Gluten-Free Stores - Wisconsin Grocers Association

From the PRESIDENT
Another One Day
Meat Sale
Brandon
Scholz
WGA
President
and CEO
Ok, some people will
think this is crass,
others will get it.
On July 12, Wisconsin will
make history again when we
have nine recall elections for
incumbent members of the
State Senate. Nine. That’s a
record in Wisconsin and in the
USA.
So what’s the big deal? Fact is,
it’s a huge deal. It’s an
unprecedented huge deal.
Recall elections were set up so
citizens could jump start the
election process if their elected
official(s) weren’t doing what
they were elected to do or had
done something egregious or
possibly illegal after one year of
service.
In 1996, State Senator George
Petak was recalled because he
switched his vote and voted for
the Brewer Stadium Tax. In
2003, State Senator Gary
George was recalled because he
broke the law on a number of
ethics issue.
On July 12 (August 9 if there
is a primary), Republicans are
looking to recall Democratic
State Senators for leaving the
state and Democrats are
looking to recall Senate
Republican’s for supporting
Governor Walker’s collective
bargaining proposal. There
certainly will be more issues in
each of the campaigns, but
that’s pretty much what started
it all.
The 2011 recall elections could
change the balance of power in
the Senate should the
Democrats succeed
guaranteeing virtual certainty
that legislative action will
deadlock and virtually all of
Governor Walker’s initiatives
will be derailed. In the same
respect should Republicans
prevail, the three-wing mortal
lock will continue on the path
set in the first few months of
this year.
So, July 12 is the date. Mark it
on your calendar. Remind your
friends, family, and associates
to vote. While you’re at it,
maybe make a few check
marks in June and early July as
well because many of these
candidates will need money.
There are those who are
hoping that you were pushed
around enough in the
‘boycotts’ that you’ll not want
to have your name show up as
a contributor on a candidates
campaign finance report. If
you feel that way and put your
checkbook back in the drawer,
you’ve handed those who
attacked you and the industry
via the boycott process a big
victory and have given them
another reason to do it again
in the future.
However, now that you know
who runs the boycotts and the
impact, or lack of impact on
your store, it is time to stand
up and make another
statement. Retribution and
efforts to quash your first
amendment rights and ability
to participate in the democracy
don’t work.
There’s a meat sale coming—
take a stand.
The date is July 12, the
balance of power is the
prize. It is a one day
meat sale.
So what’s the big
deal? Fact is, it’s a
huge deal. It’s an
unprecedented
huge deal.
Walker’s Chief
has Grocery
Experience
In November 2010, Governor Walker
announced that his Chief of Staff
would be Keith Gilkes, who also served as Scott Walker’s campaign
manager. What folks probably don’t know, is that Keith’s first job (in
high school) was at the Food Pride store in Prairie du Chien; a job he
held for six years.
Mick Kneeland, currently the manager at the Viking Village in Reedsburg,
was Gilkes’ manager at the Food Pride. Kneeland remembers Gilkes as
an intelligent young man who worked well with people and was looked
up to by his fellow employees. He could tell that Gilkes would go far in
the public sector.
Kneeland was recently at the Grocers in the Capitol Day in April and the
WGA coordinated a special reunion for the two men (Photo above).
Gilkes is equally as complimentary when reminiscing of his days in
Kneeland’s store. “The values that guide me in my professional career
now were formed during my first job working for Mick Kneeland. My
parents knew he would instill their shared values of hard work,
dedication to the job and serving others, which I use everyday in my job
with Governor Walker,” Gilkes said.
Overall, Kneeland wasn’t surprised that Gilkes was named the Governor’s
Chief of Staff. He describes Gilkes as an “ethical, all-around good
guy,and any parent would be proud to have him as a son.” Kneeland
concluded, “It feels good, as a manager, to see kids who worked with
you for their first job, go far in life, and Keith Gilkes definitely has.”
2011 Summer WISCONSIN GROCER 7