Michigan Grocers Association members are invited
to the association office in Lansing on Tuesday, May 17 for the
Annual Legislative Reception. The event is perhaps the
year's best opportunity to share business, economic and
regulatory concerns with lawmakers, regulators, and public
officials who have much to say about these matters.
The reception is an ideal setting to build
rapport with public officials and help them understand our
industry's issues and concerns. The officials who join us are
MGA's guests, and we show our appreciation by providing a
fabulous selection of hors d'oeuvres and other specialties
catered exclusively by MGA members. The reception has a
reputation for having extraordinary food and beverages. Each
year, the Capitol and state offices buzz about the event weeks
after it's over.
In lieu of purchasing a ticket to the event, MGA
members are asked to contribute to the food and beverage
offerings or make a financial donation for items that MGA has to
purchase. All retail and associate members are encouraged to
attend.
For more information, download our
RSVP/Donation
Form.
2010 Legislative Reception Recap:
On May 18, more than 100 MGA members, legislators, state
department leaders and other officials gathered at MGA’s
headquarters in Lansing (just a block from our state’s Capitol)
for the association’s fifth annual Legislative Reception.
Many — from legislators and regulators to MGA directors, members
and staff — commented on what a great opportunity the reception
was to talk informally about the hot topics impacting the food
industry and to develop or strengthen relationships.
In preparation for the event, MGA created a brochure, available
at the reception to provide an overview of the association’s
position on critical issues such as government spending reforms,
item pricing and the bottle deposit law. The brochure also provided
information about our industry such as how retail and associate MGA members together provide jobs for more than 92,000 Michigan
residents. That’s more than 2 percent of the state’s payroll
jobs.
In addition to legislative issues, another popular topic of
conversation was the reception’s exceptional food, beverages and
flowers. The event was catered entirely by MGA members, giving
them the chance to showcase the top-of-the-line food and
beverages they create and sell each day.
With a nod to all things Michigan, this menu featured Albie’s
original beef minipasties, Winter’s premium hot dogs & brats
(official sausage of the Detroit Tigers), Levandowski’s
smokehouse beef brisket & pulled pork, Holiday Market’s Traverse
City chicken salad & spinach orzo salad, a Michigan cheese
shoppe featuring Reny Picot smoked gouda & manchego with honey,
Michigan apple pie, Michigan wines, malt beverages, soft drinks
including Faygo and Paramount’s gourmet coffee.
Not your run-of-the mill legislative reception, MGA’s event has
Lansing buzzing about it long after it’s done.
An important grassroots addition to MGA’s daily advocacy and
lobbying work, this exceptional event was an effective and fun
way to build rapport with legislators, regulators and other
members of the food industry. Future receptions are not to be
missed!
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(l to r) Rep. Goeff Hansen is
flanked by Spartan Stores’ John Piotrowicz, Jim Gohsman,
Brian Haaraoja and Nick Wedberg.
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| (l
to r) Wes Sterenberg and Jim Nader with Plumb’s talk with
Senator Mark Jansen and Jansen’s Chief of Staff Deborah
Drick. |
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(l to r) MGA Chairman DJ Oleson, Oleson’s Food Stores, talks
with the Michigan Agriculture Commission Chairman Todd Regis
and Country Fresh’s Rich Beishuizen |
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The reception was catered entirely by MGA members.
The phenomenal fare included sushi— salmon, tuna, veggie and
California roll, DeLallo’s gourmet antipasto, cocktail
shrimp, a made-to-order Caesar salad bar and more.
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(l to r) Winter’s Sausage Company Sales Manager Kevin
McCauslin and Stephanie Schrack were on hand to serve up the
“official sausage of the Detroit Tigers.”
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(l to r) Rep. Jase Bolger chats with Lipari’s Don Symonds
and Brian Rooney, a candidate for the 7th Congressional
District.
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(l to r) Spartan Stores’ John Piotrowicz, Michigan Liquor
Control Commissioner Ed Gaffney and Busch’s John Bush enjoy
the event.
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(l to r) MGA Chairman DJ Oleson talks with Spartan Stores’
Brain Haaraoja and Michigan Department of Agriculture
Director Don Koivisto.
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As the reception began, the sun came out,
completing the trifecta of good food, good people and good
weather.
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Seated are MGA board member Rich Beishuizen,
L&L Food Center’s Rick Zahm and Rep. Darwin Booher.
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Kroger’s Tim Nelson meets Rep. Andrew
Kandrevas, who represents the 13th House district which has
several Kroger stores.
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Background, Faygo’s Orlando Woods and
Forest Bryson talk with Nash Finch’s Rick Schmitz.
Foreground, SUPERVALU’s Mike Schiffli talks with Senator
Mickey Switalski.
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Senator Patty Birkholz catches up with Bill
McDonough, McDonough’s Market.
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