WI Tippy Canoes Jason Karnes Osceola, WI

The Barn at Mirror Lake Heidi and Ron Keys Mondovi, WI

Sawyer County Chippewa Pines Resort Melanie Mikesh Couderay, WI

DISTRICT 8

Johansen’s Corner Richard Rothanburg Winter, WI

Ashland/Bayfield County The Windsor Nancy Lindberg Barnes, WI The Pier Plaza Restaurant Janine Johnson Bayfield, WI

Hanke’s Little Bohemia Steve Hanke Rib Lake, WI

Ransom’s Place LLC Nancy and Zachary Ransom Clam Lake, WI

Lisa’s Spot Tavern & Campground Lisa Jensen Sheldon, WI

Crosswinds Lydelle Bergquist Solon Springs, WI

Vilas County Bucktail Gentleman’s Club Kurt Schels Eagle River, WI

Burnett County Fox Hole Bar & Lounge Duke Tucker Grantsburg, WI Greater Northwoods Chub and Sandy’s Sandy Joustra Hurley, WI Iron Horse Inn Bill Hall Hurley, WI Lincoln County Clover Club Kanokon Gessler Irma, WI Oneida County Kozy Korner Steve Lurvey and Nancy Lorbetske Rhinelander, WI Jake’s Bar & Grill Scott Jacob Three Lakes, WI Price County Double D’s Pub & Eatery Daniel Voss Catawba, WI

River’s Edge Stephen Kaufman New Richmond, WI

Musky Jack’s Chris Kahr Park Falls, WI

Trempealeau/ Buffalo County Broadway Bar Ryan Smetana Blair, WI

Park Falls Gastropub LLC Wendy Ford Park Falls, WI

Eagles Bar Jeffrey Woychik Independence, WI Welcome Bar Erika Bauer Independence, WI

Washburn County Bluegill Bar Mary Manka Birchwood, WI Hank’s Up North Richard Saletri Spooner, WI

DISTRICT 9

St. Croix County Shotgun’s Saloon Carlee Goodrich Glenwood City, WI

Cabin Creek Wayne Palkowski Independence, WI

Taylor County Cravings Rachel Meyer Medford, WI

The Round Up Bar & Grill Terrance Schneider Park Falls, WI

Milwaukee Drink Wisconsinbly Pub Richard Lorbach Milwaukee, WI Dugout 54 Kelly Vecitis Milwaukee, WI The Tonic Tavern Paul Tomas Milwaukee, WI Irish Cottage II Jerry Branski Muskego, WI Faklandia Brewing Nathan Fakler St. Francis, WI Bug N Out Lounge Amy Thompson West Allis, WI GM’s Dog House Melissa and Glenn Schrubbe West Allis, WI Natty Oaks John Roots West Allis, WI

Tailgators Becky and Dale Langner Park Falls, WI Prentice Market & Deli Tyler Andreae Prentice, WI MARCH/APRIL 2020

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AFFILIATE MEMBERS TLW AFFILIATE MEMBERS FROM OCT. 23, 2019 TO MARCH 3, 2020 21st Century Financial Services 3 Sheeps Brewing Company A-1 Amusement Ackley Novelty Adams County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Allied Games American Entertainment Services American Income Life Insurance Company American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) American Welding & Gas Amusement Devices Inc. B&K Bar Supplies B-M Music & Games Badger Case, an Alliance Technology Company Badger Mats Badger Mutual Insurance Company Badger State Productions Badger State Media Baird Financial Advisors/Farley Forster Herbenson Group Baraboo Sysco Food Services Barr Refrigeration BarRags Drinkwear Batzner Pest Control Bay Towel Linen and Uniform Rental Bayland Insurance Benedict Refrigeration Service Best Bargains Inc. Bevinco Big Game Sports Cards/ Sterling Graphics Bill’s Distributing Blue Honey Bio-Fuels Bob Schuchardt Insurance Agency Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin Brakebush Brothers Brat Stop Products Breakthru Beverage Wisconsin Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) Bromak Sales Inc. BruVue Bullseye Games C.D. Zero Pay Capital Brewery Captain Ken’s Foods Card Concepts Merchant Services Cash Depot Central Wisconsin Insurance Associates Chambers Travel Clock’d Community Business Development Cookies Food Products Cornerstone Processing Solutions Corporate Casuals LLC Country Thunder Creative Beverage Systems LLC D&D Amusement Games Davis & Kuelthau Delafield Brewhaus Delicious Foods of Wisconsin

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Demon Spirits DeVere Company Inc. Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) Drink Wisconsinbly DTT Edge One El Cortez Hotel & Casino Electronic Performance Systems Elite Hood Cleaning EmberGlo Emil’s Pizza e-tailer Inc./RocketDSD EVO Platinum Services Group (EPSG) EZ Dock/Pike Dock and Marine Fabiano Brothers Inc. Face Card Promotions/Ad-Tabs FASTSIGNS of Kenosha Fein Brothers First Choice Merchant Services Flanigan Distributing Flashbanc Flashpoint Designs Fleming’s Fire 1 Flipside Coin Machines Focus on Energy Foremost Business Systems Inc. Forest Floor Foods Frank Beer Distributors Free Jackpot Bingo/ American Amusement Ent. Game Management Corporation General Beer Northeast Inc. Gilbert Brown Foundation Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown Glavinsured Agency Inc. Gourmet Parlor Pizza Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Great Lakes Amusement Great Lakes Beverage Great Northern Amusements Gunderson Uniform and Linen Rental HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Heartland Business Systems Heartland Payment Systems Hiawatha Chef Supply Holiday Wholesale Inc. The House of Insurance Howe’s Aim to Please Vending HSC Business Brokers Illinois Casualty Company Indeflex Indianhead Foodservice Distributor Inkworks The Insurance Center The Insurance Group Integrated Point of Sale (iPOS) Jahnke Coin Machine Jimmy EaZy Storage LLC Johnson Brothers Just in Time Refrigeration LLC Kaufhold’s Kurds Kavanaugh Restaurant Supply Kessenich’s Ltd. KevCorp International KLB Insurance/Illinois Casualty Kobussen Buses La Crosse Distilling Company

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Lamers Bus Lines LC Branding Lebby’s Frozen Pizza Lee Beverage of Wisconsin LLC LibDib Luige’s Frozen Pizza Inc. M & R Amusements & Vending LLC Madcity Cocktails Magnuson Inc. Maple Avenue Marketing & Apparel Mass Appeal Inc. MBE CPAs McCain Foods McFleshman’s Brewing Company Metropolitan Food Service Equipment Michalak Pest Control Midstate Amusement Games Midwest Amusements Midwest Coin Concepts Midwest Insurance Group Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Pedal Tavern Mitchell Novelty Company Modern Cash Register Systems Modern Specialty Company Motion Technology Inc. Murphy Desmond S.C. National Chemicals Inc. National Metalwares Furniture Nei-Turner Media Group New Glarus Brewing Company NHS Food Service Noble Insurance Service Northern Lakes Amusement Northern Oasis Spirits Northwest Coin Machine Northwoods Cab Pabst Brewing Company Paradise Printing Company Park Ridge Distributing Inc. Parker Insurance Paychex Inc. PCMusic Pearl Street Brewery Pecatonica Beer Company Pehler Brothers Distributing PepsiCo Inc. Plunkett’s Pest Control PNC Bank Pop’s Kettle Corn Precision Pours Inc. PretzelHaus Bakery/FUNacho Primerica Quaker Bakery Brands Quantum Merchant Services/ YETE Tech.

Quarter Time Distribution Racine Amusement Inc. Rally Red’s Novelty Ltd. Redco Foodservice Equipment Reinhart Foodservice LLC Remedy Bloody Mary Mix Restaurant Technologies Retail Control Solutions Rhinelander Brewing Company/Minhas Riverland Expressions Riverside Foods RJT Limo RM Advertising

Rum Runner Tropicana Rush Creek Distilling S&S Distributing Inc. Safe Harbor Payment Systems Saloons n Spoons/ Turbo Chemical Sams Amusement Sanimax Saratoga Liquor Company Inc. Schenck SC Schmidt Novelty Scott’s Vending Inc. Service Specialists ServingIntel Sketchworks Architecture Society/Ansay & Associates Spooky Beverages Sports Impressions SpotOn Stansfield Vending Inc. Star Business Machines Stevens Point Brewery Superior Beverages LLC Superior Business Systems Superior Vending Taylor Enterprises of Wisconsin Inc. Tesch Chemical Think Ink & Design Tiger Amusement Toast Inc. Toccata Gaming International Tom Sawyer Amusements Tri-Mart/Midwest Food & Tobacco Group Tricky Dick Specialties 2 TRICOR Insurance Triple R Industries TRL International Marketing Group/Global Vending Universal Apparel Upload Motion Advertising US FOODS Van Bookkeeping LLC Vemos Vern’s Cheese Inc. Viking Log Furniture Vincent, Urban, Walker & Associates VITO Fryfilter Inc. Wausau Coin Machines Inc. Wisconsin Hospitality Insured Wine Institute Wisconsin Motorcycle Roads Travel Guide Wisconsin Restaurant Association Wisconsin Scrub & Sweep Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps Wollersheim Winery & Distillery Xtreme Bar Bingo www.tlw.org

LOCAL LEAGUE UPDATES DELLS/DELTON TAVERN LEAGUE Dells/Delton Tavern League members presented the School District of Wisconsin Dells (SDWD) with a check for $1,520 to pay off unpaid student meal balances. The Dells/Delton Tavern League is also donating matching funds of $1,500 from the TLW Foundation and $800 from the Third District Tavern League. All said, this provides more than $3,800 of relief to those children in need.

ADAMS COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE Adams County Sheriff Brent York (left) and Adams County Community Health Specialist Suzanne Schreiner (right) delivered 6,500 coasters to the Adams County Tavern League meeting. The coasters, to be distributed to local Tavern League establishments, have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on them — 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255). According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), around 22% of deaths by suicide in the United States involve alcohol intoxication. Feel free to take a coaster home and save it for a time of need, or pass it on to a friend. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is free and confidential to use 24/7. Thank you to the Tavern League of Adams County and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for helping to fund and support this project.

BURNETT COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

PRICE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

MANITOWOC COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

Greg Hunter, Burnett County Tavern League vice president, presented a check for $750 to the Burnett County Law Enforcement Citizen’s Auxiliary during the league’s February meeting.

Sheriff Tracy Finch (right) and auxiliary president Lisa Slater (left) accepted the check.

The auxiliary is a volunteer fundraising team for the K-9 Tracker Program.

The Price County Tavern League donated $5,000 to be the title sponsor of the 2020 Price County Rodeo! Many of the league’s members are in this photo and are very excited to be a part of the annual community event.

Mark Puetz (left), Manitowoc County Tavern League’s vice president, donated a check to the Manitowoc County Snowmobile Alliance. The money is going to help offset the cost of printing snowmobile trail maps, which includes Tavern League member spots, for snowmobilers to stop along the trail.

WANT TO SEE YOUR LOCAL LEAGUE FEATURED IN ON PREMISE? Send your photos and a brief description to: Pete Madland, petem@tlw.org; Chris Marsicano, c.marsicano@yahoo.com; or Carrie Mantey, cmantey@ntmediagroup.com. www.tlw.org

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ADVERTISER INDEX Anheuser-Busch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 anheuser-busch.com

Lamers Bus Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 golamers.com

Ansay & Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 ansay.com

Mass Appeal Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 massappealinc.com

B&K Bar Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 bandkbarsupplies.com

Midwest Food & Tobacco Group. . . . . . . . . 38 midwestftg.com

BarRags Drinkwear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 barrags.com

MillerCoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 millercoors.com

Brakebush Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 brakebush.com

Modern Cash Register Systems. . . . . . . . . . . 10 moderncashregister.com

Cornerstone Processing Solutions . . . . . . . . . 24 cornerstoneps.net

VetsRoll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 vetsroll.org

Edge One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 edgeone.com

Wisconsin Amusement and Music Operators (WAMO). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 wamo.net

Emil’s Pizza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 emilspizzainc.com

Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps . . . . . . . . . 33, 38 wimilkcaps.com

Jim’s Specialties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 halo.com/jim-flynn

Promotional Products

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Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcap

PULLTAB PROMOTIONS

Great Profits Employee Incentive Program Used Pulltab Machines Available More Info: 262-510-4513 daytonyoung12@gmail.com www.wimilkcaps.com

4603 DOMAIN DR., MENOMONIE, WI 54751 PH: (715) 235-2151 • (800) 472-2006

• Tobacco/Cigarettes

• Chemicals

• Nuts/Snacks

• Paper Products

• Beverages

• Deli/Institutional

• Glassware

• Beverages on the gun

• Liquor

Supplying Tavern League of Wisconsin Members from Superior to La Crosse & from Hudson to Wausau 38

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Stools, Tables, Booths, Outdoor Furniture, Glasswashers and Full Line of Bar Supplies.

5 Year Frame Warranty Available 12 or more stools - FREE DELIVERY. 7100 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis

414.259.9161

www.BandKBarSupplies.com www.tlw.org

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