Fundraiser tempts taste buds

In celebration of everything Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls Kiwanians threw a party highlighting some of the best culinary finds their state has to offer.

Food and drinks from Wisconsin were on the menu during the Kiwanis Club of Chippewa Falls annual fundraiser.

Guests were moooved by the appearance of a special guest: one of the 101 painted fiberglass cows from the 2006 Wisconsin Cow Parade. (Read more.)

Guests to the seventh annual Wine, Beer, and Cheese Tasting Gala were treated to a variety of cheeses, pastries, meats—even ice cream. And to wash it all down, samples from more than 30 wineries that sprinkle the state were flowing—everything from grape, to fruit, to honey (mead) wines were available. A sampling of root beers from around the world also tempted guests’ taste buds. (Read about alcohol sales and Kiwanis International's liability policy.)

The event, which costs US$20 per ticket, has grown and changed a lot in its seven years.

“It started out being a basic wine, cheese, and beer tasting,” says club president Suzanne Luft. “Now, we are trying to make it more of a tasting gala from around the area.”

Suzanne says a good number of guests have attended more than one tasting gala, so the organizers like to throw in a few surprises now and then.

“We might include items from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan next year,” she says. “We like to keep it a little new each year. After a while, guests like to see something new and different.”

Chippewa Falls Kiwanians and guests partied ’til the cows came home—well, at least one cow. A cow from the Wisconsin Cow Parade 2006 was a featured guest at the party. The Wisconsin Cow Parade, sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, featured 101 hand-painted, life-size, fiberglass cows to promote the dairy industry. The cows were scattered around the state during the summer months.

“The cows are beautiful,” Suzanne says. “I had heard about them, but not seen one myself. The one at our event had farm fields painted on one side and cows on the other.”

The club raised about US$6,000, all of which will go back into the community in the form of donations and scholarships.

Alice in Dairyland visits Kiwanians

One special guest to the party was quick to point out the positive points to standing around eating cheese and drinking wine.

Alice in Dairyland, a public relations professional who promotes Wisconsin’s agriculture industry, told a reporter for the Chippewa Valley Newspapers that “cheese is a great part of (Wisconsin’s) agricultural heritage.”

Alice in Dairyland, whose real name is Nicole Reese, talked with guests and signed posters throughout the evening.

Alcohol sales and Kiwanis International's liability policy

The third-party general liability coverage provided to Kiwanis clubs in North America does not provide coverage for the sale of alcohol. Any type of charge made to recoup the cost of the alcoholic beverage is considered "selling” the beverage, and coverage is therefore excluded. Selling (as opposed to the giving away) of alcoholic beverages, either by Kiwanians or by lessors of premises leased or rented by Kiwanians is not covered. Coverage also is excluded if a permit is required in order to serve the alcohol. If the club is selling the alcohol, it will need to purchase liquor liability coverage from a local insurance agent for the event or, in instances where the alcohol is being provided by a third party, have the third party name the club and Kiwanis International as named insureds on the third party’s liquor liability insurance coverage as evidenced by an insurance certificate with a minimum of coverage of $1,000,000.