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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN

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TLW MEMBERS CONTINUE TO FACE

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The Official Publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 VOLUME 34, NO. 6

FEATURES

CHEERS TO TLW MEMBERS’ SUCCESS . . . . . . . . 12 A New ABL Report Shows Members’ Positive Economic Impact

TLW FALL CONVENTION SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 TLW Rocks!

SEEING THE BIG PICTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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Industry Insider Outlines Six Challenges for the Beverage Alcohol Industry

LEAGUE SPOTLIGHTS LEAGUE PROFILE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Burnett County

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Yellow Lake Golf Course & 10th Hole

CHARITY FEATURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Webster Dog Park & Accessible Playground

MEET THE DIRECTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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Keith Kern

DEPARTMENTS President’s Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Corporate Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Front Rail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ABL Dispatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Corporate Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Legislative Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Accounting on Tap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Ask the Bartender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Featured Affiliates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Affiliate Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Local League Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

SOCIALIZE WITH US:

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE MAKING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ACHIEVABLE

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he holidays are right around the corner: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. With that comes weeks of holiday parties, food and drink, and more food and drink. As we ring in the new year, many typically make New Year’s resolutions. Will you be making any? If so, will you keep them longer than a few days or a few weeks?

Where did the tradition of New Year’s resolutions begin anyway? History tells us it began in pre-Christian times with the Babylonians. They made their resolutions in March, but that changed with the expansion of the Roman Empire. The Romans used the month of January to make their resolutions and it has stayed that way since. By the way, January is named after the god Janus, a two-faced god that looked at the year behind us and at the year ahead.

Resolutions have changed over the centuries. They ranged from returning borrowed goods and paying debts to improving moral behavior. Today’s resolutions seem to revolve around self-help ideas such as losing weight, exercising more or giving up a favorite food or drink.

Are you going to be making any resolutions for 2017? If you are, let me give you a small piece of advice: make them achievable, after all, no one likes to fail.

If your goal is to increase sales at your business, make a plan to do so. Don’t be afraid to be too ambitious. Plan weekly events to bring in new customers while keeping your current customers. Avoid making a goal of having more money at the end of the year, as this may prevent you from putting money back into your business. You may need to make an investment to achieve your goal of increasing sales.

Improving your health is a great resolution. Let’s face it, in our industry staying in shape is a challenge. Everyone knows the older we get, the more difficult it is to lose weight. If you are going to shed weight, set a reasonable goal.

Try doing some simple things like drinking less soda at work and more water. Get outside and walk a couple times a week, or if you currently take walks, make them a little longer or a bit more frequent. We don’t put on weight overnight so don’t expect it to come off overnight.

This year I will have a few resolutions of my own. I am going to try to attend more league meetings around the state, so don’t forget to invite me. I love to fish, but I have not been fishing for three years, so I resolve to get up north often and follow through on that resolution. I also plan on doing something to my business. I don’t know what yet, but there will be an improvement.

I hope you are considering making a few resolutions for 2017 because I think it’s good for all of us to set goals. Remember to make them realistic and achievable, and remember, if we fail – there is always next year!

TLW President

Terry J Harvath

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CORPORATE SPONSORS SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THOSE WHO

Support Those Who Support Our Association

SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATION SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATION

PLATINUM PLATINUMSPONSORS SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSORS

2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

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Wisconsin Amusement & Wisconsin Amusement & Inc. Music Operators, Music Operators, Make sure to thank these groups for their support, and encourage others not onInc. the list to participate. Any business interested in joining should call the (608-270-8591) for our brochure that lists benefits ofothers the different Remember “Support those interested who support MakeTLW sureoffice and thank these groups for their support, andthe encourage not on categories. the list to participate.

Any business in us.” joining should call

Make sure and thank these groups forfor their others not ondifferent the list tocategories. participate.

Any business interested in joining should the TLW office (608-270-8591) oursupport, brochureand thatencourage lists the benefits of the Remember “Support those who support us.” call www.tlw.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016us.”On Premise 5 the TLW office (608-270-8591) for our brochure that lists the benefits of the different categories. Remember “Support those who support n

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TLW SPECIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP PLATINUM CLUB MEMBERS OUTAGAMIE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE OSHKOSH CITY TAVERN LEAGUE PORTAGE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE TLW 3RD DISTRICT TLW 5TH DISTRICT

GOLD CLUB MEMBERS DODGE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE DOOR COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE MANITOWOC COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE TLW 7TH DISTRICT

PRESIDENT Terry Harvath

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Chris Marsicano

SECRETARY Erin Farrar

TREASURER Tom Dahlen

SOUTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Jim Pickett, Dan Taivalkoski

EASTERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Terri “Sassy” Buman Gene Loose

CENTRAL ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS

SILVER CLUB MEMBER

Lori Frommgen, Robert “Bubba” Sprenger

REPP’S BAR

NORTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Nancy Lorbetske, Rob Summerfield

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS PLATINUM - $1,000 Annual Membership Level GOLD - $500 Annual Membership Level SILVER - $250 Annual Membership Level For more information on becoming a Special Club Member, call the TLW office at 800-445-9221

EDITOR Pete Madland, Executive Director, Tavern League of Wisconsin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Barb Howell, Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc.

ART DIRECTOR Kayla Collins, Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc.

GRAPHIC DESIGN Jerriann Mullen, Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc.

Have you found us on Facebook yet?

ADVERTISING SALES Louise Andraski, Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. louisea@merr.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Julie Schiller, Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. ads@ntmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Bergs, John Bodnovich, Jen Bradley, Terry Harvath, Barb Howell, Pete Madland, Chris Marsicano, Scott Stenger, Amanda Wegner

PRINTED BY RR Donnelley Long Prairie, Minnesota On Premise (ISSN #1051-4562) is a bi-monthly publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, Inc., 2817 Fish Hatchery Road, 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.

Search for: Tavern League of Wisconsin and become a fan!

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Printing is by RR Donnelley, Long Prairie, MN. For advertising information, contact Louise Andraski, 262-729-4471, louisea@merr.com.

Subscriptions included in TLW membership dues; non-member subscriptions: $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. ©2016 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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FRONT RAIL SURVIVE OR SUCCEED?

BY PETE MADLAND, TLW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Some survivors will call the successful “lucky,” but I believe you make your luck. As the late, great Arnold Palmer once said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

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he definition of survive is “to continue to live or exist … especially in spite of danger or hardship.” The definition of success is “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Which are you?

Are you surviving or are you succeeding?” I am guessing that if you are still operating you are doing one or the other because the third option is failure, and if that is the case, you would no longer be in business.

We all know people who are survivors.

They always manage to get by. They are the people who, when life throws a curveball, always manage to get through it. Going through life surviving, in my opinion, is no fun. If you are simply surviving you don’t have the means, and too often the time, to enjoy life. Typically you are too worried about the next day, the next week or the next month.

In business, surviving is bringing in enough to make the monthly payments.

We all know people who have a business that, somehow, manages to hang in there. On how many occasions have you said, “I don’t know how they stay open” about a certain business?

On the other hand, we all know people who are successful. They succeed at whatever endeavor they choose. They always seem to be upbeat and have a purpose or a goal they are working on.

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If we look at businesses that are surviving and businesses that are succeeding, I’m certain we will find many differences other than location, location, location. I’m willing to bet we can go onto any Main Street in Wisconsin and find a bar that is succeeding and one that is surviving. The survivor opens the bar and hopes someone comes in to spend a buck. He/she is more than likely doing business the same way they have been for years. Why not, they have survived, haven’t they?

On the other hand, the successful owner opens up with a purpose. How can I be better? He/she is not content with simply making their payments and getting by.

This owner wants this month’s sales to be better than last month’s. He wants this year’s sales to be better than last year’s and he operates his business to achieve that goal. He asks himself questions like: “Can I make improvements to my business?” “Can my place be cleaner?” “Are my customers getting quality for what they pay for?” For many successful people, the status quo is unacceptable and change is constant.

I may be oversimplifying, but I hope you get my point. I sincerely believe you have a choice: Be a Survivor or Be a Success.

Now I understand we all cannot be the busiest or most profitable place in town, but why not try? Being the second or third busiest is not a bad thing, especially if you are setting goals and meeting them. Remember that definition “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.”

If you set business goals and meet them you are, by definition, succeeding.

TLW better than when you joined it. I truly believe if enough of us do that, our association will succeed and not merely survive. We can simply pay our dues, let a few willing people do all the work and I believe we will survive. Many associations do just that. I do not want the Tavern League of Wisconsin to be just any association. I want the Tavern League of Wisconsin to be successful.

Just imagine the power if all 5,000 members set a goal to succeed! Imagine if our members all made certain to exit the Tavern League in better shape than when they started. Of course, the question is: How can I do that? How can I have an impact?

The important thing to understand is that you do not have to move mountains to have an impact, though if each member made a small contribution, mountains could be moved. Simply set a goal and succeed at it. Maybe it is showing support for your local league and attending a meeting; it is more than most do now. Volunteer to be on a committee to ease the burden on the few who usually do all of the work. How about signing up a new member or calling your legislator when asked? All of these are simple tasks, but probably more than what you are currently doing. When multiplied by 5,000, these simple tasks can move mountains and will ensure that our association, that we all have invested in, will do more than survive, it will succeed!

No matter if it’s your personal life, your business or our association, you have choices. I hope you choose to have purpose, set goals and work to achieve those goals. If you do, I believe your business will be better off and I know our association will succeed, not merely survive.TLW

This works with our association also. At our convention I spoke about leaving the www.tlw.org

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS MAJOR SUPPORTER OF STATE AND LOCAL TAVERN LEAGUES 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 Giveaway at TLW Spring Conference • Donor of Large Screen TV at TLW Fall Convention

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

WISCONSIN AMUSEMENT & MUSIC OPERATORS PO Box 250, Poynette, WI 53955 | T: 608.635.4316 | F: 608.635.4327 | E: wamomax@aol.com A complete list of WAMO members can be found on the web site. Visit us at www.WAMO.net Hosts of the World’s Largest Dart Tournament & the Nation’s Largest Pool Tournament

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ABL Dispatch – The Latest Industry News From Washington

By ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich

• Reduce the tax rate from $13.50 to $2.70 on the first 100,000 proof gallons of distilled spirits production.

• Reduce the tax rate from $13.50 to $13.34 on the next 22.1 million proof gallons of production.

• Provide a tax credit of 5.6 cents per gallon to hard cider makers on the first 30,000 gallons produced and 6.5 cents on the next 100,000 gallons. Cider is currently taxed at 22.6 cents per gallon.

BILL WITH SWIPE FEE REPEAL PASSED CONGRESS PASSES RESOLUTION TO FUND GOVERNMENT Congress, with one foot out the door on the campaign trail, passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) on Sept. 28 to keep the government running until Dec. 9, 2016. Final negotiations on the CR were delayed over a dispute on funding for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. As legislators return to Washington after the November elections, they face a full calendar. In addition to passing an omnibus spending bill (or smaller “mini-bus” spending bills), a variety of legislative issues including biomedical measures, defense authorization, campaign finance fights and a Supreme Court nomination are on the docket. Congress is scheduled to be in session from Nov. 14 through Dec. 16, giving the body just four weeks to tackle many important issues.

INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS TO PUSH FOR TAX REFORM With 51 cosponsors in the Senate and 284 cosponsors in the House, alcohol industry supplier trade associations are urging Congress to act in a lame-duck session to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 2903 & S. 1562), which would overhaul federal excise taxes on beer, wine and distilled spirits. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) are leading the push on Capitol Hill to revamp the excise taxes charged on alcoholic beverages and expand incentives for small breweries, distilleries and wineries. The unified support of brewers, distillers and winemakers, as well as bipartisan majorities in both chambers, give the legislation a real chance of passing this year. Most notably, the legislation would: • Reduce the tax on the first 60,000 barrels of beer from $7 to $3.50 per barrel. The excise tax would go down from $18 to $16 per barrel for any production up to two million barrels.

• Reduce the tax on the first six million barrels brewed from $18 to $16 per barrel for brewers who produce more than two million barrels annually.

• Replace the current 90 cents per gallon tax credit for wineries that produce less than 250,000 gallons of wine, which is now applied only to the first 100,000 gallons of production. Wine is currently taxed between $1.07 and $3.40 per gallon.

• Provide a new $1 per gallon tax credit on the first 30,000 gallons of wine by any winery regardless of size. Some wineries would be able to claim a 90 cents per gallon credit on the next 100,000 gallons.

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On Sept. 13, the House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) passed the Financial CHOICE Act (H.R. 5983). The legislation, introduced by HFSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), is a sweeping financial regulatory reform bill that would undo most of the Dodd-Frank legislation from 2010. Included in the bill is a provision (Sec. 335) that would repeal debit card swipe fee reforms – commonly referred to as the “Durbin Amendment.”

ABL has urged members of Congress to vote to oppose the bill.

Prior to the committee vote, ABL sent a “legislative alert” to Capitol Hill reminding them how opposed beverage retailers are to repealing debit card swipe fee reforms. ABL has also been working with fellow members of the Merchants Payments Coalition to share information and coordinate efforts. While the Financial CHOICE Act is unlikely to make it the House floor this year, much less be taken up by the Senate, it represents an effort to frame the financial reform debate over the next two years.

HOUSE PASSES OVERTIME RULES DELAY BILL On Sept. 28, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6094) sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) that would delay implementation of the Department of Labor’s overtime rule for six months. With five Democrats supporting the measure, it passed 246-177. No Senate action was taken before the Nov. elections as the upper chamber adjourned before the House bill passed.

The final overtime rule, announced by the Department of Labor in May, raises the threshold for employees who are exempt from overtime pay to $47,476 – more than double the current salary threshold of $23,660. Many small businesses, not-for-profits and trade associations representing interests both conservative and liberal, have expressed concern that the rule could have unintended consequences that would harm employers and affected employees alike. Should Congress not act, the new overtime rule will take effect on Dec. 1, 2016.

ABL supports a bill introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), the Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act (OREA) (H.R. 5813), which would incrementally phase in the new salary threshold over the next three years to give businesses adequate time to adjust to the new standard while also ensuring workers are fairly compensated. The bill would also eliminate a provision in the final overtime rule that allows for automatic updates to the salary threshold every three years. www.tlw.org

ABL OPPOSES CHANGES TO ESTATE TAX RULES In two letters to Congress, ABL has voiced its concern about proposed Department of Treasury regulations that would force even more family businesses to grapple with the complicated and costly estate tax.

ABL signed on to a Family Business Coalition letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and leaders in the House and Senate, opposing “the Department of Treasury’s proposed changes to Section 2704 on estate and gift tax valuation discounts.” These new rules “would significantly change family businesses’ succession plans and make it harder for family owned businesses to transition to the next generation by removing legitimate valuation discounts for estate, gift, and generation skipping taxes which businesses have used for the past two decades in order to prevent the IRS from overvaluing their businesses at death.” ABL signed on to a similar Family Business Estate Tax Coalition letter, also calling for the 2704 valuation regulations to be withdrawn.

On the legislative front, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) has introduced the Protect Family Farms and Businesses Act (H.R. 6100), which would block the proposed rules. The bill has already gained the support of 60 cosponsors, including members of the Ways and Means Committee and House Leadership. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has offered a companion bill, S. 3436, to Rep. Davidson’s legislation.

ABL members can urge their representatives and senators to cosponsor both pieces of legislation and can visit www.NoEstateTaxHike.org to offer comments.

• Nevada Question 2: Would make it legal for adults age 21 and older to buy marijuana for recreational use, possess up to an ounce and grow up to six plants at home — if that residence is more than 25 miles away from a licensed dispensary. Retail marijuana would be subject to a 15 percent excise tax. Cannabis consumption would be restricted to private premises, which could include a retail marijuana store.

CELEBRATE THE ALCOHOL MARKETPLACE ON REPEAL DAY On Dec. 5, thousands of beverage licensees will observe the 83rd Anniversary of Repeal Day – the only holiday celebrating an Amendment to our Constitution. On Dec. 5, 1933, lawmakers ratified the 21st Amendment – effectively repealing the 18th Amendment (thereby removing the prohibition against the sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol), and giving states the right to determine their own regulations for how alcohol is sold within their borders.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt remarked that “this return of individual freedom shall not be accompanied by the repugnant conditions that obtained prior to the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment and those that have existed since its adoption.”

In the United States today, there is great pressure on traditional licensed retail alcohol businesses to succeed with modest margins, regulatory obligations, the challenges of operating a brickand-mortar business and a highly-competitive marketplace. But independent beverage licensees have shown that they thrive on healthy and fair competition, and a well-manicured and level playing field that allows local small businesses to compete.

MARIJUANA – STATE BALLOT INITIATIVES At press time, the voters in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada were headed to the polls to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana in Nov. 2016.

• Arizona Proposition 205: Would allow adults to carry up to an ounce, grow up to six plants and consume marijuana in non-public spaces. Retail marijuana sales would have a 15 percent tax imposed.

• California Proposition 64: Would allow adults 21 years of age and older to possess an ounce of cannabis, purchase dried flower and cannabis products from licensed retailers and grow up to six plants for personal use. The initial taxes imposed would be a 15 percent state excise tax on retail sales, and cultivation taxes of $9.25 per ounce of flower and $2.75 per ounce of trim/leaves.

• Maine Question 1: Would legalize the recreational use of marijuana for people 21 years of age and older, which would also allow an adult to grow up to six plants. The proposal includes a 10 percent sales tax on retail marijuana and marijuana products.

• Massachusetts Question 4: Would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of pot, keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home and grow up to six plants. Marijuana sold in licensed shops would be subject to an excise tax of 3.75 percent in addition to Massachusetts’ 6.25 percent state sales tax. The initiative allows for the creation of a 15-member cannabis advisory board to study and make recommendations on regulations and marijuana products. www.tlw.org

The responsible and socially accepted enjoyment of beer, wine and spirits is a hallmark of our American culture, bringing together millennials and baby boomers. Enjoying a glass of wine with lunch, a beer at a BBQ or cocktail at happy hour are activities that most Americans can relate to and enjoy, and it’s incumbent on our industry to support those traditions through responsible and first-in-class service.

This Dec. 5, let your customers and patrons know why you are smiling and tell them a little bit about what a wonderful 83 years it’s been! TLW

The American Beverage Licensees is the voice of America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers in Washington, D.C. The ABL represents the Tavern League of Wisconsin 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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Cheers to TLW Members’ Success Updated Study Reflects Positive Economic Impact of Beverage Licensees

By Jennifer Bradley 12

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BL recently released an updated economic impact study detailing the positive effect that America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers have on local, state and national economies through job creation, good wages and direct economic contribution.

Providing a detailed and in-depth look at the role that beverage licensees play in the U.S. economy at the local, state and national levels, the 2016 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers notes these licensees generate in excess of 1.94 million jobs from direct retail alcohol sales. The total economic impact of America’s beer, wine and spirits retail industry is more than $295 billion.

DATA SUPPORTS FACTS “We look forward to sharing this updated report first and foremost with our members – but also with the beverage alcohol industry and those making decisions directly impacting beverage licensees,” says ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich.

“This quantifiable data supports what our members, and beverage licensees as a whole, already know to be true: they are responsible for providing their communities with hundreds of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues at the local and state level – and billions at the federal level.”

The 2016 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers indicates that while wages have remained relatively unchanged since 2014, the number of jobs supported – and tax revenues contributed – by beverage licensees has increased significantly during this period. The results reflect an industry and marketplace which continues to grow, providing consumers with an ever-increasing range of beer, wine and spirits products than ever before.

“Beverage licensees and their businesses – be it on-premise or off-premise establishments – play a dynamic role in the larger economic portrait of this country,” notes John Dunham, president of John Dunham & Associates which conducted the economic research on behalf of ABL and its members. “As reflected in the report, these businesses generate billions in tax revenues at the local, state and federal levels, and create millions of jobs throughout the larger economy.”

The biennial report updated the 2014 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers. All jobs in on-premise full-service restaurants and drinking places, as well as all jobs in off-premise package stores, are included in the report as these businesses depend on the sale of alcohol for a substantial portion of their revenues and profits. In all other locations, this analysis examines on- and off- premise retail alcohol beverage sales accounting for full time and equivalent jobs related solely to the sale of alcohol.

STUDY EXPANDED TO CAPTURE FULL IMPACT OF BUSINESSES The 2016 report also provides a much broader picture of the impact of licensed establishments, many of which sell other products in addition to beverage alcohol. Alcohol sales and non-alcohol sales from licensed restaurants, drinking places and package stores create 1.94 million jobs and over $295 www.tlw.org

billion in direct economic impact. An interactive website provides users with the option of generating tailored reports based on all sales by on-premise, full-service restaurants and drinking places as well as off-premise package stores at the national, state, and local levels.

AN ADVOCACY TOOL FOR ABL MEMBERS ABL members have access to the 2016 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers and are able to generate customized reports and download data via the ABL website, www.ablusa.org. These reports and talking points can be broken out at the national, state, congressional district, and state legislative district levels, providing ABL members the ability to quantify the significant contributions they make to their communities when it comes to jobs, taxes and economic impact.

“While ABL is primarily focused on legislative issues at the national level, we are supportive of our members as they fight against policies adversely effecting independent business owners, and further support their efforts to advocate for common sense state alcohol laws and regulations,” says Bodnovich. “It is our hope that this report and its findings will aid them in these efforts.”

To access the study, members can contact the ABL office by emailing info@ablusa.org. TLW

KEY FINDINGS $295.4 Billion: Total economic activity the beverage alcohol retail industry is responsible for annually $25.3 Billion: Federal taxes paid by the beverage alcohol retail industry last year* 1.94 Million: Number of jobs direct retail alcohol sales account for in the U.S. 4.27 Million: Number of additional jobs supported by the beverage alcohol retail industry in the U.S. *Figure includes on- and off-premise retailer, supplier and induced taxes

See the following page for the economic impact of Wisconsin’s beverage alcohol retailers.

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By the Numbers: A Look at Wisconsin’s Statistics

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161 Business Park Circle • Stoughton, WI 53589 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT SOCIETY INSURANCE

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ith agents located around the state and more than 100 years in business, Society Insurance still calls Fond du Lac its hometown. It also boasts a long-standing relationship with the Tavern League of Wisconsin. In Society Insurance’s nearly three decades as a corporate sponsor of the TLW, it has been known for the exclusive coverage program for members. Its TRIM program offers bars and restaurants (excluding nightclubs, bowling alleys and gentlemen’s clubs) a unique package of property and casualty coverages.

In addition to a number of enhanced coverages, Corporate Marketing Manager Kevin Wondra says a guaranteed dividend is an important benefit for worker’s compensation policies and tavern owners. “It’s a tiered benefit that they get based on the size of their premium, whether five or ten percent,” explains Wondra, who says this is just one perk of the TLW member program.

Another difference in the policies Society offers members is the inclusion of athletic participation liability. “We know that taverns need to draw people into their establishments with activities such as volleyball, horseshoes, and even softball diamonds,” he says. “It’s a very small detail that makes a pretty big difference to a lot of these tavern owners. We understand that’s a very unique exposure they may have.” Wondra says they have expertise and understand those situations, and want to provide protection for TLW members.

A unique aspect of Society’s involvement with the TLW is Disher Insurance Services’ representation of the company within the league. Wondra says most TLW members are insured through this group, while the remaining have access to local agencies.

“The Disher group has been instrumental in taking the lead for us as a joint representative along with Society Insurance,” he explains. “They’ve evolved and over the years have become the face of the TLW on our behalf.” While owner Mike Disher is nearing retirement, Wondra says TLW members need not be worried: “Everyone will pick up right where Mike leaves off and continue to serve them on their insurance needs, on our statewide network.”

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When it comes to understanding TLW issues, Wondra explains that after almost 30 years, Society Insurance has learned and brought firsthand knowledge of the hospitality industry into its business model. He says in addition to more-than-adequate protection, Society agents provide a lot of content and educational materials to help customers alleviate liabilities.

He explains that Society agents also know that the tavern business is not consistent every single day. “They do the majority of their business on Friday and Saturday nights,” he says. “We provide policies that if something happens which disrupts business, your loss of business income policy kicks in immediately.

You don’t wait three days.”

Wondra says that detail alone means a lot to TLW members.

“God forbid they have to shut down during a Friday night fish fry because of a storm,” he adds. “That can be devastating to their operation.”

Society’s understanding and respect of its customers also exists because they are the company’s owners, explains Wondra. He says that the company is a mutual one, owned by the policy holders. “We’re here to serve them because it’s their company,” Wondra adds. “We exist for the benefit of the policy holder.”

One upcoming initiative he wants TLW members to know about is the cyber liability product being rolled out in early 2017. Wondra says as more and more taverns transition to accepting credit card payments, the risk increases for cyberattacks or breaches of customer information.

As a TLW corporate sponsor, Society Insurance participates in local meetings and events. And the Disher Agency is always present at the conventions on Society’s behalf. He says agents try to support the local leagues and be involved in events and fundraising efforts around the state. “Really, the power of the Tavern League is its local chapters,” says Wondra. “They’re all very strong.”TLW Society Insurance P.O. Box 1029, Fond du Lac, WI 54936 920-933-5716 www.societyinsurance.com

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TLW

Rocks!

ARY

81ST ANNUAL FALL CONVENTION SUMM

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ften Tavern League of Wisconsin members need a reminder of the important work they do, so this year’s 81st Annual Fall Convention and Trade Show theme sent a resounding message: “TLW ROCKS!” Throughout the four-day event, Oct. 10-13 at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells, members heard from industry experts, legislators and TLW executive leadership about how the Tavern League is one of the most influential groups in the beverage alcohol industry. The event, however, was also full of fun thanks to this year’s hosts the Dells/Delton & Sauk County Tavern Leagues.

MONDAY’S EVENTS A full agenda, including local, state and national issues faced the TLW board of directors when they convened on Monday morning. After the day-long meeting, everyone was ready for an evening of fun.

The welcome party hosted by the Dells/Delton & Sauk County Tavern Leagues was held at Monk’s Bar & Grill at the Wilderness Resort. Members got their first chance to mingle, while enjoying cocktails, a buffet and entertainment by Dueling Pianos.

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2016 Fall Convention Summary TUESDAY’S EVENTS Tuesday morning’s general session opened with a formal welcome to the convention by TLW Southern Zone Vice President Jim Pickett, followed by Sauk County Tavern League President Neil Caflisch and Dells/Delton League President Keith Koehler.

To commemorate this year’s convention theme, members were treated to a video highlighting some of the most influential rock bands and performers of the last half century. Convention veterans soon realized this was just the teaser to what would be another dramatic entrance by President Terry Harvath. As Rock with You by Michael Jackson played, President Harvath honored the King of Pop as he danced his way to the podium, maybe not in full Jackson garb, but with a mask that definitely was a thriller.

After settling down the crowd, President Harvath’s remarks focused on the TLW’s Member of the Year Award. This year’s recipient is Neil Caflisch, who was attending his 86th convention and celebrating 48 years as a TLW member.

At this point in the program, special guest U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) was introduced. Johnson, campaigning to keep his seat from challenger and former Sen. Russ Feingold spoke about putting an end to dysfunction in government, ways to pay down the national debt and immigration reform.

President Harvath took the podium once again to introduce the morning’s keynote speaker: Mark Brown, president and CEO of Sazerac Company, one of the largest distilling companies in the U.S. In his presentation about what lies ahead for the beverage alcohol

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industry, Brown examined national and international headlines in six specific areas that the Tavern League should keep abreast of as the industry and society evolves. For a complete recap of Brown’s remarks, please see page 22.

The morning’s next speaker was Executive Director Pete Madland, who acknowledged the TLW’s Special Club Members, including Silver Club Member Repp’s Bar that has been operating as a family-owned business for 72 years.

The theme of Madland’s remarks: “Be a Survivor or Be a Success” zeroed in on changing the status quo as TLW members and businesspeople. Setting goals and working to achieve those goals should be something everyone strives for, in other words, continual improvement. As a member, it can be as simple as volunteering on committees or signing up a new member; as a businessperson, it can be improving service or offering new things to attract customers.

“The over-riding goal,” said Madland, “is to make sure, as a TLW member, you leave the Tavern League in better shape than when you joined. Bottom line: In this association or in your business, it’s not just about surviving, it’s about succeeding.”

Tuesday afternoon members attended educational seminars and visited the tradeshow, where vendors shared samples and information about new products. Tuesday evening’s cocktail party was well attended with some members dressing as their favorite rock stars. The music of Retro Specz entertained the crowd and during a break in the dancing, the live auction presided over by Colonel Pete Madland raised $18,525 for the TLW.

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2016 Fall Convention Summary WEDNESDAY’S EVENTS The convention opened on Wednesday with President Terry Harvath recognizing the 59th wedding anniversary of TLW Members Gene and Helen Loose. Gene is an Eastern Zone vice president, representing districts four and six.

Next on the agenda was a presentation by MillerCoors Representative Hailey Richardson who spoke about the company’s new strategy for marketing light beer to on premise businesses. The company’s “Building with Beer” program has sophisticated analytics that can be used to evaluate each business’s sales volume and help grow the light beer segment.

On Wednesday afternoon, TLW members attended the tradeshow and Executive Director Pete Madland visited vendors’ booths and awarded exhibitor prizes to TLW members. The silent auction closed with a final tally of $5,780. District caucuses were held late Wednesday afternoon, followed by the President’s Reception sponsored by Breakthru Beverage.

Following Richardson was Robert “Bubba” Sprenger, the TLW’s ABL representative. Sprenger explained that due to Congress’ lame duck session after the election not a lot of legislation will be reviewed, however, it may take up a financial regulatory reform bill that would repeal debit card swipe fee reforms. According to Sprenger, ABL has urged members of Congress to vote to oppose the bill. Sprenger also indicated that music licensing changes are still on the ABL’s radar as is the legalization of marijuana. Sprenger closed his remarks by announcing that next year’s ABL Convention is scheduled for March 26-28 in Las Vegas and it will coincide with the Nightclub & Bar Tradeshow & Convention.

Next on Wednesday morning’s agenda was Scott Stenger, TLW Lobbyist. Stenger spoke about the upcoming elections and some of the TLW-endorsed candidates. He also spoke about challenges facing on-premise businesses. Top of the list is legislation that would threaten the three-tier system, specifically how wineries in the state are operated. Membership, according to Stenger is also of concern.

Although there are 10,000 Class B license holders, only approximately 5,000 are TLW members.

Stenger was also quick, however, to point to the successes the TLW has been able to achieve, including the lack of dram shop laws in Wisconsin, the success of the SafeRide program, the commitment of TLW members to charitable efforts, and the election of TLW members to the State Assembly.

Before closing this portion of his presentation, Stenger introduced Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R- Juneau). Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of small businesses to Wisconsin’s economy, and he stated he understands the issues that are central to making these businesses, including many TLW-member businesses, successful.

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2016 Fall Convention Summary THURSDAY’S EVENTS Thursday morning’s general business meeting got underway with a few announcements, including the total for the live and silent auctions. The silent auction netted $5,780 and the live auction generated $18,525 for a total of $24,305. Also, TLW members donated $1,535 for Central Wisconsin Community Action Council, a non-profit organization that assists low-income families in Adams, Columbia, Dodge, Juneau and Sauk counties.

Next, Brad Schinke, sixth district director presented the CORE Report, along with a check on behalf of the TLW for $15,000 to CORE executive director Lauren LaViola. Following this presentation, the Nominating Committee Report was given.

The morning session wrapped up with a DVD presentation of the four-day event, and closing remarks by President Harvath.

The Dells/Delton County President’s Reception followed at The Keg & Patio Bar in Wisconsin Dells.

A big thank you is extended to the Dells/Delton & Sauk County Tavern Leagues, city of Wisconsin Dells and the Kalahari Resort for their hospitality during the four-day convention. TLW

Nomination Committee Report: The following members have been nominated for the office and term noted. They will stand for election at the Spring Conference in La Crosse unless running unopposed.

Southern Zone VP:

1 year

Jim Pickett

Eastern Zone VP:

2 year

Gene Loose

Eastern Zone VP:

1 year

Terri Buman

Central Zone VP:

1 year

Lori Frommgen

Northern Zone VP: 1 year

Nancy Lorbetske

Northern Zone VP: 2 year

Rob Summerfield

First District Director:

2 year

Rich Karrasch

First District Director:

1 year

Jen Collison

Second District Director:

2 year

Bob Carpenter

Second District Director:

1 year

Kathy Proffitt

Third District Director:

2 year

Jerry Day

Third District Director:

1 year

Todd Giraud

Fourth District Director:

2 year

Tom Wenzel

Fifth District Director:

2 year

Cathy Vales

Fifth District Director: 1 year

Tom Dorsey, Paul Salzwedel, Harlon Wright

Sixth District Director:

2 year

Mark Rehwinkel

Sixth District Director:

1 year

Brad Schinke

Seventh District Director: 2 year

Jen Gunning

Seventh District Director: 1 year

Kris Zappa

Eighth District Director:

2 year

Jim Seliger

Eighth District Director:

1 year

Keith Kern

Ninth District Director: 2 year

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Deb Seibel, Jim Losiniecki

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Seeing the

BIG Picture Industry Insider Outlines Six Challenges on the Horizon for the Beverage Alcohol Industry

By Amanda N. Wegner

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he bar and restaurant industry faces numerous challenges on equally numerous fronts. Dealing with these day-to-day challenges is work enough, but it pays to think ahead to those issues that are creeping up on the horizon.

This is exactly what Mark Brown, president of Sazerac, one of the largest distilling companies in the United States, encouraged attendees to do at the Tavern League of Wisconsin’s 81st Annual Fall Convention in Wisconsin Dells in October. In his keynote address about what lies ahead for the beverage alcohol industry, Brown examined national and international headlines in six specific areas that the Tavern League should keep abreast of as the industry — and society — evolves.

“We live in a connected society, and what we’re seeing abroad and in other states can easily happen here,” says Brown. “We might be separate states, countries and continents, but with media and social media, those insulations are gone.”

For those members who were not able to attend the convention, the following comprises a recap of Brown’s presentation and the most important issues he wants Wisconsin’s bar and restaurant owners to be aware of. Bullet points under each topic reflect newspaper headlines Brown has spotted in his quest for more knowledge of the beverage alcohol industry.

TRENDS IN ALCOHOL AND HEALTH • The Muddled Link Between Booze and Cancer • Alcohol’s Health Benefits May Have Been ‘Grossly Oversold’ by Industry-Funded Research

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• ‘ Drunkorexia’ Pandemic Sweeps US Colleges • Couple of Alcoholic Drinks a Day Could Protect Heart, Say Scientists • Secret to a Happy Marriage? Maybe Drinking Alcohol, Study Says The headlines found in newspapers and on social media every day, says Brown, “are in a very interesting conflict with each other.” Each day, he points out, readers see headlines like “beer is good for you” and “why a glass of wine is good for your health,” followed by headlines linking alcohol and cancer www.tlw.org

and articles that the health benefits of alcohol have been grossly oversold. With the conflicting news, what is a bar owner or patron to believe?

“There is quite an ongoing debate in our society about alcohol and how it affects health,” says Brown. “That’s not new, but it’s worth reminding people that this isn’t milk and chips.

When you sell alcohol, it comes with a whole set of responsibilities that don’t come with potato chips or milk or orange juice. That’s a tough position to be in.”

REGULATORY TRENDS • Indonesia Is Considering a National Alcohol Ban • Do We Still Need the Three-Tier System for Alcohol?

• Americans Are Still Way Too Tolerant of Drunken Driving • U.S. Debates Ban on Advertising Alcohol Products • Massachusetts: Treasurer Seeks Overhaul Of ‘Unwieldy’ Mass. Alcohol Laws The topic of alcohol and its effects on health naturally parlays into a discussion on the regulatory issues facing the industry.

“You can look back at the 18th amendment, which banned alcohol, and the 21st, which brought it back into society … taking alcohol out of society was a spectacular failure. But we also know that it can’t exist unregulated. With that, then how do we manage alcohol in society?” asks Brown.

In today’s environment, governing bodies are increasingly leaning toward deregulation. But robust deregulation, says Brown, isn’t necessarily the best course of action. To support that, Brown cites the situation in the United Kingdom, which is looking at greater regulation after parsing down alcohol laws from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s.

“The U.K. underwent a 30-year deregulation exercise that culminated in the Licensing Act of 2003, which effectively took off almost all constraints,” says Brown. “There is now the equivalent of a Senate inquiry on the effectiveness of the licensing act and raising taxes heavily to offset the consequences.”

Those “consequences” are captured statements from headlines that the U.K. has a “legacy of 24-hour drinking,” that it’s “a nation awash in booze,” and that “one in five Britons get meals so they can binge drink.”

“Those kinds of headlines are not good for the industry,” says Brown and he adds that they heighten the importance of finding the right regulatory balance. “The challenge is striking the right balance of regulation so the regulation doesn’t stifle the marketplace and send it underground,” says Brown. “We have to keep some sort of order. I think it’s important to have a robust regulatory framework to protect the members of the industry.”

While the United Kingdom’s woes may seem isolated and far away, there is a growing number of examples around the United States of impending regulatory battles, from Stanford University banning hard alcohol on campus on one end of the www.tlw.org

“The challenge is striking the right balance of regulation so the regulation doesn’t stifle the marketplace and send it underground. We have to keep some sort of order. I think it’s important to have a robust regulatory framework to protect the members of the industry.”

MARK BROWN

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAZERAC COMPANY INC.

spectrum to New York lawmakers seeking to ease alcohol laws on the opposite end.

“If we swing to deregulation, will there be consequences, what will they be and how do we get back to the middle? These are all important questions to consider,” says Brown.

LEGAL TRENDS • Americans Spending as Much on Legal Cannabis as on Alcohol •B ong-Smoked Cocktails on Sale in U.S. •C oppola Sues Winemaker over Rip-Off Label • Ex-MillerCoors VP Admits $8M Fraud Scheme Against Beer Co. • Growers in a Fizz over Prosecco Vine Thefts as Criminals Feed Black Market for Popular Sparkling Wine While there are a number of legal issues and trends related to alcohol, the biggest, says Brown, is the debate around marijuana legalization. “Ultimately, it will have some type of impact on alcohol. I don’t think the impact will be zero, but I don’t know if it will be more or if it will be less.”

With the uptick in consolidations, antitrust questions are on the rise, and there has been a “huge surge” in lawsuits, class action and otherwise. For instance, in May a former MillerCoors vice president pled guilty to embezzling $8 million from the company, and Chipotle was hit with a $7.65M verdict in a sexual harassment suit in late September.

“We live in a litigious society,” says Brown, “and our industry has seen more than its fair share.”

Another legal issue in the industry involves questions and lawsuits pertaining to intellectual property and trademarks.

“With the rise in craft brewing and craft spirits, there is a huge amount of activity in intellectual property and trademarks; it seems like a day doesn’t go by when someone isn’t suing someone for trademark infringement,” he says.

In addition, counterfeit and secondary market sales on sites like Craigslist are also on the rise.

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“Of course, probably the most interesting question of all is whether car manufacturers are going to put ignition interlock devices on every single car they make and if they do, what will be the limit?”

MARK BROWN

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAZERAC COMPANY INC.

“If you own a bar or restaurant, there are a lot of legal issues going on concerning the industry and these are things you’d want to be aware of.”

INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION • AB InBev Clears Final Hurdle For $100B SABMiller Buy • Winery Mergers and Acquisitions Expected to Continue in California The recent merger of AB InBev and SABMiller is not the exception; instead, it’s the norm, says Brown, with more expected to follow.

“Spirits are relatively unconsolidated, and wine is starting to move there, but beer is becoming highly consolidated and the consolidation will continue to occur. But patrons and owners have to be asking themselves: What happens to the price I pay?

What happens to the service levels? What happens, what happens, what happens?”

Because they are driven by money and shareholder profit, Brown doesn’t see the mergers ending any time soon. “I hate to say it, but if you’re ever looking for the reason, follow the money.”

As seen in other countries, consolidation can lead to issues such as price fixing, limited choice and cartel-type practices.

“It’s not entirely clear what will happen. You can quite easily affect price and affect choice; those are the types of things that can happen in a consolidating market.”

Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, and its reach into the alcohol industry is no exception. Chief among the industry’s technological concerns, says Brown, is online alcohol sales. “Amazon is the 800-pound gorilla here. To ship liquor and alcohol right to you door … does that cause people to stay at home and drink more because it’s become ultra-convenient?

We’ll have to see how that pans out.”

To put it in an international perspective, online sales represent 35 percent of China’s wine sales market.

Perhaps the most interesting question, though, is automotive technology and its intersection with the alcohol industry, including ignition interlock devices and driverless cars. “Of course, probably the most interesting question of all is whether car manufacturers are going to put ignition interlock devices on every single car they make and if they do, what will be the limit? And then, do driverless cars show up first and does that solve the problem? Some think driverless cars will solve the drinking problem, but how long will it be before legislators say we can’t have drunks in driverless cars?” says Brown.

He continues: “I think it’s just a fascinating debate to know this technology is coming, and how is it going to impact drinking.”

ON PREMISE TRENDS •C onsumer Spending Remains Uneven •N RA Chief Economist: Restaurant Recession Unlikely In the on premise arena, the last 24 months have been unstable for the bar and restaurant industry, with the industry down two to three percent. “That’s not good for the industry,” says Brown. “People seem to be staying at home more. Some are blaming it on the price discrepancy between the grocery store and on premise establishments, some are blaming it on the election. One can only speculate, but we are experiencing a slow down.”

TAVERN LEAGUE HAS YOUR BACK While all this sounds like bad news for the industry, it shouldn’t keep you up at night. That’s where the Tavern League of Wisconsin comes in. “The Tavern League should be well versed and up to speed on these issues. In doing so, they help members face coming changes,” says Brown. “I can’t think of a better time to be part of a very strong trade association, and as members, you need to do all you can to help make it stronger, active and proactive.” TLW

TECHNOLOGY • Amazon Starts Alcohol Deliveries to Prime Now Customers in Twin Cities • U.S.: Alcohol E-Commerce Could Hit $15 Billion In U.S. • China: Nearly Half Chinese Imported Wine Drinkers Purchase Online • One Industry Could Get a $100 Billion Boost from the Rise of Driverless Cars and Car-Sharing

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LEGISLATIVE NOTES 2017 AND BEYOND

BY SCOTT STENGER, STENGER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

hol is regulated in the United States. Prior to Prohibition there were no laws or regulation between the three tiers – manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Many brewers owned taverns and only sold their beer there – in what were referred to as “tied houses.” The system bred widespread corruption, as well as consumer and retail abuses.

T

he Tavern League of Wisconsin was formed shortly after Prohibition in 1935 and has been effectively representing the interests of the hospitality industry for over 80 years! Each year since 1935 has presented its own set of challenges and the members of the Tavern League have effectively met those challenges year after year.

The on premise industry is facing many challenges going into 2017. Nationally alcohol sales for on premise accounts has been declining. In 2015 the industry experienced its largest decline of 2.6 percent.

The decline has been experienced worldwide with global alcohol sales declining .7 percent for the first time in a decade.

In Wisconsin, the industry is further dependent on the weather, especially in the winter, to bolster sales which has been a challenge the last few years. With the economy slowly gaining some momentum we are hoping to see an increase in on premise sales in 2017. Regardless of the economy, the industry is experiencing change and unfair pressure from other business ventures and we must be ready to face those issues in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

UNDERSTANDING THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM There has been recent discussion at the state level of the three-tier system but in reality not many policy makers know the background of the three-tier system and why it is critical to the fair competition within each tier. Wisconsin is not unique to the three-tier industry – it is how alcowww.tlw.org

With the passage of the 21st amendment repealing Prohibition, however, states were granted the authority to regulate the alcohol beverage industry in their state.

To put an end to the pre-Prohibition corruption and ensure proper regulation to protect the public, states implemented a pro-consumer regulatory framework governing the production, distribution and sale of alcohol. This system, known as the three-tier system, creates a line separating the manufacturing, distributing, and retail tiers of the industry.

CHECKS AND BALANCES The three-tier system put in place in each state creates a system to fairly regulate and tax alcohol. States required licensing of the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer and did not permit anyone from being licensed in more than one tier. The system creates free-market competition within each tier, while protecting the members of each tier, and ultimately the consumer, from unscrupulous trade practices that could occur.

The system today provides necessary checks and balances on each tier, while providing the public the safety net of regulation with the fairness of competition.

Under today’s three tier system we have experienced a craft beer revolution and local winery expansion which would have never been possible under the old “tied house” laws. Under today’s three-tier system the state and federal government are able to efficiently collect excise taxes which did not occur prior to prohibition.

And under today’s three-tier system the

public is protected by the licensing of all manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

CHANGES HARMFUL Given the history and background of the three-tier system, it is understandable why we would be opposed to any changes to the law which would give one tier an advantage over another tier yet we have seen recent legislation introduced in Madison which would do just that. Providing wine manufacturers changes in the law, treating them like retailers and giving them an unfair advantage in competing for business like weddings and parties against traditional retailers, who have wholesaling costs wineries do not is something we cannot support. Consider the following bills introduced last session (thankfully they all failed to pass) which would make significant changes to the three-tier system to the benefit of manufacturers and the detriment of retailers: • Assembly Bill 317/Senate Bill 223 Authorizes wineries to sell intoxicating liquor other than wine at special events • Assembly Bill 286/Senate Bill 212 Allows wineries to stay open until midnight • Assembly Bill 642 - Allows wineries to hold two retail licenses • Assembly Bill 391/Senate Bill 283 Authorizes Class A Retailers (grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores) to refill and sell growlers The Tavern League of Wisconsin will continue to represent the views and interests of our membership by working to keep a fair level playing field among the three tiers of the alcohol industry – manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer. Manufacturers should not be given unfair advantages over retailers to compete for business – that is why every state has adopted a three-tier system which allows for competition within a tier not tier to tier. TLW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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LEAGUE PROFILE BURNETT COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

Burnett

COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

Members of the Burnett County Tavern League gathered for a photo at the TLW Fall Convention at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

T

ucked up in the northwest corner of Wisconsin, the Burnett County Tavern League and its nearly 50 members are going strong.

“We run the gamut from supper clubs to mom and pops to resorts and more,” says longtime Burnett County Tavern League President Chuck Anderson, owner of The 10th Hole at Yellow Lake Golf Course in Danbury. “We’ve got a pretty strong league and good things going for us.”

One good thing Burnett County Tavern League has going for it is that nearly every establishment in the county is part of the Tavern League. This is largely attributed, says Anderson, to an idea Burnett County leadership borrowed from the St. Croix County Tavern League three years ago.

Similar to a poker run, the Burnett County’s Tour de Bars book features photos of items in member bars; patrons then visit these bars from Memorial Day to Labor Day to get their books stamped. Patrons pay $5 for the book, and members are featured for free. The book is further supported by vendor ads.

Once the book closes, the Burnett County Tavern League hosts a party for patrons where they can enter raffles and drawings for prizes. To incentivize participation, there is a special cash prize drawing where patrons get a entry for each bar they visit; the more bars they visit, the greater their chances of winning.

“With the advent of the book, we don’t have a lot of establishments that are not members,” says Anderson. “Everyone wants to be in that book and to do so you have to be a member.”

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Proceeds from the event are used to support various charitable causes, and a 50/50 raffle during the party is specifically earmarked for the benefit of the county’s SafeRide program.

While Burnett County is a very rural county, its three largest towns, Grantsburg, Siren and Webster, are served by the league’s SafeRide van, which stays very busy, according to Anderson.

Of the Tour de Bars book, “everyone loves [it],” says Anderson, who has been a Tavern League member since 1988 and county league president for most of that time. “It’s a great recruiting tool, fundraising tool and promotional tool. A lot of times when people get the book, I’ll hear them say that they never knew about some of our bars and how it’s neat to visit and find new places. It’s a great thing for us in many ways.”

In addition, the Burnett County Tavern League hosts a bowling tournament each year, as well as a golf tournament, which provides further financial support for the league’s robust charitable giving.

“We take advantage of the state’s matching funds and support a different charity every year,” says Anderson. For instance, the league helped the Burnett County youth soccer program get started by buying goalie nets; provided assistance to the local youth hockey program to help build a new arena; funded a handicap-accessible dog park and playground in Webster; and supported the county high schools’ after-prom party.

“We are a vital part of the community in Burnett County not only by being in business,” says Anderson, “but in supporting the many causes we do throughout the county. And we’re glad to do it.” TLW www.tlw.org

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT YELLOW LAKE GOLF COURSE & 10TH HOLE

Burnett County’s 10th Hole Bar & Grill is a popular spot year-round thanks to owner Chuck Anderson’s event lineup as well as a full menu of dining options. Yellow Lake Golf Course, which sits adjacent to the 10th Hole, is the last and only golf course in Wisconsin with sand greens.

B

urnett County is home to something special. On County Highway U outside Danbury sits Yellow Lake Golf Course, the last and only golf course left in Wisconsin with sand greens. Built in 1928, the course itself hasn’t changed much, but its surroundings have, including the 10th Hole, a bar and grill.

“It started as a little clubhouse that just sold pop,” says Chuck Anderson, who purchased Yellow Lake Golf Course and the 10th Hole in 1988. “It’s come a long way.”

Aside from switching from a beer bar to a liquor bar, another big change was a complete rebuild after a fire destroyed the building in 1995. Closed for just a few months, Anderson used the rebuild as an opportunity to expand the business from 16 seats to 65.

The business’s season has also expanded.

“When we bought it in 1988, it was open about three months of the summer, Memorial Day to Labor Day,” says Anderson, who has been a Tavern League member since he purchased the business.

“But I needed a job for the winter too, so we decided to go all year-round.”

That includes the golf course. Unlike a traditional golf course, the sand greens

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can withstand traffic and the elements better. In fact, this allows Anderson to host a New Year’s Day golf tournament each year. “Some years we’ve golfed out there every month of the year,” he says.

“Because you don’t have the grass on the green, it doesn’t hurt anything.”

Best known for their “breakfasts and bloodys,” the 10th Hole has its own Bloody Mary mix that is available for sale. Breakfast is served all day. A bit newer is a 99-cent slider made of fresh beef, bacon, onions and seasonings that’s available seven days a week. “That has really helped us out,” Anderson says of the slider. Rounding out the 10th Hole’s menu is typical American fare such as steaks, sandwiches, shrimp, broasted chicken and, of course, a Friday fish fry.

For those who would rather play indoors than out, the 10th Hole has a number of annual and monthly events to keep guests occupied. For instance, each October brings Oktoberfest, complete with German beer and food. In September, the golf course hosts the Webster cross-country invitational meet.

On a more regular basis, the third Saturday of each month features toy car races, where participants race old Matchbox® and Hot Wheels™ cars around the bar

rail. There’s a $2 entry fee and 100-percent payback. “Adults with little cars drinking beer and pushing cars around the bar is always a good time,” says Anderson.

The fourth Saturday of the month October through May brings Hexbug® races and Square One pizza from nearby Siren. Hexbugs are miniature robots that use vibration to move. “They look like little toothbrushes. They vibrate and race around the bar, and we do timed races to see who wins.”

If that weren’t enough, once or twice a summer Anderson hosts belt sander races. “We have a track and you zip your sander down the track. Go check it out on the Internet. It’s big down in Texas.”

The food, the course, the fun activities and the friendly atmosphere, says Anderson, make Yellow Lake Golf Course and the 10th Hole a destination. “We’re just a good old Wisconsin neighborhood bar where people know each other. And we like it like that.” TLW Yellow Lake Golf Course & 10th Hole 7768 Co. Rd. U, Danbury 715-866-7107

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CHARITY FEATURE WEBSTER DOG PARK & ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND

In July an accessible playground with walking paths for adults and children, with and without challenges, was officially opened in Webster. It was made possible, in part, with the help of a $1,000 donation by the Burnett County Tavern League and TLW matching funds.

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or Burnett County, the Webster Dog Park was a welcome addition to the local community. But once it opened, staff at Siren’s Diversified Services, Inc. (DSI) saw the potential for more.

“Right after the dog park opened, the suggestion came to us that ‘Oh, we should do something else here,” says Jessica Peterson-Schmidt, a case manager at DSI, an affiliate of the Catholic Charities Bureau that provides vocational training and services to individuals with disabilities.

That “something else” is an inclusive playground and walking path designed for adults and children, with and without challenges.

“There are no other parks within the county or surrounding counties that are fully accessible like this one,” says Peterson-Schmidt. “DSI hopes that it will help bring others from outside of the area in. Also, we have a large population of individuals with disabilities and feel that they should be included within our community.”

Adjacent to the Webster Dog Park, the formally named DSI Accessible Playground became a reality when it opened in late July 2016.

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In planning for the project, the organization wanted to make the space accessible for people with physical, mental and low-vision disabilities. But before DSI could start the project, funds were needed.

DSI secured funding and grants from foundations, local businesses and other organizations, including $1,000 from the Burnett County Tavern League and another $1,000 courtesy of TLW state matching funds. In total, the playground and path cost just over $100,000.

Without local support like that from the Burnett County Tavern League, “the project would never have happened from a financial standpoint,” says Peterson-Schmidt. “The support received from our county helped to show that this project was a worthy one. With DSI being a provider for individuals of all abilities, we wanted this playground to highlight that a disability of any type should not hinder an individual’s ability to play.”

The playground includes a variety of play equipment for inclusive fun, including a Sway Fun. This piece of equipment, explains Peterson-Schmidt, is completely wheelchair accessible; a wheelchair user can roll right into the glider and then use their arms to get it moving. There is room for two wheelchairs, along with

two large benches for other passengers, plus a play table with cup holders and wheelchair handholds.

The playground also includes three types of swings to meet the accessibility standards: a Cozy Dome, which is a playground climber specifically developed for children within the autism spectrum; a sand digger without a seat that allows for wheelchair access; and a large play structure that includes transfer station that allows individuals of all abilities to join the fun.

While the playground is complete, the Village of Webster is raising funds to pave the remaining portion of the accessible walking trail at a cost of approximately $12,000. Also, in the future, woodchips will need to be added to ensure that the surfacing aligns with ADA standards and a permanent structure such as a pavilion for shade or rest are also on their wish list. TLW Webster Dog Park & DSI Accessible Park 27383 State Rd. 35 Webster

www.tlw.org

MEET THE DIRECTOR MEET THE DIRECTOR: KEITH KERN In this column we’ll introduce you to a district director of the Tavern League of Wisconsin. The individual featured is a director representing the league that is highlighted in this issue. For the November-December issue, we’d like to introduce you to Keith Kern, 8th district director.

Q. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY AND THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF BUSINESS YOU OWN. I’m 31 years old and I was born and raised in Superior, and I have two siblings (brother and sister). My parents purchased Jimmy’s Saloon in 1991; the business was established in 1946. As I was growing up I worked at the bar with my family, helping with the day to day operations, cleaning, stocking, etc. During my senior year of high school after I turned 18, I would bartend a couple nights a week for extra money. Once I graduated I went off to explore what life had to offer. I decided college wasn’t a good fit for me and I gravitated towards the construction industry. In 2004 I was diagnosed with skin cancer and decided working in the sun every day was not the right choice for me. Shortly after I recovered, I sat down with my parents and discussed the idea of running the business for them full time to allow them more time to travel and enjoy life. For the last 12 years I’ve run the business and was also able to continue my passion for construction with many remodeling projects and upgrades to the business. The unexpected loss of my father in 2009 was devastating to our family, and it made us all work harder to make up for the loss. On July 1, 2016 I was offered the opportunity to purchase the business, and here I am a second generation owner.

Q. WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN BECOMING A TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBER? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER AND WHAT OFFICES, IF ANY, DID YOU HOLD LOCALLY BEFORE BECOMING 8TH DISTRICT DIRECTOR? My family has been members for many years, but I remember my introduction like it was yesterday. Our local league held a meeting at Jimmy’s and I was there working that day, so I sat in and listened. The hot topic at the time was the SafeRide program and how our league was in the hole financially. After the meeting I asked my parents if I could continue to attend the meetings for them. All these ideas were in my head about how we could change a few things around; how we could do different forms of fundraising and host events to help offset the SafeRide costs. I attended the monthly meetings from that point and became really involved. According to my mother, I www.tlw.org

was a bit too involved – she was paying my wages when I was off attending to league business. In 2012 I was asked to run for president of our league, which turned out to be quite an experience from the beginning, to say the least! My involvement has continued to grow over the last five years and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Q. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBERS TODAY? Increased legislation, rising operating costs and finding good help.

Q. ARE THERE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE 8TH DISTRICT THAT YOU’D LIKE TO WORK ON? Logistics, from my perspective, is one of the biggest hurdles we have in the 8th district, because we’re so far north in the state and quite a distance from Madison. Educating our members and getting them to travel to hear first-hand about all the hard work we do in Madison is really important. To me that is where we will not only gain a more involved and educated member, but also another voice to help spread the word.

Q. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A DISTRICT DIRECTOR? I would have to say meeting all the people. TLW members are some of the friendliest people I have ever been around; we all have the same goals.

Q. HOW ELSE ARE YOU INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? I’m currently working as a first-term city council member in Superior. I’m still the current president of our local league. I’m also treasurer of Lake Superior Ice Racing Association, president of Billings Park Business Association, and committee chair for the Lake Superior Ice Festival. TLW

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www.BandKBarSupplies.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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ACCOUNTING ON TAP THE IMPORTANCE OF A BUSINESS VALUATION

BY DAN BERGS, CPA

W

hat is your business worth and why does it matter? Valuations can be used for a variety of reasons including: business sale and purchase price analysis; establishing value for estate and gift taxation; obtaining financing; succession planning; and matters tied to divorce and ownership disputes.

researching recent company sale transactions, and applying ratios (annual revenue to sales price, gross profit to sales price, net income to sales price, etc.) from these transactions to your business in order to arrive at the business value. Value is based upon the recent prices buyers have been willing to pay and sellers willing to accept for businesses that are similar to yours based on size (in terms of revenue, total assets, etc.), industry and location.

INCOME APPROACH In addition, one of the best reasons to obtain a business valuation is to use it as a management tool. A business valuation can provide management with the information necessary to identify a business’ strengths, its weaknesses and identify what is driving value. There are three different approaches a business appraiser can use to determine business value.

ASSET APPROACH The asset approach provides us with the “floor” value of a business. It is the net result after arriving at the fair market value of business tangible and intangible assets and the business liabilities. This approach sounds simple but deceptively so. Many times, some of the most important business assets are not included on the balance sheet of your company such as goodwill and internally developed products. The fair market value of all business assets and liabilities must be accounted for under this business valuation approach.

MARKET APPROACH The market approach values a business by

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An income approach arrives at business value based on the cash flow producing capacity of your company and risk. One of two methods are often employed. The capitalization of cash flows method divides the business’s historical cash flow from a given time period by a capitalization rate (expected return on investment) in order to arrive at business value. The discounted cash flows method takes the projected business income over a future period of time divided by a discount rate (expected return on investment) in order to arrive at business value. The difference between the capitalization rate applied to historical cash flow and the discount rate applied to projected cash flow is anticipated “growth.”

other factors specific to the purpose for valuing the company that must be taken into account. The business valuation process is often referred to as more “art” than “science.” Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter of “calculating the number.” The benefits of the process are having a better understanding of how much your business is worth and a better understanding of what drivers most greatly affect the value of your business. A business valuation analyst can help you with this process.

Please do not hesitate to give the valuation experts at Wegner CPAs a call with your questions. TLW Dan Bergs, CPA is a Supervisor in the Tax & Business Services Department with Wegner CPA’s LLP. Wegner CPA’s LLP has offices in Madison, Baraboo, Waukesha and Janesville.

This article is not intended to give complete tax advice, but a general review of the subject matter.

You can contact Dan at 608-442-1986 or dan. bergs@wegnercpas.com.

MORE AN ART THAN SCIENCE Business valuation is complicated. Hurdles often arise and there are many factors that enter the process. Judgement is involved, decisions on which approach and method is most appropriate must be made, assumptions come into play and are documented, there are tax matters to be taken into consideration, and many www.tlw.org

ASK THE BARTENDER In this column, we answer some of the most often asked questions by Tavern League members. Please feel free to submit your questions for consideration to TLW Senior Vice President Chris Marsicano, c.marsicano@yahoo.com.

Q) I AM VERY CONFUSED ABOUT TIP REPORTING FOR MY EMPLOYEES, WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES? THREE THINGS AN EMPLOYER NEEDS TO KNOW From the employer’s perspective, here are the three basic things that you need to know if you employ tipped workers:

BOOST YOUR BRAND ADD YOUR LOGO TO THOUSANDS OF TOP QUALITY PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

1. You need to receive a “tip report” from each employee for every payroll period. While the IRS requires tipped employees to provide this report once a month, you will need a report for every payroll period, otherwise you cannot correctly report the employee’s total wages, nor can you withhold the proper taxes (and pay your share of FICA tax). You can use your POS system to collect this information at the end of each shift by requiring tipped employees to “input” their cash tips prior to “clocking out.” (Charged tips are already captured when guest checks paid by credit card are closed). Alternatively, you can use the IRS created Form 4070A “Employee’s Daily Record of Tips” (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ p1244.pdf) or use any other form you like so long as it includes: • Employee’s name, address and Social Security number • Employer’s name • Period covered and date reported • Total amount of tips received by the employee, and the employee’s signature 2. You need to withhold income and FICA tax from each paycheck, and report each employee’s tips to the IRS. If you use a payroll service to process your payroll, you will need to report the total tips reported for the payroll period as submitted to you by that employee, along with the tipped employee’s hours and hourly rate. This information will also be included on your “Employers Quarterly Payroll Tax Return” (Form 941) that is filed by you or your payroll service. At the end of the year you will also need to account for each employee’s total wages (including tips) on their W2.

You cannot force your employees to report all their tip income. While you are legally responsible for distributing Form 4070A (or an acceptable alternative), the restaurant is only liable for its share of the FICA taxes on unreported tips (and only if the IRS is successful at substantiating unreported tip income). While that may sound like an acceptable risk to take, just think of the liability that might accrue over a year or more if such an audit were to take place. Many restaurants would be out of business! You simply should not take that risk. You must therefore take a proactive role in educating, prodding, cajoling, and annoying, if necessary, your employees to get them to accurately report their tips.

3. You need to file IRS Form 8027 at the end of each year. It summarizes the restaurant’s total sales, charged sales, charged tips and total reported tips. So long as tipping is customary in your restaurant, food and beverages are served, and more than ten employees are normally employed, then you must submit the “Employers Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips” on an annual basis. (See the following link for the form: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8027.pdf). TLW

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2247 ULLMER CT. GREEN BAY, WI 54303

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FEATURED AFFILIATES

HEALTHMARKETS INSURANCE AGENCY

WISCONSIN TAVERN

TLW affiliate member Steve Boyer represents HealthMarkets Insurance Agency from his Brookfield location. The company has offices nationwide and independent contractors like Boyer can also be found in the following Wisconsin cities: Wausau, Appleton, Green Bay and Madison. HealthMarkets partners with more than 200 insurance carriers nationwide offering health, Medicare, disability, long-term care, as well as supplemental insurance such as dental and vision.

Todd Kempinger opened Wisconsin Tavern just last October, but this entrepreneur says it was a company that was almost three years in the making. As a past tavern owner himself, Kempinger says he really wanted to stay involved in this industry and support it in a way that would make life easier for TLW members. That’s where this one-stop-shop came from. “Wisconsin Tavern was extremely well thought through, put together and then tested,” he says. “The products we provide have the ability to offer everything to tavern owners they need except for food and beverage.”

Boyer says he has been with the company 12 years and involved with the TLW almost as long. He says eight times out of 10, TLW members are looking to him for life and health insurance, then Medicare. Boyer explains that he brings experience and knowledge of the health insurance industry to help customers navigate the many acronyms, policy coverages and costs. He also will design a benefit plan that mirrors what customers might get from a corporation, but that includes what they need and can afford.

“There’s just still a lot of confusion in the market with Medicare,” he explains. “Clients are just inundated with information in the mail, on the Internet, television and radio. I guess people get so many conflicting opinions and don’t know what to think, what to believe, and where to turn. That’s where we bring to the table our knowledge.”

Kempinger laughs and says he now serves as the “janitor, owner and pencil pusher,” of his business, something many TLW members can relate to. In all seriousness, he says a unique component of Wisconsin Tavern is the marketing services it offers. From personalized mugs, napkins or any other product that can boast a logo, he says the overall goal is to help TLW members gain revenue and decrease expenses. A recent client who is renovating an older bar needed a website storefront for apparel, so Kempinger’s team helped him put that together on a revenue-sharing platform.

The goal of Wisconsin Tavern is to service the entire state by the end of the year, but right now he has representation in the Milwaukee area, Fox Valley (Oshkosh is its home base), Jefferson, Waukesha, Green Bay and Waupaca.

Boyer says there are a few dates people should keep in mind this time of year. First, open enrollments for healthcare must be done between Nov. 1, 2016, and Jan. 31, 2017. He explains this deadline worries some because they get confused with special enrollments, which are available throughout the year. From job loss to retirement and age change (advancing to 65 years), those are reasons a special enrollment could be possible. For all others, open enrollment is very important.

Kempinger explains that his sales staff will do an audit of an establishment’s needs, and then help brand their business on everything from T-shirts to hats, even napkins, but also take orders for consumable items like toilet paper. “It really depends on what they need,” he explains. “We’re not pushy, but we can help you and give suggestions as to what will help your business.”

He’s been an affiliate member of the TLW for eight years and handles clients in southeast Wisconsin. Boyer’s worked as an insurance agent for 25 years, has a family and says he’s developed a very strong relationship with the more than 100 TLW members he serves. He enjoys the tight-knit community of the TLW, and appreciates the comradery at events and even on business calls.

He says it’s hard for people to grasp the large variety and quantity of products they offer. He adds that it took a lot of time and research to get into buying groups for quality products and make sure Wisconsin Tavern has the ability to provide the best items possible for its clients. Kempinger says they even stock items for specialty events, such as holidays and Packer and Badger games.

“When I tell tavern owners I’m an affiliate member, I get phone calls back,” he says. “If somebody’s busy, they’ll drop what they’re doing and make time to talk to me. That’s big, and why I keep renewing my membership. It’s an awesome organization.”

Kempinger really enjoys the tavern atmosphere and joined the TLW as soon as the business was up and running. He believes it is a family that cares for each other and one he’s proud to support as an affiliate league member. “We want to support our community,” he says. “Our salespeople go to the league meetings and the next trade show, we’ll definitely be involved!”

HealthMarkets Insurance Agency W337 S9379 Valley View Dr., Mukwonago, WI 53149 262-363-0738 • sboyer@healthmarkets.com agents.healthmarkets.com/sboyer#referred

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Wisconsin Tavern P.O. Box 291, Oshkosh, WI 54903 920-385-0075 • wisconsintavern@strategicsourcing2.com www.tlw.org

A Division Of Ansay & Associates, LLC

BAY TOWEL LINEN AND UNIFORM RENTAL What started as a small De Pere laundry in 1929, has grown into one of the largest and most successful independent linen and uniform rental companies in the state. The history of the company includes a 1936 meeting by owner Frank Cowles with Curly Lambeau to inquire about providing the towel service for the Green Bay Packers.

Lambeau agreed and eight decades later, Bay Towel is still the official provider of towels and uniform cleaning for the NFL team as well as textile rentals to Lambeau Field.

The Butz family purchased Bay Towel from Frank Cowles in the 1970s, and today this fourth generation family business services the state of Wisconsin, northern Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, according to COO Dave Jerrett.

Jerrett says the company provides many TLW customers a laundry service for items such as bar towels, aprons, uniforms, floor matting, table linens, but also the product itself. “Customers don’t have to buy inventory,” he explains. “We buy it and maintain it at a very specific quality level and provide them with clean items on a regular delivery schedule.”

Mike Disher - Matt Disher - Andrew Disher - Michael Disher II

He says the first thing to understand is that most of the substitutes are disposable in nature, making this industry inherently “green.” Then, Bay Towel ensures proper sanitation during the cleaning process. Bay Towel is accredited by the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council, a voluntary process that makes them apply the same standards imposed in the healthcare industry, to the food and beverage industry.

Also, as a leader in sustainability, Bay Towel is green certified through the TRSA, an industry group that measures and verifies businesses are using best practices.

“Sustainability and corporate responsibility are really important to us here at Bay Towel,” says Jerrett. This shows in its four-time local recognition of the Gold Industrial Achievement Award by the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, which no other laundry in the city has received.

Super Sports

SafeRide

Breast Cancer

VFW

From personalized items to specialty bathroom products, Jerrett says Bay Towel provides consistent, high-quality products. The company is willing to deliver on short notice and special order products. A full line of restroom products is available through Bay Towel’s online ordering portal at baytowel.com.

A constant with the company is their continued commitment to the TLW, especially Brown County’s SafeRide program, which Bay Towel financially supports each year. “That’s a program we believe in,” says Jerrett. “We really value the business the TLW has provided to Bay Towel and have been happy to grow with the membership.”

Bay Towel 2580 S. Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54307 920-497-2000 • djerrett@baytowel.com www.baytowel.com www.tlw.org

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NEW MEMBERS TLW NEW MEMBERS AUGUST 20, 2016 TO OCTOBER 21, 2016 STATE ONLY

DISTRICT 2

Our Kenosha Tap Nasser Museitif Kenosha

Dodge County MP’s Town Tap Maria L. Peterson Columbus

DISTRICT 1 Kenosha City Texas Roadhouse Bart Carlson Kenosha

Danny Boy’s Irish Pub LLC Jerry Fleisner Horicon

Wooden Nickel Joe Nickel Pleasant Prairie

Dodge Entertainment Center Richard Doerr Horicon

Kenosha County Wilmot Mountain Taylor J. Ogilvie Wilmot Racine City Hillside Lanes Inc. Rich Wonders Racine R & V Nightclub Veronica Campos Racine

The Brittain House Michele & Scott Brittain Waupun Jefferson County Brewski’s Todd A. Godfroy Watertown

Roger’s Place Mark Springsteen Racine

Madison/Dane County Sconnie Bar LLC Thomas J. Van Wie Madison

Wharf 209 Keith Randolph Racine

Whiskey Jacks Joshua Hurley Madison

Racine County Joey’s West Joseph Legath Franksville

Waukesha County Papa Stache Pub & Eatery Ralph Llanas Big Bend

Rock County Showboat Corky Neuenschwander Edgerton

DISTRICT 3

South Central Dam Near Home Tim Porter Albany Walworth County Arcadia Bar and Grill Myles Nicholas Delavan

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Crawford County Country Gardens Motel & Lounge Guy & Tamara Nelson Soldiers Grove Liberty Bar Jeffrey V. Hooverson Viola Grant/Iowa County Port of Potosi Mike Kress Potosi

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Mel’s Micro Brew LLC Ross M. Nelson Richland Center Restaurante Los Amigos II German Vasquez Richland Center Juneau County Leo’s Upper Dells Bar Dennis Hajek Lyndon Station La Crosse City/ County Animal House of La Crosse Mike Gorder La Crosse Hampton Inn & Suites La Crosse Downtown Amy Penchi La Crosse Thirsty Turtle Cheryl Jones Stoddard Sauk County Branding Iron Roadhouse Lisa Buttonow Lime Ridge

DISTRICT 4 Calumet County M & P’s Smokehaus Pub Johanna Schwartz Brillion Fish Tail Inn Dale Vanden Bloomer Hilbert

Raging Bull Chad Blish Reedsville

DISTRICT 6

Rock the Mic Bar & Grill Earl Smith Two Rivers

Brown County Buddha’s Still Sports Bar & Grill Dee Dee Klug & Ronald Ridgley Green Bay

Oshkosh City Oregon Club Adam Tanner Oshkosh

Tundra Smokehouse & Spirits Ron & Linda Schultz Green Bay

Ozaukee County Rally Time Sports Bar Scott Festge Saukville

Zuege Baeb LLC/ Cubby Hole Jamie L. Zuege Green Bay

Washington County West Bend Moose Lodge 1398 Curtis Carter West Bend

DISTRICT 5 Green Lake Area Norton’s Of Green Lake George & Robyn Mockus Green Lake Portage County Team Schierl Companies William & Timothy Schierl Stevens Point Waupaca County Bear’s Den Don Erdmann Clintonville Jack’s Corner Bar Brian & Linda Klenke Weyauwega

Manitowoc County Braunies Sportsman’s Club Montana & Glenn Braun Collins

Wood County Dupe’s Bar & Grill LLC Cory Steczynski Arpin

Mishicot Riverfest Rod Schever Mishicot

Bottoms Up Bar LLC Katrina Berkholtz Wisconsin Rapids

Journey’s Bar & Grill Jean Wisniewski Pulaski Door County Island Fever Rum Bar & Grill Chase Bjarnarson Jacksonport Marinette County Richard’s Family Restaurant Supper Club & Motel Randy & Lynn Sippel Dunbar Oconto County Liquid Supply House Lori Moder Oconto Outagamie County Brick’s Supper Club Terry J. Brick Black Creek Corks & Caps Joe Verhagen Greenville Prime Time Club Randy Ulrich Menasha

DISTRICT 7 Chippewa County Hill House Pub & Grill Ben Lorenz Boyd www.tlw.org

NEW MEMBERS Riverview Laura L. Shakal Boyd Chippewa River Distillery & Brewery Kurt Schneider Chippewa Falls

Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant Anthony Sclavi Superior Superior Sands Bar & Grill Kevin Holm Superior

Eau Claire City/ County Cheer’s Bar N Grill Julie Singerhouse Chippewa Falls

Taylor County Pot Belly Pub & Grill Dennis Makovsky Medford

Jackson County Tina’s 400 Club Tina Ludwin Millston

Vilas County Club 45 Dave Payne Conover

St. Croix County Cedar Lake Speedway Robert Kaufman New Richmond

Catch 22 LLC Dawn Siems Eagle River

DISTRICT 8 Burnett County Ike’s Walton Lodge Now LLC Marion E. Obszarny Danbury The Narrows Waterfront Pub Chad Imme Siren Lakeland Area Happy’s Junkyard Joe Mikoliczak Woodruff Oneida County Big Stone Golf & Country Club Ed Jacobsen Three Lakes Superior/Douglas County Poplar Golf & Recreation Inc. Michael Lattery Poplar Moose Lodge #606 Mike Nevin Superior

www.tlw.org

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP AND CIRCULATION

Little Bohemia Lodge Deborah Johns Manitowish Waters Wild Bear Grill & Pub LLC Black Bear Lodge Saint Germain

DISTRICT 9 Milwaukee County Joey’s Mob Scene Joe R. Turenne Greenfield Drink Wisconsinbly Pub David Sapp Milwaukee Monica’s Tony & Monica DePalma Milwaukee One More Christina Lopez Milwaukee Dr. Morgan’s Catherine and Nina Machi West Allis

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AFFILIATE MEMBERS TLW AFFILIATE MEMBERS AS OF OCTOBER 21, 2016 AcclaimPOS Solutions Inc.

Creative Beverage Systems LLC

HSC Business Brokers

Pepsi Beverages Company

Ackley Novelty Inc.

D & D Amusement Games LLC

Hyer Standards

Plunkett’s Pest Control

Affiliated Investment Group

Dean’s Satellite & Security

Portesi Italian Foods Inc.

Allied Games Inc.

Delafield Brew Haus

Indianhead Foodservice Dist. Inc.

Allied Insurance Centers Inc.

DeVere Company Inc.

Insurance Center

American Entertainment Services Inc.

Dining Publications LLC

Johnson Brothers Beverage

DISCUS

Just in Time Refrigeration LLC

Disher Insurance Services

Kavanaughs Restaurant Supplies

American Income Life American Welding & Gas Amusement Devices Inc. B & K Bar & Restaurant Supplies B-M Music & Games Badger Mutual Insurance Company Badger State Events Entertainment & Production Inc.

Edge One Inc. El Cortez Hotel & Casino Ember Glo

Kessenich’s Ltd. KevCorp International

Emil’s Pizza Inc.

KLB Insurance ServicesIllinois Casualty

Energy Distributing

Lakes Business Group Inc.

Engels Commercial Appliance Inc.

Lamers Bus Lines

Engineered Security Solutions

Bar Rags Drinkware

EPSG (Evo Platinum Services Group)

Baraboo Sysco Food Services

Fabiano Brothers

Barr Refrigeration

Fintech

Batzner Pest Control

Lebby’s Frozen Pizza Lee Beverage of Wisconsin LLC LJP Insurance Agency/ Rural Mutual

POS Partners Precision Pours Inc. Racine Amusement Inc. Ransom’s Home & Business TV-Satellite Red’s Novelty Ltd. Reinhart Food Service LLC Retail Control Solutions Riverside Foods Inc. S & S Distributing Inc. Safe Harbor Payment Systems Sam’s Amusement Co. Sam’s Club Sanimax USA LLC Saratoga Liquor Co. Inc.

Luiges Frozen Pizza Inc.

Schmidt Novelty

Flanigan Distributing

M & R Amusements & Vending LLC

Securus Workplace Solutions LLC

Bay Towel/Linen Rental

Flashpoint Designs

Magnuson Industries Inc.

Service Specialists

Bayland Insurance

Fleming’s Fire I

Mass Appeal Specialties Inc.

Stansfield Vending Inc.

Benedict Refrigeration Service Inc.

Flipside Coin Machines Inc.

MBE CPAs

Star Connection/LodgeVision

Meyer Brothers LLC

Stevens Point Brewery

Best Bargains

Focus on Energy Small Business Program Foremost Business Systems

Superior Beverages LLC

Bevinco

Mid Wisconsin Beverage

Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band

Superior Vending

Bi-State Point of Sale Solutions

Midstate Amusement Games Midwest Amusements

Taylor Ent. of WI Inc.

Friebert, Finerty & St. John S.C.

Midwest Coin Concepts of WI

Tesch Chemical

Bill’s Distributing LTD.

Game Management Corp.

Midwest Hospitality Solutions

Think Ink & Design

Blue Honey Bio-Fuels Inc.

Games Are Us Inc.

Midwest Insurance Group

Ticket King Inc.

Bluegrass LED Lighting

General Beer - Northeast Inc.

Mike Lindy Amusements Inc.

Tim-Todd Services Inc.

BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.)

General Beverage Sales Co.

Milwaukee Brewers

TIPS Program

Bob Schuchardt Insurance

Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP

Milwaukee Pedal Tavern LLC

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Mitchell Novelty Co.

Tom Sawyer Amusements

Glass Capital Funding

Tri-Mart Corporation

Glavinsured Agency Inc.

Modern Cash Register Systems

Gourmet Parlor Pizza

Modern Specialty Company

Tricky Dick Specialties II

Great Lakes Amusements

Murphy Desmond S.C.

Great Lakes Beverage

National Chemicals Inc.

TRL Int’l. Mtkg Group/ Global Vending LLC

Great Lakes Distillery

Nei - Turner Media Group Inc.

Great Northern Amusements

New Glarus Brewing Co.

Groot Industries

NHS Food Service

Guardian Pest Solutions Inc.

Northern Lakes Amusement

Coffee Express Inc.

Gunderson Linen

Northwest Coin Machine Co.

Complete Office of Wisconsin

Hansen Foods LLC/ Pep’s Pizza

Northwoods Cab

Health Markets Insurance Agency

NuC02

Big Game Sports Cards/ Sterling Graphics

Brakebush Brothers Brat Stop Products LLC Bromak Sales Inc. Capital Brewery Cash Depot CCI Merchant Services Central Ceiling Systems Inc. Chambers Travel City Screen Print and Embroidery

Cornerstone Processing Solutions Inc. Corporate Casuals & Promotional Products County Wide Extinguisher Inc. Cover5.com

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Heartland Payment Systems Hiawatha Chef, Bar and Janitorial Supply Holiday Wholesale Inc.

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NSM Music Inc. On Mobile Paradise Printing Company Park Ridge Distributing Inc. Pehler Distributing Inc.

Tricky Dick & Specialty

U.S. Bank Payment Solutions/Elavon U.S. Foods Vern’s Cheese Inc. Vital Tokens Wausau Coin Machines Inc. WI Hospitality Insured Wine Institute Wisconsin Restaurant Association Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps Wisconsin Tavern

www.tlw.org

TLW Members Enjoy a Day on the Links Beautiful blue skies and 70 degree weather greeted TLW members for the 18th annual State Golf Outing on Monday, Sept. 12. This year’s all-day event, held at Kestrel Ridge Golf Club in Columbus, featured a four-person scramble format and included lunch, dinner, beverage tickets and awards. A big thank you goes to the Dodge County Tavern League and its volunteers and to the dozens of TLW-member establishments and vendors that contributed sponsorships to make this year’s event another success. The first and second place teams as well as Clark County golfers are pictured below.

The first place team from the Columbia County Tavern League included from left: Jon Neuhauser, Eric Isberner, John Stormer and Errol Kleist.

The team taking second place represented Lucky’s Eastside Pub in Wausau. Pictured from left: Adam Hall, Andy Speat, Tyler Babl and Kyle Byrne, along with TLW Treasurer Tom Dahlen

Clark County Tavern League members gathered for a photo during the TLW State Golf Outing.

LOCAL LEAGUE UPDATES HAWKS VIEW GOLF COURSE HONORS VETERANS Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva was proud to honor all U.S. Veterans with complimentary golf, food and drinks during its Veterans Appreciation Day Tuesday, Sept. 6. The event, with 140 participants, included 18 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch, and beverages throughout the event.

“It is our pleasure to honor veterans with this event. It’s our way of saying thank you,” said Dave Hills, Hawks View general manager and president of the Walworth County Tavern League. “Our veterans sacrifice so much so that we can live in freedom. Our staff goes all-out to make sure this day is fun and memorable.”

STUDENTS ATTENDING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Eight members of the Wilmot Union High School student government are taking part in a Leadership Experience and Development Conference in Denver, Colorado in November due to the help of the Kenosha County Tavern League.

The league donated $700 to help defray costs of the trip and the amount was matched by the Tavern League of Wisconsin Joint Districts 1 and 9 Foundation.

Students will attend workshops on improving leadership skills, problem solving, project planning, fundraising, team building, idea sharing and networking.

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 • Barb Howell, bhowell@ntmediagroup.com www.tlw.org

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ADVERTISER INDEX Anheuser-Busch Inc. www.anheuser-busch.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 B&K Bar Supplies www.bandkbarsupplies.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Disher Insurance www.disherinsurance.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Edge One www.edgeone.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Great Lakes Amusement www.glastore.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Magnuson Industries Inc. www.posi-pour.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mass Appeal Inc. www.massappeal.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 MillerCoors www.millercoors.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Nightclub & Bar Convention & Tradeshow www.ncbshow.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Reinhart Food Service www.rfsdelivers.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 WAMO www.wamo.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps www.milkcaps.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 38 Wisconsin Wine & Spirit Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS & TRADE SHOWS DATES & LOCATIONS Spring 2017 Conference & Trade Show April 3-6, 2017 • Radisson Hotel & La Crosse Center 200 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 793-5004 Fall 2017 Convention & Trade Show October 2-5, 2017 • Radisson Paper Valley Hotel 333 W. College Ave., Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 733-8000 Spring 2018 Conference & Trade Show April 9-12, 2018 • Crowne Plaza & Ramada Plaza Milwaukee (by Airport) 6401 S 13th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221 (414) 764-5300 Fall 2018 Convention & Trade Show October 1-4, 2018 • Kalahari Resort 1305 Kalahari Dr., Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 (608) 254-5466 For more information please call the Tavern League of Wisconsin at 800-445-9221

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Great Lakes Amusement Cherry Master - Video Poker Pull tab disPensers Coin Pushers - rePlaCeMent Parts

PLAtinum touch 3 34 GAmes in one cAbinet Affiliate tavern League member Green Bay, WI 877-354-7544 www.GlaStore.com

Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcap

Pulltab ProMotionS

Great Profits Employee Incentive Program Used Pulltab Machines Available More Info: 414-217-1731 wbohrer@wi.rr.com www.wimilkcaps.com

Advertise in

On Premise the official publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin

CONTACT:

Louise Andraski, Account Executive

louisea@merr.com Direct: 608-873-8734 Fax: 877-245-2545 NEI-TURNER MEDIA GROUP www.tlw.org

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