[avatar user=”tomhowat” size=”160″ align=”left”]Tom Howat
Secretary of the Missouri Valley Ice Manufacturer’s Association[/avatar]
Well, the Fall 2016 convention at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI is now in the books. We had a paid attendance of sixty-nine members and visitors. We were educated by speakers on upcoming freon changes (Karl Katuin of Leer) and got all the latest information on what the new Food Safety Modernization Act means to our industry from Chris Dunn, one of the – if not THE – most knowledgeable people in the country on that topic. We also had a very enjoyable and informative lunch and plant tour at Leer, Inc (our host) in New Lisbon, WI.
We also had the pleasure of awarding three $1,200 scholarships to very deserving people.They were awarded to Grayson Simmons (AC Ice – Brush, CO) who is pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy at the University of Wyoming; Elizabeth Bure (Hilke’s Ice) who is pursuing a nursing degree at Lincoln University and Elvira Howat (Modern Ice) who is attending the University of Missouri – St. Louis to obtain a BS in accounting before moving on to be a forensic accountant. I do believe that a good time was had by all.
Now though, it is the middle of December in the middle of America and some of you are safely ensconced in your Florida, Arizona and even Mexico winter properties. You should know – we know who you are and we hate you. The rest of us are still here working and living in the cold and we’re trying to think warm thoughts. Thoughts that involve family, friends and our good times with them around, maybe, a warm fire or, at least, adult drinks. Maybe we’re starting to think about Spring and the upcoming conventions.
Well, let me fill you in on the first ever joint Great Lakes, Canadian and Missouri Valley Ice Association’s meeting coming up March 25 – 28 in Detroit, Michigan. We will be staying downtown in the Greektown Historic District at the Atheneum Suite Hotel & Conference Center (www.atheneumsuites.com). If you haven’t been to Detroit for a while, it’s time to come back. I couldn’t believe what a vibrant, bustling city it is today.
The program is shaping up quite well with a session titled “How to Become Invincible to Lawsuits & Save Thousands in Taxes”. This will be a fairly in-depth program on how to hang onto the money you work so hard for. Our host, Saad Abbo of U.S. Ice, is working on an additional speaker or two and, oh, did I mention that we will be touring the newly renovated and highly automated U.S. Ice plant? Saad has been gracious enough to open his doors and invite us in to see what the future of ice making might look like.
Speaking of conventions – it looks like our Fall/October of 2017 convention will be in Kansas City at a location and date which will, probably, be decided upon before this issue gets to you. Host Walter Berry of Berry’s Arctic Ice in Topeka, KS is scouting hotels as I write this. I’ll keep our members posted.
In closing, and thinking about the holiday cheer and cold winter night consuming various “nogs” and other alcoholic drinks I thought it might be fun to review the infamous words spoken by Cliff Clavin to Norm Peterson on an episode of “Cheers”:
“Well, ya see, Norm, it’s like this… a herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”
2016 Convention Gallery
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2016 Ice Olympics
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