Support Your Local USBG Chapter
by Jill Cockson
or the past year, I have been working with many of my
beloved industry comrades to establish the Omaha-Lincoln
chapter of the Unites States Bartenders’ Guild. For those who are
not familiar, the USBG is our domestic branch of the IBA, the
International Bartenders’ Association. These organizations are
primarily dedicated to establishing/maintaining the profession of
tending bar through comprehensive product and etiquette training,
incredible networking opportunities, access to healthcare benefits,
and both national and international competition platforms, all for
less than $10 per month in membership fees!
I first became aware of the USBG a few years ago, and was
particularly drawn to the fact that they offered access to healthcare
with group rates. In the face of Obamacare, that aspect of the
USBG has lost some of its luster, but I have since become obsessed
with the nearly sublime networking aspects of USBG membership.
a business plan to sell my pre-prohibition style tonic syrups
commercially.
I nearly talked myself out of the trip based on the travel and
hotel expenses, but I am SO THANKFUL that I went, for the
incredible connections I made there with folks who have become
integral in the formation of my tonic company, Rabbit and Turtle
Beverage Corp. One of these connections has resulted in a reference
to my product in Saveur magazine out of Brooklyn, NY. The same
connection resulted in the demoing of my product to a national
chain restaurant looking to expand their craft cocktail program.
The gears are turning to feature my product, Colonel Jesse’s Small
Batch Tonic, on their menu. These blessings have all been afforded
to me as a result of my USBG membership.
The USBG Omaha-Lincoln chapter is currently in pending
status; we are 26 members strong, but need to reach 40 members
before our chapter can be officially recognized. Whether you are a
career bartender, a beer or cocktail enthusiast, sales rep, or other
industry professional, I urge you to invest the very small amount
in yourself to become a USBG member today. If you are interested
in becoming a member, or simply want more information, go to
USBG.org, or e-mail me at [email protected].
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“I have been working with many
of my beloved industry comrades
to establish the Omaha-Lincoln
chapter of the United States
Bartenders’ Guild.”
As soon as I joined the USBG, I also became a blogger on the
USBG Pulse site, which is only accessible to members. The best
way to describe Pulse is a Facebook page specifically for serious
bartenders and industry personnel. Whether you work at a dive,
resort, beer, wine, sports, or craft cocktail bar, the Pulse site offers
an accessible pool of experienced people who are glad to share their
knowledge and advice constructively and free of charge.
A short time later, and still trying to spread the word about our
potential chapter, I applied and was accepted to attend Portland
Cocktail Week, an AWESOME week-long, education-centered
event for serious bar folk/geeks. I am pretty certain that my name,
in association with my blog (Bombay Sappho) on the Pulse site,
played a role in my acceptance to attend. I chose to attend classes
based on the theme of product development, as I was developing
157 West Broadway Council Bluffs, Iowa
712.256.4140
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