ADVOCACY UPDATE ARTICLES
Tobacco Tax Campaign
The House released its budget proposal on April 16th which level-funded the MA Tobacco Control Program. Representative Kaprielian has filed two amendments. One would increase funding to $20 Million which would be a positive step forward in restoring much-needed youth prevention and smoking cessation services. The other amendment would tax the cigarettes that are already at retailer's locations. This is called a "floor tax" and would raise an additional $25 million for Massachusetts.
Action Alerts were sent to our e-champions to contact their Legislators which prompted many Representatives to co-sign the amendment to increase tobacco control funding. If you haven't contacted your Legislator please give them a call and encourage them to sign on to these amendments. As well a drop will be done at the State House on Monday, April 28th at 10:00 to support these amendments (if anyone is available to help with the drop please let us know). There is some opposition from the tobacco companies who are encouraging store owners to call their Legislators to not support this tax increase.
The Medicaid cessation piece looks like it will be passed as part of the Medicaid line item. The Senate will likely be taking up the Revenue Bill in the first few weeks in May. Ads will be put into certain local newspapers encouraging calls to their Senators to support the Tobacco Tax and Tobacco Control Program funding and Health Reform. Copies of the finalized ads will be sent to the Coalition.
ADVOCACY UPDATE


FUNDRAISING


UPCOMING EVENTS


MEMBER EVENTS


PARTNER EVENTS


QUOTE OF THE MONTH



NEWSLETTERS


May-2008
FUNDRAISINGUPCOMING EVENTS

Kick Butts Day, held on April 2nd was a success with over 2 dozen schools and youth groups participating in events around the state. Tobacco Free Mass sent out graffiti walls and wrist bands to interested schools and organizations. The events were well covered by the media. Sociedad Latina and BOLD teens both held events at local convenience stores applauding them for taking down their tobacco advertisements.

Approximately $10,000 was raised for these events. Donations are still being accepted. Please contact Russet or Erin at 508-270-4683 for more information.

 Coalition meetings and events

Advocacy Committee meeting
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
10:00-12:00
ACS Boston office
18 Tremont St, Suite 700

Coalition meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
10:00- 12:00
ACS Framingham, 30 Speen St
Advocacy Committee meeting to follow

Executive Committee meeting
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
3:00-4:30
Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham
MEMBER EVENTS
  • www.tobaccofreemass.net is being updated, please visit the site and let us know what you think.
  • Press Clips are being sent out to interested Coalition members two or three times a week. If you would like to be added to this list please send an email to erin.hightower@cancer.org.
  • Tobacco Free Mass will be holding a goal-setting summer retreat in July - stayed tuned!
Please send event listings to: erin.hightower@cancer.org
PARTNER EVENTS
Advanced Intake, Assessment & Treatment Planning for TTS: A Continuing Education Program

The Center for Tobacco Treatment Research and Training, UMass Medical School, is pleased to announce a continuing education program for certified tobacco treatment specialists (or TTSs that have been through our 5-day TTS training but are not yet certified) in MA, NH and RI on May 15, 2008. This all-day training will address Advanced Intake, Assessment & Treatment Planning for Tobacco Treatment Specialists and will offer up to 5.5 TTS continuing education units for those TTSs who are certified through UMass. It will be an interactive program offering hands-on opportunities to analyze challenging case studies.

Besides covering important and topical issues around intake, assessment and treatment planning, this will also give you the opportunity to network with other TTSs in the area, something that we have not been able to offer over the past several years. Space is limited to 20 people.


WHEN: May 15, 2008
WHERE: Hoaglund-Pincus Center
Shrewsbury, MA
TIME: 9AM - 4PM
COST: $20.00 MA residents
$25.00 Non-MA residents

Please contact Beth Ewy at 508-856-2935 or beth.ewy@umassmed.edu
To register
www.umassmed.edu/behavmed/tobacco 		Basic Skills for Working with Smokers
The University of Massachusetts Medical School is pleased to announce that it will be offering a 2-day Basic Skills for Working with Smokers course in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Completion of this training meets the MassHealth billing requirements for becoming a qualified cessation counselor. CEUs available. Registration deadline is June 9, but we expect the class to fill up before then, so please encourage colleagues to register early.

WHEN: June 23-24, 2008
WHERE: The Wamsutta Club
427 County Street
New Bedford, MA
TIME: 9AM-4PM
COST: $40.00
AUDIENCE: Nurses, social workers, medical assistants, health educators, substance abuse and mental health counselors, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, and other allied health personnel

To Register or for More course information, Go to: http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=46256
Please contact Beth Ewy at 508-856-2935 or beth.ewy@umassmed.edu for additional details.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Taking money from the tobacco industry to conduct scientific research is like the DA taking money from the Mafia to conduct investigations of crime."
- Gregory Connolly, a Harvard School of Public Health professor and former director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. / Tobacco funded Mass. researchers / Boston (MA) Globe, Monday, March 31, 2008.