BERRIEN COUNTY TOBACCO REDUCTION COALITION

April Meeting Minutes 4-14-08

Location:  Schu’s Bar and Grill

 

Present:   Becky Wyre, Vita Polasek, Kerri Teachout, Paul Olmstead,  Laura Marschke-Lesher, Theresa Green, Shannon Larry-Burton, Lisa Peeples-Hurst, Jerry Price, Farid Shamo

 

I.          Meeting called to order by Paul Olmstead at 12:10 p.m.

 

II.         Minutes from March approved.

 

III.       Reports

            A.        BCTRC Web site

                        1.      Pages mostly viewed include Home Page 1stt, What’s

                               New 2nd, Smoking cessation Classes 3rd and Smoke Free

                               Restaurants 4th.   A lot of people are also opening the

                               Legislation link.

                        2.      BCTRC members agreed that changes could be made on

                               the web site, including adding news to the Home Page

                               and linking the State Quit Line to both the BCHD and

                               BCTRC web sites.  Paul will take care of this.

                        3.      Restaurants listed on the web site are 100% smoke free.

 

            B.        Advertising and promoting BCTRC

                        1.     Discussed having the ability to print our own business

                              type cards that currently have the Quit Line advertised on

                              one side and BCTRC’s web site on the other.  Kerri will

                              talk with Shelli at ACS to see if we can have permission

                              to use ACS’s logo.  Goal is to print 500 cards asap.

                        2.     Idea was presented to distribute Quit cards to Dr’s

                              offices/Clinics.

                        3.     Need to get a list of community events – share with

                              BCTRC members, then assign who is going to distribute

                              at the various events.

 

            C.        Results from restaurant survey.

                        1.     Those that made calls turned in their sheets to Kerri.

 

                        2.     Mostly positive feedback.  It does appear that bars are not

                              supportive of a smoke free ban, especially 5 O’clock   

                              Sports Bar.  Theresa stated that she will try to contact

                              Cracker Barrels Corporate Office since Corporate makes

                              the decision.

 

            D.        Smoking cessation

                        1.     BCTRC will begin concentrating on providing cessation

                               information, education and classes to WIC clients as a

                               step towards reducing high-risk pregnancies.

                        2.     WIC Health form already asks smoking related questions

                               but we have to find a way to encourage and receive

                               referrals.  Paul and Kerri will work on making the

                               necessary connections to begin this process.

                        3.      Talked about forming a committee to developing a

                               smoking cessation resource guide which can be

                               distributed to various places.   Idea presented to have for

                               profits pay to have their information advertised in this

                               guide.  Jerry Price volunteered to head this project and

                               suggested that the YMCA could provide the printing. 

                               Nancy VandeVrede also interested in being on this

                               committee.

 

            E.     DYTUR Update:  Lisa Peeples-Hurst reviewed 1st and 2nd

                    quarter retailer compliance checks and passed out her latest report 

                   (see attached).  Lisa also talked about violators who continue to violate

                    and lack of teeth unless they have liquor license.

 

            F.     Clean Indoor Air Regulation update:  3 businesses have been

                    fined so far.  Discussed bingo halls and the language used in the

                    regulation. 

 

            G.     Legislative Updates:  HB 4163 still sitting in the committee on

                    Government Operations and Reform.  Members encouraged to

                    continue their advocacy efforts.   HB 1108 FDA regulation of

                    tobacco – co-sponsored by Congressman Upton – passed the

                    House Energy and Commerce Committee on 4-2-08 – hopeful

                    that the full House will consider it soon.  Kerri hand delivered a

                    Thank you poster to Upton during his session break and he had

                    said that he was going to hang it on his door in Washington. 

                    The poster was signed by various BCTRC members and TATU

                    students.

 

NEXT MEETING MONDAY MAY 12, 2008 @12:00 AT CLEMENTINES, 1235 BROAD STREET, ST. JOSEPH.