EDITOR'S NOTES
by Kim Haakstad, Executive Director, ABLE BC

Conference edition
I want to welcome all attendees to the Hospitality Industry Conference and Exposition. I know it will be an interesting and successful conference. I would like to thank the committee members that gave so much of their own time to make the conference a success - Kurt Prych, Marilyn Sanders, and Mariana Fiddler as well as my colleagues James Chase from BCYHA and Ian Tostenson, Sharron Tulk, and Kathy Rutherford from BCRFA. I would also like to thank all of the sponsors of this great event; we could not do it without your support. 

New Members 
ABLE BC is pleased to welcome the following new members and associate members to ABLE. We have been working hard to reach out to new operators and industry businesses and it is paying off. 
Chris Logan, Logan’s Pub & LRS - Victoria
John Kristensen, Friends Neighbourhood Pub & LRS - Kelowna 
Frank Esposito, Mt. Lehman Lounge & LRS - Abbotsford
Rob Pemberton, Ross Bay Pub - Victoria
Michael Kompass, The Fitzsimmons Pub & LRS - Whistler
Mike Champ, Jackfish Dundee's - Charlie Lake
Amy Cooper, The Westsyde Pump & LRS - Kamloops
Stu Bradford - Barley Station Brew Pub - Salmon Arm 
Rose Meyer & Darrin Campbell, Alpine Pub & Grill & LRS - Prince George 
Chris Mahony, Mahony & Sons Public House Ltd - Vancouver
Dr. John Mather, Liquor Town - Prince George
Al Arbuthnot, 57 Below - New Westminster

New Associate Members
James Grievz, Talius - Salmon Arm
Hugh Mitchell, Vancouver Island Brewing Co. - Victoria
Brian Stewart, Charter Bus Lines of BC - Delta
Robert George, West Bros. Frame & Chair Inc. - Vancouver
Andrew Harris, Russell Brewing Company - Surrey

Licencing Door Staff
The provincial government recently passed the Security Services Act which includes provisions requiring the licensing of door staff in liquor establishments. This new act requires all door staff to be trained as security guards. The act will come into force by regulation and is to be phased in over the next two years. 
The training includes Basic Standards Training (BST) level 1 and 2 (a total of 64 hours of training) provided by the Justice Institute of BC at the cost of approximately $500, plus an annual licensing fee. ABLE’s Board of Directors met with staff from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to express our concerns about the challenges this new level of regulation will place on our industry. We believe that the licensing provisions are too onerous and expensive. We are also concerned that the effect of this legislation will be that establishments will choose to not use door people rather than to use licensed ones. 

Gaming
ABLE has heard concerns from many members about the conversion of bingo halls across the province into community gaming centres that now have slot machines and liquor licences. These new gaming centres and the continued expansion of casinos that also include liquor licences has changed the way the government seems to view the combination of gambling and liquor. At the same time, our members have not been provided additional gaming options or increased commissions. With casinos and gaming centres in competition with our properties, particularly in smaller communities, we hope that by working with the government and BCLC there will be an increase in the number of socially responsible gaming options available in our establishments. 

Responsible Use of Liquor
As an industry, we have long promoted the responsible use of liquor within our establishments and the responsible retailing of liquor in our LRS locations. ABLE, as an industry association, would like to do more to spread that message to the public and the government. One of the initiatives the Board has approved is a sub-committee to promote best practices in the responsible service and sale of alcoholic beverages. 
We are looking for a few members to serve on this committee. If you are interested, please contact me at khaakstad@ablebc.ca.

I.D. Checking Guide - January 2008
All ABLE & BCYHA members will have the opportunity to place a bulk order for both the USA/Canada I.D. Checking Guide and an international version. Last year one individual book cost $30, but with our bulk order the cost was brought down to $20 per book. Watch for your reminder in early January, as final orders will be submitted on February 1, 2008.

We want to hear from you
As the voice for the industry, we are only as strong as our members. We want to hear about the issues that are affecting you. Please let us know if there are additional member benefits you would like to see, or if there are issues you think we should be addressing. 
Contact the office anytime by email at info@ablebc.ca or phone 604-688-5560. 

2007 ABLE Golf Tournament
Our 2007 Tournament was an amazing success. I want to once again thank all of our sponsors: Warsteiner, Sysco, Neptune Food Service, Labatt Breweries, Molson, Okanagan Springs, Brewers Distributor Ltd, Granville Island Brewing, Hub International Barton, Fort Wine Co., Peller Estates, PMA Canada, Commercial Logistics/ ContainerWorld, go2, Ward Watkins Insurance Brokers, Pacific Wine & Spirits, RBC Royal Bank, Corby Distilleries, Orca Bay, Johnstone's Benefits, Georgian Court Hotel, Heineken, Pacific Blue Cross, Global Payments, and Liquor Barn. 
See you all at next year’s tournament!