when can we expect to see some more action

[marcb70]

I like what you guys are talking about doing but I wanna see some action before I throw you some money. What do you guys have in the works and when can we expect some more action?

[LaceyUnderall]

Marc - I know today is a big day. I am waiting for an update to see what has happened in the SE case. From there, the ECA will determine what action/step to take next.

Two things can happen: The judge agrees with SE that the FDA overstepped their bounds and did not follow their own system for stopping products. OR the judge finds for the FDA. As you can see, those are two very different outcomes with very different options as to a response from the ECA.

As soon as I know something... I will most definitely make sure it is reported Also keep an eye out for NYCSublimeGirl or ECA as Antoinette sits on the board of the ECA.

[Surf Monkey]

I'd like to know how the ECA allows big market TV stations like KPTV to run biased "investigative reports" about personal vaporizers without providing any input whatsoever. It's been common knowledge on the board that this report was being produced for nearly a week and yet no ECA statement or interview was included. If we're going to win this fight we need the ECA to actively work to make sure our viewpoint is represented with authority. Silence hurts us badly.

[Babachoo]

I'd like to know how the ECA allows big market TV stations like KPTV to run biased "investigative reports" about personal vaporizers without providing any input whatsoever. It's been common knowledge on the board that this report was being produced for nearly a week and yet no ECA statement or interview was included. If we're going to win this fight we need the ECA to actively work to make sure our viewpoint is represented with authority. Silence hurts us badly.

In before "that's a local matter and we're too busy in Washington doing XYZ"

and yet absolutely no updates with exactly whatever XYZ activities they're doing. It's sad when Spikey gets more accomplished than an organization that charges thousands of dollars a year just to join them. I agree, and normally I'd say "less talk and more action" to people like the ECA, but at this point, they're not even talking (keeping us informed what they're actively working on), so I have to say "more talk and more action".

[Surf Monkey]

Agreed. There's no question that lobbying Washington is important, but making a positive impression on rank-and-filers is critical right now. Stations like KPTV run these biased reports and that's the very first impression that THOUSANDS of people get. If the ECA isn't in there offering our viewpoint, we've just lost countless potential converts.

[eplanet]

In before "that's a local matter and we're too busy in Washington doing XYZ"

and yet absolutely no updates with exactly whatever XYZ activities they're doing. It's sad when Spikey gets more accomplished than an organization that charges thousands of dollars a year just to join them. I agree, and normally I'd say "less talk and more action" to people like the ECA, but at this point, they're not even talking (keeping us informed what they're actively working on), so I have to say "more talk and more action".

Hey I have been working very close with Spikey on our local situation and she is doing a fantastic job. I also work closely with the ECA and the ECA has been supportive and helpful as well. There are many things happening right now and just because it is not all out in the open does not mean things are not happening.
Matt Salmon has been very supportive as well as Bill Godshall. Everyone is doing there part and the negativity flying around here is a shame.

What have any of you guys done that gives you the right to bash others? NOTHING!!! So stop complaining and get off your @$$es and do something, otherwise you are all talk!!!

Seriously what are you doing to make a difference?

Peace...

[Babachoo]

Hey I have been working very close with Spikey on our local situation and she is doing a fantastic job. I also work closely with the ECA and the ECA has been supportive and helpful as well. There are many things happening right now and just because it is not all out in the open does not mean things are not happening.
Matt Salmon has been very supportive as well as Bill Godshall. Everyone is doing there part and the negativity flying around here is a shame.

What have any of you guys done that gives you the right to bash others? NOTHING!!! So stop complaining and get off your @$$es and do something, otherwise you are all talk!!!

Seriously what are you doing to make a difference?

Peace...

But you weren't representing the ECA when you went with Spikey, because that was her project. And I personally am in close contact (we speak at least once or twice a week) with my congressional representatives and local city council.

You say "just because everything isn't out in the open" doesn't mean nothing is happening. But while we lose battle after battle and you guys say absolutely nothing about it, much less actually step in and help fight, we the general public are the only ones actually making any headway at the moment. So talk all you want to about whatever you're doing behind closed doors, but thus far it has done nothing to help anyone, and since the ECA's inception, there have been numerous battles lost that you didn't even bother to participate in because the same tired excuse of "that's a local level thing, and we're too busy in D.C."

You're the one being rather negative here, implying that we're doing nothing and accusing us of being "all talk". You represent the ECA very poorly to attack those who are urging you to help us. But then again, I and others have gotten that from a lot of ECA members, so is that part of the strategy that you guys have been discussing all this time behind closed doors or what? If the ECA had all its ducks in a row and was worth representing, I would be mentioning you guys every single time I speak with policy makers, but I cannot do that at this point, because of the horrible way you all deal with people.

[Surf Monkey]

There are many things happening right now and just because it is not all out in the open does not mean things are not happening.

No one is denying that. The point of my post is that public relations is a CRITICAL element in the fight to save PVs. Anti-smoking entities are dominating local reports like the one on KPTV last night, and the ECA is nowhere to be seen. They should be doing everything in their power to make sure no report on a big market TV station gets produced without their input. This is basic marketing strategy, not some outlandish or unreasonable suggestion. Every time a person encounters anti-smoking rhetoric as their first exposure to the PV we lose a potential ally and allow the anti-smoking lobby to gain ground against us.

What have any of you guys done that gives you the right to bash others? NOTHING!!! So stop complaining and get off your @$$es and do something, otherwise you are all talk!!!

Seriously what are you doing to make a difference?

Pardon me, but that's a highly presumptuous and borderline offensive statement. You have no idea what we are or aren't doing to support the cause. To make the assumption that we're doing nothing is just as egregious as scolding us for suggesting that the ECA should have a stronger PR arm.

But since you asked, I've been doing everything time allows. I've sent written letters to all my local, state and national representatives. I've spoken IN PERSON with both Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (Oregon's Senators) and I'm working on getting David Wu (my Congresssman in Oregon) on the phone too. I'm also an active advocate on a "guerrilla basis" making sure to disseminate pro PV information whenever I have the chance. I vapor in public, start up dialogues, give people linkage to relevant sites and so forth.

It's fine for you to suggest that we all do more to promote the cause, but don't assume that you're the only one who's actually doing it. It's insulting.

Know.

[eplanet]

Well whatever you are doing is appreciated. I am not trying to insult anyone but you guys keep knocking the ECA and that is not helping this cause (I personally find it quite frustrating).
This is all new to all of us and we are all doing the best we can at the moment. Like I have said there are so many things happening and it is very difficult to monitor everything. Many of us have jobs and families and we are putting in as much effort and time as we can. All I am saying is instead of trying to discredit the ECA you can do something more positive with your time.
I am all for the grass roots movement and we all want the same thing, so instead of all of this chit chat cant we find some common ground and unite in a positive way and make a difference? This is accomplishing absolutely nothing.
We all want the same thing...so lets just focus on the positive!!!
And we all are doing our part and we will prevail.

Peace...

[Surf Monkey]

1) This is the first comment I've ever made about the ECF, so suggesting that I "keep knocking the ECA" is flat wrong.

2) I am not trying to "discredit the ECA" in any way, shape or form. What I'm trying to do is suggest that the KPTV report was a dropped ball. The ECA needs a higher profile on local news shows and in local papers. I see reporting like this go unchallenged all the time. I don't expect the ECA to be there to counter every single report but when we're talking about a station in a top 25 market who made it known that they were doing a report on this subject well in advance, it makes no sense that the ECA wasn't able to martial enough resources to at least speak to the reporter by phone. I did what I could to educate Ms. Tomlinson on the topic, but I don't have the same authority that the ECA does, so my input fell on mostly deaf ears.

3) It's all well and good to suggest that we "play nice," but it's a little hollow when you launched the first attack by admonishing us to "get off [our] @$$es and do something."