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Done! I have been meaning to join for months! Thank you for the nudge! I am unable to add the CASAA banner, which I would like to do, due to a space restriction. Does anyone know if there is a way to shrink it or if CASAA has a smaller icon that would fit under/over the avatar? I would appreciate any help. Thanks!
Out of curiosity, are there any stated/known objectives for 2014? Like objectives that are adapting to where things are right now in the political fight?
I'm thinking along lines of:
- reaching a particular number of total members by end of 2014
- stopping or for sure addressing a certain number of usage bans in 2014
Perhaps more. I'm a newbie and just wondering about this sort of thing here in early Jan. 2014.
I do still think non-members can, and likely will, help with most actions that CASAA does take to help benefit the vaping community. But I do think the strength in numbers thing matters going forward.
I'm thinking along lines of:
- reaching a particular number of total members by end of 2014
- stopping or for sure addressing a certain number of usage bans in 2014
Perhaps more. I'm a newbie and just wondering about this sort of thing here in early Jan. 2014.
I do still think non-members can, and likely will, help with most actions that CASAA does take to help benefit the vaping community. But I do think the strength in numbers thing matters going forward.
I think for the most part you may be indulging in "wishful thinking" when it comes to non-CASAA members being active in support of vaping and taking time and action to stand-up against vaping bans. I hope you are right and I am wrong, but I would not bet money on it. When you see vapers agreeing with bans and restrictions across the country and believing that vaping is the same as smoking, combined with the a large percentage of apathetic vapers, it doesn't surprise me that CASAA hasn't cracked 10,000 members. It is a difficult task to overcome decades of brainwashing along with a lack of critical thinking.
The Board members of CASAA deserve our gratitude for how much they have accomplished, however. And those who maintain ECF deserve out gratitude, also.
See, I can still recall what it was like to be a non-member and not feel bad about not being into CASAA. During my non-membership, I attended to CTA's, with latest one being the Europe stuff. I note that, because it is possible to say, 'that doesn't impact me at all.' Yet, I get how it does or very much can, but also get that they'd do the same for us, as it really is 'we're all in this together.'
I think it would behoove us/CASAA to ask why people aren't joining, and then not to respond there on the spot or go all heavy into recruitment after asking such a question. Instead gather responses, and create objectives around the feedback we receive, especially if there is more than one respondent saying similar thing.
Before I joined, it sometimes came off as, "well my friend, you are a fool for not joining. Good luck to having all your vaping stuff banned and not having a voice." IOW, some of us shame people for not joining. So far, since I've been a member, there has been zero difference to me in being one compared to not being one. Don't know if that'll be true a year from now, but can say it has so far been the case.
Now that I'm a member, I'd like to see the membership numbers grow. Yet, I currently feel everyone is a de facto member if they vape and care, even a little bit, about politics of eCigs. Thus far, it strikes me that they can do for the vaping community whatever I am able to do as member of CASAA. So the line between organized member and non-member of organization seems very thin to me in this moment. We actually do have strength in a much larger number than we may realize, even while it would be great to realize a CASAA membership total that is in the 6 figure range.
As I stated originally, I hope you are right and I am wrong. I think you are the exception, Jman in your advocacy for vaping prior to joining CASAA. I have found most not to have your passion and critical thinking. Most vapers fall into these categories or a combination of these categories: 1) the clueless, 2) those who view vaping as the same as smoking, 3) the interested but not involved by temperament, 4) the apathetic and 5) the enlightened and engaged. Unfortunately for the vaping community, category 5 is the smallest of all of them. Hopefully we can get those in 2, 3 and 4 to change their positions.
Since there are more B&M's opening nationwide, I would like to see all of us who use them to advocate with the owners to place CASAA brochures on their counters, at a minimum. I have been able to get one in this area to do so. Ordering the materials from CASAA and then going to your local office supply retailer and getting a $5.00 brochure holder and give it to the B&M makes it easier for them to accept it from my experience.
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Here is what I can think of right now that we are working on:
- Creating several "white papers" regarding issues.
- Recruiting more "official" advisors from both the scientific and THR communities.
- Public service announcement graphics
- Booklets about e-cigarettes for advocates to hand out to legislators, doctors, employers and universities (These will be similar to the old "Legislative packet" and the booklet I did for colleges. The current Legislative Packet is way too wordy and outdated. I envision a booklet with clear headings on specific concerns and graphs and images to add color and rest the eyes.)
- Submitted an application for the consumer seat at TPSAC.
- Today, I just submitted a draft to the board for consideration regarding creating CASAA State Representatives (who would have far more duties and responsibilities than Regional Reps and will act in an official capacity in their state to fight bans and taxes more proactively and efficiently.)
This is great! Thanks for sharing in open forum.
I am still curious if these items, or other items CASAA is up to, has objectives/goals attached to them for say what is intended to be accomplished by say end of 2014?
Add "Create written objectives/goals for 2014" to the list of things we are definitely working on.
Kristin,
I had the purely chance opportunity to talk with one of the professors who is a peer of Dr Erickson (sp) at Georgia State about their $19M grant to study vaping. I asked if they were going to be interviewing/surveying those who vape. She stated they were. I gave her my business card as a volunteer and one of the CASAA business card/handouts and suggested they contact CASAA. It was a couple of weeks ago. It may be way too early, but have they made any contact with CASAA? I made it clear that CASAA was an non-profit organization comprised only of "consumer vapers" with no industry affiliations.
No one has mentioned hearing from her, so I don't believe she has. Thank you for telling her about CASAA, though!
Hey Kristin, are you out there?
Some people just want more cowbell...
For me, the CASAA member numbers ARE my cowbell...
I need more cowbell.
More Cowbell with Will Ferrell on SNL | Video | Saturday Night Live | NBC | Video | Saturday Night Live | NBC
My bad - I missed this one!
Membership update: 8,605
Maybe I scared some people off by telling them how long it took to join such a beneficial group.
Just to clarify, had I not made a mistake entering my email addy (iPad and uncooperative fingers) it really would have only taken 8 seconds.
(thats right, a cheesy Bump to the top).
Welcome to all the new members! Happy to see you've joined the fight!
On 10/16/2013 we had 7,412 CASAA members! We don't seem to be growing fast but we are growing steadily.
We need to keep the push for new members going forward.
It's difficult for us to do that since most of us can't post a new thread in the ECF new members section, new threads are for new ECF members in the Newbie forum. We can comment in that thread but not post a new thread. So, it depends on the new members finding the General forum we're in now.
On 10/16/2013 we had 7,412 CASAA members! We don't seem to be growing fast but we are growing steadily.
We need to keep the push for new members going forward.
It's difficult for us to do that since most of us can't post a new thread in the ECF new members section, new threads are for new ECF members in the Newbie forum. We can comment in that thread but not post a new thread. So, it depends on the new members finding the General forum we're in now.
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