In Indianapolis, we are currently fighting a full on smoking ban. With most officials having never seen an electronic cigarette in real life, they are simply plopping in wording to include ecigs as something that produces "smoke".
If you find yourself needing to fight local ordinance legislation, there are undoubtedly small business owners, particularly bars and restaurants, who are members of an association. These associations not only represent between 15+ businesses, but they have been around for awhile and have more pull with the local legislators than any ecig user ever could. For example the ILBA, Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, is representing 150 business owners with liquor licenses that want to see the smoking ban fail.
So... find them. If you don't know who this is... ask a bar or restaurant OWNER. Not the servers or bartenders, but the OWNER. Do a Google search for "Local Business Association (include your location)" and something should pop up. These people are most likely AGAINST smoking bans. You might have to be crafty. Depending on your state and what the liquor laws are... you might find yourself needing to align with the Liquor Commission.
If you find yourself needing to do this, please feel free to post the association or organization you will/have contact(ed) and any correspondence you wish to share. This could greatly help those to follow. But please remember, what you post online is open to the world to read so IF you think it is in the best interest of your cause to keep it quiet until the end... DO THAT! Post your tactics AFTER the final vote... but please... do use these threads to help get others in your area to help you. PM's and emails are your best friend
One thing to remember is that even though these groups are most likely trying to get a smoking ban to fail in it's entirety, and they do have pull and power, make sure that you fight to have the wording of "electronic cigarettes" or whatever is stated in the ban removed. It is wonderful to align with said associations, however, you want to make absolutely sure no matter what happens, that the ordinance does not become an exclusive ban against ecig usage while others can still smoke tobacco cigarettes... and that CAN happen.
Confused about this thread? Read http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-organizations-ability-listen.html#post560853 first.
If you find yourself needing to fight local ordinance legislation, there are undoubtedly small business owners, particularly bars and restaurants, who are members of an association. These associations not only represent between 15+ businesses, but they have been around for awhile and have more pull with the local legislators than any ecig user ever could. For example the ILBA, Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, is representing 150 business owners with liquor licenses that want to see the smoking ban fail.
So... find them. If you don't know who this is... ask a bar or restaurant OWNER. Not the servers or bartenders, but the OWNER. Do a Google search for "Local Business Association (include your location)" and something should pop up. These people are most likely AGAINST smoking bans. You might have to be crafty. Depending on your state and what the liquor laws are... you might find yourself needing to align with the Liquor Commission.
If you find yourself needing to do this, please feel free to post the association or organization you will/have contact(ed) and any correspondence you wish to share. This could greatly help those to follow. But please remember, what you post online is open to the world to read so IF you think it is in the best interest of your cause to keep it quiet until the end... DO THAT! Post your tactics AFTER the final vote... but please... do use these threads to help get others in your area to help you. PM's and emails are your best friend
One thing to remember is that even though these groups are most likely trying to get a smoking ban to fail in it's entirety, and they do have pull and power, make sure that you fight to have the wording of "electronic cigarettes" or whatever is stated in the ban removed. It is wonderful to align with said associations, however, you want to make absolutely sure no matter what happens, that the ordinance does not become an exclusive ban against ecig usage while others can still smoke tobacco cigarettes... and that CAN happen.
Confused about this thread? Read http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-organizations-ability-listen.html#post560853 first.
