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July 21, 2005
A Newsletter of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc.
By: Thomas A. Briant, Executive Director
July 2005 Volume 5, No. 4
A Winning Legislative Record for NATO
There is a reason why NATO has become known as the foremost retail tobacco store trade association on industry legislative issues. During the past seven months, NATO staff and its members have worked diligently to fight oppressive cigarette and tobacco tax increases, smoking bans and other tobacco legislation. Below is a legislative scorecard listing the outcome of tax bills and smoking bans in various states:
Taxes Defeated in 12 States
Connecticut |
Mississippi |
Taxes Enacted in 6 States
| Kentucky Maine Minnesota |
New Hampshire Ohio Washington |
Smoking Bans Defeated in 10 States
Arkansas |
Minnesota Mississippi Nebraska New Mexico Virginia |
An excellent example of NATO’s intense efforts to oppose unfair taxes is the defeat of Louisiana’s proposed $1.00 increase in the cigarette tax. The concerted effort by NATO members demonstrated the effectiveness of a well organized democracy in action campaign. The campaign was successful because of the tireless efforts of NATO members including former state Senator Fred Hoyt (Cheap-O-Depot), John Dan Gielen (Shop Rite/Tobacco Plus), Keith Landen (Wholesaler/Smoker Friendly), Randy Hannie (Lobbyist), Juan Martinez and Latricia Kennedy 
(Tobacco Discount House/J.A. Specialty), numerous other NATO members and the resources and guidance of manufacturers. The campaign utilized conservative talk shows, letters to newspaper editors, local TV news reports, meetings with legislators, customer contact with elected officials, testimony before legislative committees, a petition drive and radio advertisements. The democracy in action campaign was broad based, intense and most importantly, successful.
NATO Monitor/July 2005
President’s Message
Dear NATO Members:
As I write this first President’s Message, I want all NATO members to know how grateful I am to serve this organization. Although I belong to several retail associations, NATO has earned its reputation as a leader in the tobacco store industry the old fashioned way: through hard work. Being a retailer is a full-time job in itself; fighting off anti-tobacco zealots and opposing unfair tobacco legislation just adds to the constant daily struggle we all experience.
And that is where NATO has been a tremendous help to tobacco stores and tobacconists. NATO is a watchdog when it comes to monitoring tobacco legislation and a bulldog when it comes to fighting against high excise taxes, smoking bans and other regulations.
As reported on the previous page, NATO and its members have defeated a number of tobacco bills this year. However, even with all of NATO’s efforts, some large tax increases have become law. Defeating tobacco legislation is not easy; but make no mistake, NATO will always stand with retailers on tobacco issues and stand up for retailers’ rights.
Sincerely,
Velma Hartley
NATO President &
Owner of The Tobacco Place
Survey Committee News
The NATO Survey Committee met to address several key concerns listed by retailers in the association’s annual membership survey. The major legislative concern listed by members was the constant threat of higher cigarette and tobacco taxes. This spring, NATO retained a fourth legislative staff person to help meet the need of member retailers to effectively respond to legislative issues. Another on-going concern is with manufacturer contracts. The committee members reaffirmed that NATO may ask manufacturers to contact concerned retailers directly to respond to concerns, but NATO will not be able to act as an intermediary since the association’s main purpose is to respond to legislation that threatens tobacco stores. The committee also agreed to include a “How To” column in each issue of the NATO newsletter to provide advice to members on a variety of issues that affect the daily operation of their tobacco stores.
Join a NATO Committee
All NATO members are encouraged to consider joining a NATO Committee to become more involved in association efforts. The committees include Government Affairs, Marketing, Survey, Membership and Membership Benefits. To join, contact Tom Briant at the NATO office at 1-866-869-8888.
How to Lower Credit Card FeesMore NATO members are signing up to process their credit card and debit card transactions through Huntington Merchant Systems, the preferred credit card processing vendor exclusively for NATO members. Even NATO retail members that operate just one or Breaking News UpdatesNATO regularly updates its website (www.natocentral.org) with the latest legislative information and sends out via e-mail the NATO E-News every two weeks to keep NATO members on top of tobacco legislative issues. The better informed NATO members are the more effective the association can be in fighting tobacco legislation. If you have a new e-mail address, please call the NATO office toll-free at 1-866-869-8888 or send an e-mail with your e-mail address to info@natocentral.org so the NATO e-mail database can be kept current.
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Welcome New MembersNew manufacturer and distributor members that have recently joined NATO include Graycliff Cigar Company, Great Discovery’s Cigars, Imperial Trading Company, Medallion Brands International Company, Merchants Grocery Company, Mountain Service Distributors and The Candle Chateau. The support of these companies and the other numerous NATO manufacturer and wholesale members allows the association to remain the leader in fighting for tobacco stores and protecting the tobacco industry. NATO Expo Gala DinnerFor the first time at the NATO Expo, NATO will host an Industry Gala Dinner when tobacco retailers and exhibitors come together at the 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gala Dinner will take a cue from past tobacco trade groups and bring the entire industry together to socialize and strengthen the ties between retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. Quarterly Promotions $$$Fifteen new product promotions offered exclusively to NATO members are described
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two stores have found that they can save money by signing up with HMS. To learn about the current low credit and debit card processing rates offered exclusively to NATO retail members, please call Huntington Merchant Services Representative Shawna Anderson at 317-460-8288. These low credit card processing rates are one of the additional membership benefits available to NATO retailers.
in detail on the USPS- mailed newsletter. NATO members are encouraged to take advantage of these special offers from July through September, 2005.