MBAA Michigan District
District Michigan Summer Social 2005
Saturday, August 6th, 2005
Addison Oaks County Park

Over 60 members (including Mark Sloan from Flying Dog in Colorado), family and friends gathered together Saturday, August 6th to enjoy each other's camaraderie and to raise funds to sponsor one lucky district member to attend the 2005 MBAA National Conference.

It was one of those beautiful Michigan summer days, warm sunshine, fluffy white clouds, and just enough breeze to keep it from being uncomfortable.

This was the third year district officers organized the picnic, highlighted with a roast hawg and all the fixings. Member brewers brought beer to complete the fully catered meal.

This year's social returned to Addison Oaks County Park, where district officers reserved a new pavilion next to numerous activities. Chief among those activities were horseshoe pits and a nationally ranked disk golf course. The less active enjoyed the shade of the pavilion or nearby trees from which they could monitor their children, observe this year's contests, and stay close to the beer.

The horseshoe contest was directed by Marty Rapnicki, brewer at Thunder Bay Brewing Co. in Auburn Hills, currently serving as district treasurer and revealed to be a horseshoe sandbagger. When the last shoe had been pitched the Champion Shoers of District Michigan were determined to be Scott Isham, brewer at Harpers Brewing Co. in East Lansing, Marty Rapnicki, and Jack Duncan, homebrewer and beer enthusiast.

Another group was simultaneously tossing, but instead of iron, they were throwing plastic discs on the golf course. Addison has a 24 hole (basket) course, but under the auspices of saving time (but actually to keep participants close to the beer), disc golf chairman Sam Sherwood, cellarman for Founder's Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, created a nine hole course using baskets close to the pavilion along with a selection of personal portable baskets belonging to members. The District Michigan Champion Disc Golf Team turned out to be, Matt Owens and Tom Stelman, both Michigan beer enthusiasts, and Alec Mull, of Capital Draft Service.

After all the festivities came the big drawing for the $1000.00 Peter Blum Memorial, GW Kent Scholarship Award to be used by one lucky district member to attend the 2005 MBAA National Convention in Miami, FL. This year's lucky winner is Bill Wamby, brewer at Redwood Lodge Brewing Co. in Flint. Bill is flanked by district president Alec Mull (left) and district vice president Chad McDaniels (right), brewer, Copper Canyon Brewing Co. in Southfield.

Everyone agreed this year's picnic was the smoothest and best to date so next year's Summer Social promises to be even better. All MBAA members are welcome to attend so mark your calendars for Saturday, August 5, 2006 tentatively scheduled for Fitzgerald Park in Grand Ledge