Cigar Politics: Despite smoking ban, 15th Annual Cigar Dinner is a go By Rick Coates The Michigan smoking ban has been law for less than two weeks, yet a provision in the law that allows for cigar bar exemption will be tested this week as the Ancient Order of Hibernians play host to the 15th Annual Father Fred Foundation Cigar Dinner. “We were given legal advice that our event qualifies for the cigar bar exemption of the new law,” said Mike Nolan of Nolan’s Tobacco in Traverse City. He adds that in order to qualify for the cigar bar exemption, 10% of sales have to be cigars, something that can be counted on at the upcoming event.
BIG FUNDRAISER The Father Fred Foundation has become dependent on the annual cigar dinner with 25% of their annual cash donations generated by the dinner. “It goes beyond just the dinner,” said David Abeel, development director, “The Ancient Order of Hibernians has been active for many years in not only raising money for Father Fred, but helping to create a greater awareness for our organization. This cigar dinner has spun off numerous other fundraisers for our organization. Often, we are unaware these fundraisers are even happening until they are done and we receive a call from the business or organization wanting to come over with a donation.” Nolan concurs: “There are a lot of very influential people who participate in the dinner; some are not even cigar smokers. This dinner has become a great networking event for the Foundation that has led to many doors being open to them in this community.” The Father Fred Foundation was started in 1990 by Father Edwin Fredrick to assist people who had “fallen through the cracks of society and bureaucratic red tape.” Father Fred kept his mission simple when he started assisting families and individuals in the greater Grand Traverse region: “Listen, care and share,” he would tell his volunteers. “Our work is about giving people their dignity, everyone has a right to that,” he would often say.
FUNDRAISING ROOTS Father Fred passed away 10 years ago, but his work is carried on by countless volunteers. The Bun Brady Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a Traverse City based Irish Christian organization, began assisting the Father Fred Foundation in 1992 with the launch of the Lucky Leprechaun fundraiser held each year during St. Patrick’s Day. A few years later the group started the Cigar Dinner. The first dinner attracted about 150 participants. This year’s dinner is sold out at 350 guests and has a waiting list. “This dinner is more than just about cigars; it is one of the great social events of the year,” Nolan says. “Right from the start we have brought the best chefs from the region, who each along with their team prepare a component of the meal for the evening. It is an impressive sight to see them all work together. In addition, we have some of the top purveyors of wine, bourbon, scotch and other high end spirits and beers on hand.”
ONE OF THE BEST The dinner is known nationally. Ashton Cigars considers the Father Fred Dinner one of the most important and best run charity cigar dinners in the country. Ashton Cigars donates $10,000 to the Foundation as a result of their participation. Woodford Reserve, the premium bourbon maker from Kentucky also sees the importance of the event. Each year they donate an auction prize that allows for four people to come to the distillery to blend the bourbons that will become the following year’s Father Fred Foundation Cigar Dinner Signature Blend. The special bottles are sold at the dinner with all proceeds benefitting the Foundation. The evening concludes with an impressive live and silent auction. Nolan said that they are “unsure about getting an exemption in future years,” but they are grateful for the opportunity to host it again this year. The dinner will take place at the Williamsburg Dinner Theater, under a large tent in a wooded area behind the kitchen facilities where caterer Dan Kelly hosts several outdoor weddings and other receptions. The first Father Fred Cigar dinner was held at the Park Place Dome. Does Mike Nolan see any full-time cigar bars coming to Northern Michigan? “No, I just do not see how anyone is in a position to pull it off. The restrictions are tough,” said Nolan. “The American cigar smoker on average smokes 1.6 cigars a week. Not a lot, so cigar bars would have a tough time generating 10% of their sales from cigars. Remember that cigar bars would not be allowed to have cigarette smokers, just cigar smokers. So it is a very limited clientele.” LEGAL CONFUSION Nolan is quick to add that there is a lot of confusion about the smoking ban. “This not a consumer law, this is a labor law,” said Nolan. ‘The law was established to protect employees in the workplace. Not the consumer.” So does Nolan see private citizens having backyard cigar BBQs? “I have heard some speculate about the idea,” said Nolan. “But they have to remember they have to prepare all of the food themselves; caterers and paid employees would not be permitted.” Nolan is not sure about the status of the 2011 dinner. “Our focus is on this year’s dinner; we were unsure a month ago as to whether we were even going to have it and in just three weeks we have pulled it all off and sold out. That is testament to the many volunteers who make this happen.” To date, the Ancient Order of Hibernians through the Cigar Dinner, Lucky Leprechaun Ball and Lucky Leprechauns have raised in excess of $1 million for the Foundation.
(Contributing editor Rick Coates along with Mike Nolan and Mike Shirley founded the Father Fred Foundation Cigar Dinner 15 years ago. Coates co-chaired the first two dinners before handing off the reins to Tim Smith who along with tobacconist Mike Nolan continue to co-chair the event.)
The 15th Annual Father Fred Foundation Cigar Dinner will take place Thursday, May 13 at the Williamsburg Dinner Theater. The event is sold out; however the organization is still taking donations for the silent auction as well as cash donations. This Saturday the Father Fred Foundation will host their annual garage sale, last year’s sale attracted over 1,500 people and raised $25,000. To learn more contact David Abeel at 231.947-2055 ext. 18 or visit www.fatherfred.com.
Send a Press Release
