Newsletter

Congratulations Tobacco Free Mass! Governor Patrick signed into law the state tobacco tax increase! The $1/pack increase will generate over $150 million annually and was earmarked for the state's historic Health Reform Law. The bill does preserve the minimum pricing law for cigarettes.

Thank You letters were sent to members of the conference committee and a Thank You action alert was sent to our e-champions to send letters to their Legislators who voted 'yes' for the excise tax increase. Another Thank You action alert was sent out for Governor Patrick. We'll be sending an alert out in the near future asking advocates to send letters to the editor to thank legislative leaders for working to increase the tax - please submit your own! The site, which has key points and links to daily papers in Massachusetts, may be found at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/181/t/3839/letter/?letter_KEY=1000. Thank you for your advocacy on this issue - we couldn't have done it without you!

The House and Senate came out with a budget that level funds the state's tobacco control program at $12.75 million, falling extremely short of federal CDC recommendations -$90 million. The program helps smokers quit and this was a missed opportunity to help them succeed by offering critical tools such as free nicotine patches and counseling. However, on a positive note, the budget closed a loophole that allowed "little cigars" to be classified at a different tax rate than cigarettes. It also makes permanent smoking cessation services for MassHealth subscribers. The Legislature sent the budget to Gov. Patrick's office, where he has ten days to review and sign it.

ADVOCACY UPDATE

FUNDRAISING

UPCOMING EVENTS

MEMBER EVENTS

PARTNER EVENTS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

If your organization has not yet made a donation to the Coalition and would like to please contact Russet or Erin at 508-270-4683. Any amount is helpful and appreciated. Consider making a personal donation on behalf of your organization as several members have done. Our goal is to get 100% member participation this fiscal year at some level and we are currently less than halfway to that goal.

• Take Action! Please visit
  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/181/t/3839/letter/?letter_KEY=1000 and write a letter to the editor of your local paper. This link is also on our website and will be linked in an upcoming action alert.
• www.tobaccofreemass.net is continuously being updated, please visit the site and let us know what you think. The newsletter can now be seen on our website, and the "for Coalition Members" section is up and running.
• 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.

Beginning July 1, 2008, the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program will offer free nicotine patch kits to smokers who call the State's Quitline at 1-800-Try-To-STOP. This offer is good through August 31, 2008 while supplies last.

The kits include a two-week supply of patches, along with quit tips and information on resources for smokers who want to quit. Retail value is approximately $50 per kit.

Research shows that people who use medications like the patch are more than twice as likely to quit for good as those who try to quit on their own.

There are no income restrictions on this offer. Most smokers will qualify for free patches, though those with certain medical conditions - pregnancy, recent heart attack, other medical conditions - will not qualify.

Please distribute this message to your clients, staff, and others who may be able to take advantage of this free offer.

For more information: www.Makesmokinghistory.org/quitting-smoking/index.html

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) is pleased to invite members of asthma and COPD coalitions to attend the 10th Annual ACCP Community Asthma and COPD Coalitions Symposium, Wednesday and Thursday, October 29 and 30, 2008, during CHEST 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What are this year's highlights?
* Asthma in American Cities Project
* Environmental Tobacco Smoke: How to Reduce Exposure
* Developing State Plans and Coalitions for COPD
* How to Reach Local Media

We are pleased to announce the ACCP has secured funding to provide travel scholarships to a limited number of asthma and COPD coalitions. The travel scholarship awards the recipient with: 2-day registration for the symposium, air-travel expenses, and two nights' accommodation.

To qualify for this scholarship, the coalition must be an active, not- for-profit collaborative community project. Preference will be given to those coalitions not previously awarded the travel scholarship and coalitions that represent geographic diversity and address the environment.

Please contact Beth Corey at (847) 498-8366 orbcorey@chestnet.org
The application deadline is Friday, July 11, 2008.

For more information on the array of asthma and COPD sessions being offered at CHEST 2008 please visit www.chestnet.org.