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November 3, 2006

 

 

A Newsletter of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc.

By: Thomas A. Briant, Executive Director

October 2006                                                                                              Volume 6, No. 4

An Action Plan to Change Public Opinion

The stage has been set to put a plan into action that will endeavor to change public opinion about tobacco and NATO is going to play a leading role in this effort. For some time, The Heartland Institute, a national non-profit public policy organization (or “think tank”), has researched how anti-tobacco groups have misrepresented facts, distorted studies and demonized the tobacco industry. The disinformation and falsehoods disseminated by these anti-tobacco activists have become accepted as “fact” by the media and the public.

In September, Joseph Bast, the President of The Heartland Institute, spoke to retailers and manufacturers attending the annual Smoker Friendly Trade Show. He discussed the Institute’s research which shows that the studies relied upon by the anti-tobacco activists contain “scant evidence” supporting the claims about secondhand smoke. He also confirmed that the cost smokers impose on society is far less than the taxes they pay on tobacco products.


  

During his presentation at the trade show, Joe Bast referred to a series of essays he has written on tobacco issues. These essays have now been compiled into a book published by the Institute and titled Please Don’t Poop in My Salad and Other Essays Opposing the War Against Smoking. Enclosed with this newsletter is a complimentary copy of the book. You are encouraged to read it and pass the book onto your employees, friends and neighbors.

Moreover, Joe Bast spoke about the need for an organization to partner with The Institute and begin a campaign to challenge the distorted facts and lies about tobacco and the tobacco industry. The organization best suited to take on this critically important task is NATO. While the details of the plan are still being formulated, the multi-year campaign will begin in 2007 and include newspaper commentary letters-to-the-editor, articles published in magazines and journals and press releases on current tobacco issues in the news.

 

NATO Monitor/October 2006
President’s Message

Dear NATO Members:

In the 1976 movie “Network”, the memorable line “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore” would be a fitting subtitle for the book Please Don’t Poop in My Salad. The anti-smoking groups have gone too far by using junk science and exaggerated claims to further their attacks on the tobacco industry and the hardworking retailers that make a living by selling tobacco products.

At NATO, the board of directors has decided we’re not going to take this anymore. So, starting with the New Year, NATO will be working with The Heartland Institute to change the way the American public views tobacco and the industry. This is not going to be easy and it may take years to change people’s attitudes. Even so, this effort has to be made and NATO is the organization that is going to do it.

So, besides continuing our work on tobacco legislative issues, NATO will now take on this additional task. The Heartland Institute has already done the research that will be the foundation of this effort and NATO will serve as the leading organization to responsibly inform the public about tobacco.

Sincerely,

Velma Hartley, NATO President
& Owner of The Tobacco Place

 

Call for Candidates

This November, NATO will members will be voting to elect five retailers and two manufacturer/distributor members to serve on the NATO board of directors. All NATO members are encouraged to consider being a candidate for a board seat. To be eligible for a board seat, a candidate must be an owner, partner, shareholder, officer or employee of a NATO member. The board meets six times a year (three by conference call and three in-person meetings). One of the best ways to become more involved in NATO is to run for a board seat. If you want to be a candidate, please call Executive Director Tom Briant at 1-866-869-8888 by November 7 th.

Order 2007 “We Card” Supplies

 

NATO Monitor/October 2006

Trade Show Wrap Up

During September and October, NATO representatives attended both the Smoker Friendly Trade Show in Boulder, Colorado and the NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the Smoker Friendly Trade Show, NATO Executive Director Tom Briant spoke to the retailers and manufacturers in attendance about NATO’s 90% legislative success rate during 2006, the tobacco-related ballot questions coming up in six states on November 7 th, and the need to change public opinion about tobacco and the industry.

 

 

 At the NACS trade show, Tom Briant made a presentation during the retail seminar titled “The Times They Are a Changin’: A Look at Tobacco”. Speaking to a standing room only crowd of retailers and manufacturers, Tom Briant gave an overview of the 2006 legislative year, highlighted the 90% success rate and spoke about the need for retailers and manufacturers to remain active in the political process to defeat unfair tobacco legislation. Also, NATO had a booth at the NACS show and displayed the association’s new trade show booth banner.
  


Tom Briant (NATO Executive Director), Toby Lillestrand (NATO Membership Coordinator) and Andy Kerstein (NATO Vice-President) stand next to NATO's new trade show exhibit at the recent NACS Trade Show in Las Vegas.


NATO Monitor/October 2006

Tobacco Ballot Questions

On Election Day, November 7 th, voters going to the polls in Arizona, California, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and South Dakota will vote on ballot questions which would increase cigarette and/or tobacco taxes or restrict smoking in public places. NATO has printed and distributed hundreds of thousands of alert cards that association members in each of these six states have handed out to their employees and customers. These cards will remind voters how to vote on these ballot questions. In addition, NATO is submitting letters-to-the editor to numerous newspapers in each of these states to educate the public about the unfairness of these cigarette/tobacco tax increases or smoking bans and urging them to vote against these questions.

Hilton Accommodates Smokers

arlier this year, Westin Hotels and Marriott International announced new policies prohibiting smoking in hotel rooms, lounges and bars. After NATO sent letters to the CEO’s of these two hotel chains and published articles in trade magazines about these unfair policies, a representative of Hilton Hotels contacted NATO Executive Director Tom Briant and reaffirmed their policy of accommodating all guests, including guests who choose to smoke. The Las Vegas Hilton will serve as the headquarters hotel for the upcoming Tobacco Plus Expo.

  

Same Show, New Name

The NATO Conference and Expo trade show, which is owned and operated by the partners of Tobacco Outlet Business Magazine, has been renamed the “Tobacco Plus Expo.” While NATO will continue to host the NATO Annual Awards Dinner the night before the trade show opens, the new name reflects the broader focus of the show to include more tobacco accessories and non-tobacco merchandise. The addition of more non-tobacco merchandise will benefit buyers from tobacco outlets as well as other kinds of retailers that sell tobacco products who are looking to expand their product mix.

NATO members should mark their calendars to attend the NATO Annual Awards Dinner at the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 and then visit the Tobacco Plus Expo show on April 26-27, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Welcome New Members

New manufacturer and distributor members that have recently joined NATO include U.S.A. Tobacco Company, Church Point Wholesale, Kaiser Wholesale, New Orleans Gator Group and Service Sense.

  

 

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