WAABI Wednesday - 3-10-10

Happy WAABI Wednesday!

I would like to take this opportunity to invite suggestions for the website. As members of WAABI, it is your site, and if there is anything that you feel it is lacking, feel free to drop me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we can discuss additions or changes. I have been the WAABI webmaster for almost a year now, and it is amazing how many creative and ambitious folks we have in our ranks. So, let’s see if we can take some of those pearls of wisdom and put them into action…

It seems the National Board is getting geared up for the annual convention, this year in Deadwood South Dakota. Having watched the HBO series Deadwood a couple of summers ago and learning of the true events that took place there, it has become a desired destination for me on a personal level. It is the place where Wild Bill Hickok met his demise at Saloon no. 10 holding “aces and eights”, and it is very near the location where a sculptor (and National Socialist sympathizer) won the opportunity to etch the likenesses of four of our most beloved presidents into the façade of Mt. Rushmore. You just can’t capitalize on our freedoms any more than that!!! Despite all the history of the region, it is the opportunity to meet our friends from Sky Ranch and help them celebrate their 50th anniversary of existence that is most compelling. There is no greater reminder of why we do what we do than to see the young men who are the recipients of our hard work in person. This year’s convention is an opportunity to cherish on so many levels, so here is hoping you can come.

I would like to recognize Duncan Cameron and his wife Young for all of the work they do on behalf of this organization. In professional football they often talk of players with a “high motor”, and I have never met anyone that exemplifies that athletic analogy in real life more than Duncan.

I am proud of our web presence and how far we have come in the last year in promoting WAABI and increasing membership. But I know that our leaders will continue to push those of us in supporting roles towards greater things moving forward.

It is more than a pleasure to be a part of WAABI, it is a source of pride.

Phil Huey
Webmaster
Waabi.org

WAABI Wednesday - 2-24-10

George F. McCarthy

Sir Francis Bacon the British Philosopher once said; “Old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old authors to read and old friends to trust.”

As I enter my 46th year in the beverage alcohol industry I often reflect (now that I have ample time to do so) on all the wonderful old friends from the industry that I trust. Some of them (I won’t tell which ones, but you know who you are.) are older in years and some are older in experience. Some I’ve just known a long time and some are second and third generation that although younger have the acquired wisdom and knowledge of their former mentors. But regardless of how they got to be old friends that I trust one of the great things about being part of WAABI and Sky Ranch is the opportunity to renew acquaintance with them on a fairly regular basis. In that regard I am so looking forward to Sky Ranch and WAABI’s concurrent events (www.waabi.org) in South Dakota in June. Besides the fact that it is the 50th Anniversary of Sky Ranch for Boys it is an opportunity to revisit the ranch for those of you who have been there and to see the ranch for you first timers. But for me it is also a chance to renew friendships with old and trusted friends who are part of WAABI’s Unity Award and others being inducted into the Sky Ranch Hall of fame Class of 2010.

Friends like Rocky Wirtz who with his son Danny will represent the Wirtz family in accepting the prestigious WAABI Unity award. You can’t be part of WAABI or the beverage alcohol industry without hearing about the Wirtz family as one of the premier wholesalers in the United States. Here is the perfect example of a great family businesses started by William Wirtz (Who was the first to give support to WAABI in Chicago) and passed down to his son Rocky as President of The Wirtz Corporation and his son Danny the Vice President of Spirits Marketing and Sales for The Wirtz Beverage Group. I have had the honor of doing business with as well as knowing Bill and Rocky for some time. I look forward to seeing Rocky again and introducing myself to Danny.

Friends like Nancy Brady whom I first met when we both served on the Sky Ranch Local Board that actually is responsible for day to day operations of the ranch. Nancy has been on that board for 27 years and is totally dedicated to Sky Ranch. You can read more about her on www.skyranchfoundation.org under the 2010 Hall of Fame Honorees but what made me fall in love with Nancy was her outspoken concern not just for the boys at Sky Ranch but also for the everyone who worked there from the maintenance people to the instructors and the administration. She is truly a remarkable woman and I hope all of the WAABI members get a chance to meet her in June.

Friends like Tom Cole whom I met many times over the years at WSWA Meetings. Tom is that rare breed of person that is so sincere and straight forward that you end up not just liking and trusting him but also the company he represents. He has ably represented that company (Magnolia Marketing, Republic and Republic National) since 1991. I look forward to seeing him and many of the other good people from RNDC in June and you can learn more about Tom at the Sky Ranch foundation web site mentioned above.

When you think of leadership on the supplier side of the industry you can’t help but think about John Esposito. He has had an outstanding career and as President and CEO of Bacardi USA has continued to show outstanding support for Sky Ranch. Over the years our paths have crossed at such diversified places as Seagram’s, W.A. Taylor, Premier, and Shiefflien Somerset. At all these places he was known for his support of important charities and although I haven’t seen John for a few years I look forward to seeing him in June. Look him up on the Sky Ranch web site.

If you are looking for an example of leadership and dedication to WAABI you don’t have to look any further than Tobin Thomas. I first met Tobin when I joined the WAABI National Board as an Advisor and was immediately impressed with his depth of understanding what WAABI was all about. His knowledge came from the many years he spent as a member and a Treasure with the highly successful Bardstown Chapter. I have been fortunate to keep up with Tobin at National leadership Conferences and National Board meetings but also look forward to seeing him in June. If you cannot meet him then at least you can acquaint yourself with Tobin on the web site.

The epitome of the South Dakota entrepreneurial spirit lies in Bill Walsh. From employee at Sky Ranch to Chaplin to owner of the famous Franklin hotel in Deadwood to now owning Dakota travel Agency Bill has brought that spirit to everything he does. Ralph Aguera and I first met Bill at the Franklin Hotel on a visit to Sky Ranch and spent a lot of time just listening to his many tales about Sky Ranch and the history of Deadwood. His soft spoken sincerity, his hospitality and his obvious love for everything he does so impressed us Ralph and I always looked forward to coming to Deadwood to see him on our way to the ranch. I’m sure I speak for Ralph in saying we both look forward to seeing Bill again. You can meet Bill with his signature cowboy hat on the SR web site.

Harry Wiles as Executive Director of the 20,000 or so members of ABL may be last alphabetically on the SR web site but definitely ranks as one of the top industry executives representing the retail sector. His outstanding knowledge of every facet of the industry has made him the go to guy for questions from not only retailers but suppliers and wholesalers alike. His support of the entire industry is legendary and you only had to attend an ABL Conference (As I have many times.) to see sensitive leadership in action. Listening to him talk or talking with him you cannot be anything but awed by his passion for the people in the industry. Meeting Harry makes you proud to be counted as one of them.

Thank you to all the WAABI members that have hung in with me as I indulged myself with memories about some old friends who will be honored in June in South Dakota. As I said at the beginning, one of the great things about being part of WAABI and its close association with Sky Ranch which allows all of us to meet either for the first time or the 100th time with exceptional industry leaders. Whether it is at the WAABI National Leadership Conference or the Sky Ranch Hall of Fame please make sure you take advantage of this unique opportunity.

WAABI Wednesday - 3-3-10

Happy Wednesday to all WAABI Members & Friends!

I want to thank the folks at Jim Beam's Frankfort facility for their hospitality and support shown during my visit there last week. I had the opportunity to address all the employees in a day-long series of meetings. WAABI had great support from plant management, and I'm happy to say that at least 125 people joined or renewed their membership that day! What a great group of people!

We'll try something similar next week in Las Vegas where Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada has graciously offered to host a meeting to introduce WAABI to a cross section of industry members in the area.

If your chapter or company would like me to arrange a visit to do a 10-15 minute presentation about WAABI, just let me know! Even chapters that have been operating for a long time sometimes need an update!

I hope to have full details on the 2010 WAABI Conference confirmed very soon! We are putting the finishing touches on a great tour for Saturday afternoon, June 5 and for a full day (back in time for the Sky Ranch Hall of Fame Dinner) tour on June 6! We're also lining up some top speakers and experiences for our business session on June 8. And don't forget the full day visit to Sky Ranch and the Unity Dinner honoring the Wirtz family all on June 7!This is going to be a great conference! We should be distributing a full package of conference info to everyone within a few weeks. I hope every WAABI member will come to Deadwood and the great new Lodge at Deadwood (www.deadwoodlodge.com) for this unique experience!

Duncan Cameron
Executive Director
www.waabi.org

WAABI Wednesday - 2-17-10

WAABI WEDNESDAY
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM


The Chicago Chapter, now the oldest in the WAABI network, is embarking again this year on its college scholarship program. This program has been in effect for thirteen years. The program, up until three years ago, was primarily funded by the Charitable Trust Committee of the Wine & Spirit Distributors of Illinois. Usually we funded approximately ten scholarships in varying amounts totaling about $20,000, with the chapter, who administered the program, donating about $5000 to the pot each year.

Three years ago a major wholesaler in the metro Chicago market pulled out of the Charitable Trust Committee, and there went the scholarship program! Thanks to the efforts of Wirtz Beverage Illinois, two college scholarships have been named in Peg Donovan’s name – one is for $10,000 and the other for $7,000, awarded to the same two young women for three years. The basic criterion for the scholarship is as follows: high school graduate from the State of Illinois, a GPA of at least 3.0, financial need and volunteer work on the part of the applicant. A committee selects the recipients.

We urge all chapters to research funding for this most worthwhile program. We had one young woman who, during the initial years, received monies for all four years of college, and she wanted to eventually represent her state in Congress. Maybe someday our industry will have a friendly voice in the Legislative branch – we can only hope so!

Brenda Quigley
Chicago Chapter President