CASAA | Board Nominees & Elections

[Kamanjah]

My background is insurance, specifically claims and information technology. I am a retired Sr. Business Systems Analyst, so I'm not always up on all the latest web technology, but I grasp it well once someone points me in the right direction. In that position, I wrote almost all project documentation, from white papers to functional specs to detailed specs, and liaised with management and users. I wrote the test plans, managed the QA (quality assurance) team, trained users and wrote user manuals and then the help portions of applications. I did some SQL programming and am functional with html. I'm really good at breaking software, which can be a curse at times!

I served a term as Second Vice President of the Orange County (CA) Orchid Society. I published two newsletters for them when the editor unexpectedly died (the show must go on, ya know). I also worked with the Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group, a group of citizens working to update a very out-dated community plan in conjunction with the Calaveras County General Plan update. I was author or co-author/editor of several detailed "vision statements" that were to be submitted to the county.

I play viola in two local symphonies. I can also "play" a good devil's advocate in an effort to keep things on target.

As most of you know, I was active in the campaign to contact Gov. Schwarzenegger to veto SB 400. I'm so glad our voices were heard, and I thank all of you who contacted him. I am also a volunteer at Right To Vape.

I will never hesitate to contact a government representative to voice my opinion. I would like to see an education campaign directed at all of our representatives so they can learn about PVs before someone drafts legislation to ban them because they "look like smoke." I believe we can find more allies by being proactive.

Thank you for your nominations!
Diane Starner

[stevo_tdo]

I might of left out a little tidbit of info when I told you all a little about me. I guess it just slipped my mind as I was very happy to have been nominated.

I have been involved in scouting in one way or another since I was 9. I started as a cub scout and went through webelos and eventually earned the Arrow of Light award when I was 11.

That brought me into the Boy Scouts of America. Where I was immersed into more than I can fit my head around. I learned just about every skill set that could be imagined from surviving in the wilderness, Being a public speaker, to How to save a life.

I met life long friends along the way and had more fun that I though was possible. Whether it be canoeing, Visiting the battleship in Mobile, Going to the space museum, staying weeks on campsite, or participating in two 25 mile hikes in a row.

Also during this time I served in various positions in the troop itself. Anywhere from Quartermaster, to Assistant Scoutmaster. My role throughout the years had been one of leadership.

In 2004 I received the rank of Eagle Scout, Fulfilling what I had set out to do when I was 9, just 9 years later. I have determination and will power. I will fight for what is right.

For a few years after I received Eagle I stayed heavily involved with the troop. Now that I have a family it isn't always easy to find time to be involved but I do. I strongly support the Scouts in any way I can. We have a saying in scouts, "Once a Scout, Always a Scout" There is a long list of outstanding people who share the rank of Eagle with me.

I have the ability

[jj2]

Well, with all that talent out there, I guess I'm pleased with my decision not to add my name.
Yes, I've read all the "Why I'd be good for the board" post but there are a lot of nom's that haven't posted. Would really like to see them do that before the election.
Please, please, please.

[Vocalek]

Greeting: My name is Elaine Keller, and I am a vocalist. Hence, the screen name. Here's a picture of me from a few years back:

Julie.jpg

Ooops, wait! Wrong picture. Don't worry, I'll find it.

I trace my history as an activist back to junior high school, when I was called into the Principal's office for circulating a petition asking that all graduating students be dismissed at the start of 4th period, instead of at the start of their respective (4th or 5th) lunch period. He told me that this was no way to go about trying to change the situation. I pointed out that we had been taught in government class that the people are allowed to petition the government for redress of grievances.

The petition was kyboshed, but the Principal quickly announced that all graduates would be excused at the start of 4th period to go get dressed for graduation ceremonies. Of couse, the Principal has ways of getting even with students who irritate him.

classphoto.jpg

In more recent times, I have served in various capacities in an Employee Resource Group (ERG). Last spring, headquarters asked me to coordinate the efforts of a workgroup made up of representatives from all local chapters. The workgroup was charged with creating an enterprise-wide ERG. We used Live Meeting to connect the geographically dispersed membership and SharePoint to store documents and track versions.

Those who have followed my posts know that I am not averse to writing letters. Writing has been a major part of my work history. I worked for 5 years in advertising and public relations. Then, as an instructional designer I developed classroom training materials, computer-based training, web-based training, user manuals, and job aids. Currently I work as a technical writer, mostly in the field of public health. I'm responsible for the documentation that accompanies the AHRQ's Quality Indicators software modules. Recently I created the framework for a meta-analysis of published research on the effectiveness of school-based tobacco education programs (most don't work very well.)

I began researching tobacco and nicotine before the days of the Internet. What triggered my research was when I noticed that every time I tried to quit smoking – or even just cut back on my intake – I would become quite ill. I started at the local library. A book called Smoking: the Artificial Passion by David Krogh provided a wealth of information about the physical, biochemical, and neurological underpinnings of the effects of nicotine on the brain and body.

Krogh reviewed relevant research in lay-person's language and provided a rich set of references from numerous medical and scientific journals. I actually drove to the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda and took out a library card so that I could read the full articles. I also used their mainframe computer to search for more articles. I spent a small fortune in their copy machines. Today, of course, I do my research on Pub Med.

My research convinced me that smoking is not an "addiction" in the traditional sense of the word. Nicotine is the best natural, multi-purpose, miracle drug to hit the world since acetylsalicylic acid.

I hope to teach the world someday to stop talking about "nicotine abuse" and begin discussing the therapeutic applications of nicotine. I hope to someday overcome all the noise generated by anti-tobacco extremists, and see all of us treated with respect by the rest of society.

I truly feel that the electronic cigarette has saved my life. I would be honored to join the board of CASAA and further its work.

--Elaine (VocalEK)


Oh, I found that other picture.
The wedding band.jpg

[Thulium]

In more recent times, I have served in various capacities in an Employee Resource Group (ERG). Last spring, headquarters asked me to coordinate the efforts of a workgroup made up of representatives from all local chapters. The workgroup was charged with creating an enterprise-wide ERG. We used Live Meeting to connect the geographically dispersed membership and SharePoint to store documents and track versions.

Elaine, when I mentioned in my post that I once worked for Microsoft, specifically I worked in LiveMeeting event support. I don't remember when I suggested this or something like it for holding board meetings, but this is as good an excuse as any to bring it up again. Needless to say, if we decide to use a tool like that, I'll be happy to help make sure everyone is set up and working correctly. I have no real allegiance to a specific product, but I think we'd be well advised to use a web conferencing tool along those lines for board meetings, as well as moderated events open to the entire membership.

[Vocalek]

I agree. It makes a big difference. I have found that on a straight teleconference, people begin multi-tasking (i.e., not paying attention to what is being discussed in the meeting.) When they also have something to look at on their screen, along with carefully orchestrated interaction, such as polls and desktop sharing, more gets done.

[Webby]

I agree. It makes a big difference. I have found that on a straight teleconference, people begin multi-tasking (i.e., not paying attention to what is being discussed in the meeting.) When they also have something to look at on their screen, along with carefully orchestrated interaction, such as polls and desktop sharing, more gets done.

When I worked at Micro$oft, we called it "web wandering" The funny thing was that even though the execs knew we monitored the net traffic, they still read email, surfed and visisted "prohibited" sites all during the CTO's web conference. At the end, he would make a beeline to our offices to see the log report on who was online, whether or not they followed the presentation and which users "wandered off"

It wasn't uncommon for people to simply not show back up to work after those "training webinars"

[Webby]

I have to say, I had no idea that the experience of CASAA’s nominees ran so deep in the fields of marketing, NPO administration, legal, medical and public relations. Apparently, our participation in ECF precedes each of us. Our views and public posts are a direct reflection of who we are, and FWIW, enough ECF members believe in us to ask that we lead the cause. I really hope that sinks in to everyone on this thread.

There is an ancient Chinese curse that says, “May you live in interesting times.”

To my credit (or said curse) I have had the privilege to be involved in many vocations over the years. I have owned bars and restaurants, been a program director and DJ in a top 25 radio market and flown air cargo throughout most of Central and South America. Seeing a Scottish CV-340 pilot who speaks fluent Spanish can really rattle the natives - regardless how well your customs paperwork is filled out (just FYI, in case you find yourselves in a similar situation in San Salvador…)

In 1988, I started misc.transport.air-industry.cargo an air cargo newsgroup on Usenet (the precursor to today’s internet forums) The internet was primarily a few million sites, email and a network of dial up access BBS boards. Prodigy , CompuServe and AOL pretty much ran the show.

When the internet exploded in ‘92 and the dot com era reared its darling little head, I tied my mouse and keyboard into a handkerchief on a stick and rode that wave through Redmond, LA, Oakland, San Antonio, Dallas, New York, Atlanta and Miami.

In ’98 I came home to the Gulf Coast and started WebOperations.net (See “About”) we have six offices and host 3,800 clients, providing web development, hosting, SEO and online marketing. This is where I got saddled with the nickname "Webby" and most of my clients don't even know my real name. They probably wouldn't believe it anyway

About a year ago, a dear friend and former client came to me with e-cigarettes.

He showed me about ten different models he’d bought and said he wanted to start an e-commerce site. After hearing him out, I met with him a week later and told him, “AC – in fifteen years of web development and marketing, I have to say that for the first time that I don’t want your money. I want to be your partner”

Over the next year, we started E-CigaretteSales.com and narrowed our product line from 11 models to Joyetech’s 510 and 302. Like any good entrepreneurs, to us it was simply a business decision at the time. The Joyetech line had the least support issues and lowest customer return issues.

At the time, I was a 2-3 pack a day Marlboro smoker. AC had recently been diagnosed with emphysema (his doctor had recommended he try e-cigs) Throughout the next several months, he had quit entirely and I had dropped down to 2 or 3 analogs a day (still can’t beat that morning coffee and a smoke) While building up the business, we spoke daily and traded email hourly, tracking shipments, responding to customer questions and bitching about the cost of shipping.

My friend and business partner AC died in June from complications of his emphysema and the direct result of 50 years of smoking. As a vet, he died with full military honors. I was a pallbearer and carried his casket; placing a 302 on the top (several mourners questioned later why I had placed a “pen” on the casket) It was a deeply personal moment for me and I still regret not leaving him a charger.

AC Reeves lived a long and happy life. I was blessed to have known him briefly but very closely in his last years. One thing he said will always ring loudly to me and is probably one of the most important reasons I am so vocal in the advocacy or the electronic cigarette.

“I wish they’d had invented these damn things twenty years ago.”

Wow. I don’t want those same words to be my epitaph.

If they had, my friend and business partner would be here now. None of you knew AC and it doesn’t really matter. He introduced e-cigs to me and (for all I know) added a few more precious years to my life to see my kids grow up. For that alone, I owe him everything.

I’ve read many kind comments and personal email thanking me for the time and efforts I’ve spent on CASAA. Until this very moment it really hadn’t struck me why this fight was so important to me. Even if there was no CASAA, I would be advocating e-cigs. I’d be looking for opportunities to vape in public (and I do) just to get people to ask what that gadget is. I’d call over the flight attendant on commuter flights and ask if I can vape on the plane – even on 30 minute flights.

So. What are my qualifications for being on the Board for CASAA?

Academically, I have a BS in Business from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) with a minor in Communications. In ’94, I completed my second BS in Computer Information Systems with a second minor in Psychology.

From Micro$oft, I have MCP/MCSE/MCSD and a MCT cert. (XP/Vista Tracks)

I have 17 years of corporate management and private business ownership experience. I speak three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) and can program in eight. I own an ISP with six offices in four states, 3,800 corporate domains and 14,800 users. Site development, online marketing and managing internet resources is what we do.

I am also the CEO of AmericasBestBuys.com and ECS-Wholesale.com. We supply over 380 retail outlets with Joyetech products and supplies. I make no apologies to the fact that ABB is a tobacco retailer’s source and we commercially brand our products as ECS-Wholesale (with retail prices) to protect our reseller’s markets. Most ECF members buy directly from AmericasBestBuys.com

All of this basically means that I am certified to run your friendly neighborhood business or corporate IT department. NOW - If it goes into Chapter 13, I can coherently explain to you exactly what went wrong (in three languages) and convince you that you are really a good person and your parents were to blame. If all that fails to convince you, I can write an application that calculates algorithms to prove your parents were to blame. If you buy a 510 kit from another supplier, it really doesn’t hurt my feelings as most of our clients don’t even own a computer. Which proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is most likely the direct fault of their parents.

[jj2]

I'll vote for slds181, just because I have no idea who any of these other people are

I can understand this but I've been trying to get the
nominees to step up and tell us a little about themselves.
NOT ALL HAVE so it would be nice if the others would follow suit!!!!

I hate flying blind---stupid thing to do.

[Moobyghost]

I am working on it, give me 15 min and I will try to promote myself.