A Message from the President & CEO
Simon A. Flynn

The Connecticut Restaurant Association has accomplished a great deal in the legislative arena on behalf of the industry and we have brought enhanced value to the benefit programs and activities of the association.   But we cannot stop now.  There is no end and no beginning of our need to be fully engaged.  The political year runs beyond the February through May session.  There is a steady stream of fundraisers and meetings with the legislative leadership year round.  There is ongoing discussion and debate with regulators on matters seemingly small or unmistakably major and so much of it means lost or found dollars to the restaurateur’s bottom line.

We do well as an organization getting the attention and consideration of legislators and regulators through the involvement of some very dedicated volunteers.  They see the importance of the work that the association does close up and know how valuable it is to their businesses and the industry.

Involvement is a word that I would like to have jump off the page with the full impact of its importance to your business. A phone call or a letter could be the tipping point between success and failure; and it could be your letter.  The power of one in an association is often overlooked by virtue of the many people involved,  but your communication may be the one thing that is required to get the job done…maybe it’s a legislator you know…maybe it’s the town you live in…or maybe it’s the prominence of your restaurant.

It was only through the involvement of many of the association’s members and their testimony at committee hearings, the calls to Legislators, and their speaking out in the press that the CRA was able to defeat the attempts by the Treasurer to confiscate gift certificate monies from restaurants for the state’s general fund.  The association won this issue in 2005 and all restaurants owe that victory to those who participated.  Get involved!

As we move into this legislative session we will face more challenges, some new and some old.  Tourism funding has been slashed by 43% to a point where the state trails all of New England .  With over 30% of the tourism dollar spent in restaurants we cannot let this continue.  The minimum wage continues to rise with another increase in January of 2007, and the legislature seeking to enact additional increases in January of 2009 and 2010. However, the server tip credit in Connecticut is less that half of that in neighboring states.  We need to increases the tip credit if we are to be competitive.  These are but two of the issues that will be brought before the legislature and we can only be an effective voice with the participation of a committed industry.  Get involved!

In the final analysis it is about your business and your involvement.  Although the power of one is sometimes insurmountable, more often it is a collective will, voice and knowledge that gets things done.  Our legislative efforts and our development of meaningful benefit programs are a measure of our work.  It is work that benefits all.   And it is this work that is worth the investment of your time and your dues.  Be a part of the solution that tips the balance on the side of business.  Be the call that makes the difference.  Get Involved!

Sincerely,
Bob DeZinno, FMP
President & CEO