Someone today said to me "We won the battle, but we lost the war" today. Was that you Eplanet?
So... following is a general summary as I have a VERY long week coming up and LOTS to do before Wednesday!
VapersClub has done some organizing. We elected a board by very primitive methods at our meeting on Friday.
We had already started things in motion. On Friday morning I sent out the following letter to all the Suffolk County Legislators voting on the ban.
Re: Electronic Cigarette Ban
Dear Legislator XXXXX,
We are writing in reference to the meeting on June 9th where you will vote on whether or not to ban the sale and restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in Suffolk County. Before doing so we wanted to at least give you a minimal education so that you know what you are voting on. Here is a link to a flyer which explains the basics of the electronic cigarette (aka PV or personal vaporizer) and what it is all about. http://vapersclub.com/vapersclubdotcompamphlet.pdf More information can be found at www.e-cigarette-forum.com.
A few of our club members, who are current users of electronic cigarettes who meet monthly, intend to meet with Legislator Jon Cooper next week to educate him about the PV and we would like to offer you the opportunity for the same education so you can be aware of what it is you are voting on.
Time is short and it will be shorter by the time you receive this. If you would like to set up a short 30 minute meeting so we can answer any questions you may have about the PV/E-cig I am happy to come and meet with you or have one of our members meet with you to answer any questions you may have before the vote. You can also reach me by phone or email with any questions you may have.
I thank you for your time and please remember that your decision will affect ALL Long Islanders and their loved ones not just those who use nicotine. Please consider very carefully that by restricting access to these devices, many who have failed for decades to quit any other way will have no option but to return to traditional cigarettes, which may as well be a death sentence. I would not want that on my conscience.
Spike XXXXX
Long Island, New York Vapers Club
www.VapersClub.com
VapersClub@aol.com
XXX-XXX-XXXX
I sent the email above on Thursday 5/28 and mailed copies of actual paper letters on Friday 5/29. At this point we had already been in contact with Legislator Cooper's office who agreed to a meeting with us on 6/3. The vote on the ban was supposed to take place 6/9.
On Friday we received a phone call confirming the date and time for the meeting for 6/3 and also asking if we could speak on 6/1 to discuss amendments being considered for the terms of the legislation. Today I had a conference call with the legislative aid from Legislator Cooper's office and EPlanet who was elected as a Vice President of the Vapers Club (along with liquid vapor) although he wiill not have decision making authority due to his status as a supplier. During this conference call we were informed of changes to the terms of the legislation to bring it "in line" with Suffolk County's tobacco 19 ordinance. We discussed some specifics, but prefer not to post them as we have no written confirmation yet. As soon as the proposed legislation is changed online or we receive an email confirming the wording of the changes we will post results.
Also on Friday we met (at our LI Vapers Club meeting) an additional party with a vested interest in preventing the ban and they have legal counsel from what I understand. We will not be working with them, but will be in collaboration with information. This should be beneficial to both of us as we have different resources available.
In the meantime... we will have meetings with/speak in front of at least 6 of the 18 Suffolk County Legislators this week and try to educate them about the PV/ecig. We do need some help though. We need to print out certain studies and info. I will be posting a seperate thread asking for your help. To inspire proper help.. the Vapers Club will be offering a prize for one of the people who helps us collect the info we need for the meeting (name will be chosen out of a hat by a board member) .
From what we understand... the legislation must be re-introduced with the amendment proposed for review and must be approved again in it's new format before it can be voted on. If true, this would mean we will have the opportunity to speak at the public hearing when it is introduced (we did not last time because no one knew about the hearing until it was over... ot was very sneaky!).
So... as with all things political.. there is a lot of red tape. We will post further info as soon as we receive a copy of the new legislation and again after we meet with the Legislators to share any further info that we are permitted to share.
Thanks for your patience and everyone's help thusfar!
So... following is a general summary as I have a VERY long week coming up and LOTS to do before Wednesday!
VapersClub has done some organizing. We elected a board by very primitive methods at our meeting on Friday.
We had already started things in motion. On Friday morning I sent out the following letter to all the Suffolk County Legislators voting on the ban.
Re: Electronic Cigarette Ban
Dear Legislator XXXXX,
We are writing in reference to the meeting on June 9th where you will vote on whether or not to ban the sale and restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in Suffolk County. Before doing so we wanted to at least give you a minimal education so that you know what you are voting on. Here is a link to a flyer which explains the basics of the electronic cigarette (aka PV or personal vaporizer) and what it is all about. http://vapersclub.com/vapersclubdotcompamphlet.pdf More information can be found at www.e-cigarette-forum.com.
A few of our club members, who are current users of electronic cigarettes who meet monthly, intend to meet with Legislator Jon Cooper next week to educate him about the PV and we would like to offer you the opportunity for the same education so you can be aware of what it is you are voting on.
Time is short and it will be shorter by the time you receive this. If you would like to set up a short 30 minute meeting so we can answer any questions you may have about the PV/E-cig I am happy to come and meet with you or have one of our members meet with you to answer any questions you may have before the vote. You can also reach me by phone or email with any questions you may have.
I thank you for your time and please remember that your decision will affect ALL Long Islanders and their loved ones not just those who use nicotine. Please consider very carefully that by restricting access to these devices, many who have failed for decades to quit any other way will have no option but to return to traditional cigarettes, which may as well be a death sentence. I would not want that on my conscience.
Spike XXXXX
Long Island, New York Vapers Club
www.VapersClub.com
VapersClub@aol.com
XXX-XXX-XXXX
I sent the email above on Thursday 5/28 and mailed copies of actual paper letters on Friday 5/29. At this point we had already been in contact with Legislator Cooper's office who agreed to a meeting with us on 6/3. The vote on the ban was supposed to take place 6/9.
On Friday we received a phone call confirming the date and time for the meeting for 6/3 and also asking if we could speak on 6/1 to discuss amendments being considered for the terms of the legislation. Today I had a conference call with the legislative aid from Legislator Cooper's office and EPlanet who was elected as a Vice President of the Vapers Club (along with liquid vapor) although he wiill not have decision making authority due to his status as a supplier. During this conference call we were informed of changes to the terms of the legislation to bring it "in line" with Suffolk County's tobacco 19 ordinance. We discussed some specifics, but prefer not to post them as we have no written confirmation yet. As soon as the proposed legislation is changed online or we receive an email confirming the wording of the changes we will post results.
Also on Friday we met (at our LI Vapers Club meeting) an additional party with a vested interest in preventing the ban and they have legal counsel from what I understand. We will not be working with them, but will be in collaboration with information. This should be beneficial to both of us as we have different resources available.
In the meantime... we will have meetings with/speak in front of at least 6 of the 18 Suffolk County Legislators this week and try to educate them about the PV/ecig. We do need some help though. We need to print out certain studies and info. I will be posting a seperate thread asking for your help. To inspire proper help.. the Vapers Club will be offering a prize for one of the people who helps us collect the info we need for the meeting (name will be chosen out of a hat by a board member) .
From what we understand... the legislation must be re-introduced with the amendment proposed for review and must be approved again in it's new format before it can be voted on. If true, this would mean we will have the opportunity to speak at the public hearing when it is introduced (we did not last time because no one knew about the hearing until it was over... ot was very sneaky!).
So... as with all things political.. there is a lot of red tape. We will post further info as soon as we receive a copy of the new legislation and again after we meet with the Legislators to share any further info that we are permitted to share.
Thanks for your patience and everyone's help thusfar!
