From: tac@cheztac.com
Date: Wed, 08/02/06
Smokefree DC Endorsement Meeting
Paid members of Smokefree DC are invited to a membership meeting at 7 p.m. next
Wednesday, August 9, upstairs at Zorba's Café, 1612 20th Street, NW (near Dupont
Circle between Q Street and Hillyer Place). The purpose of the meeting is to
decide which candidates to endorse for various city offices including mayor,
council chair and several councilmember seats. Anyone who has paid dues between
the group's inception and July 1, 2006, may participate in the endorsement
process.
This year's elections are important. Although the DC Council passed a strong
smokefree workplace law earlier this year, we cannot be complacent or reduce our
vigilance. How faithfully the law is implemented depends on the next mayor. The
portion of the law pertaining to bars and bar areas of restaurants does not take
effect until January, when a new Council is seated. (The portion pertaining to
dining areas of restaurants has already taken effect.) The Restaurant
Association of Metropolitan Washington, which receives funding from the tobacco
industry, is relentless in attempting to block implementation of the law, and
the next Council might have to respond with additional legislation.
The Smokefree DC steering committee is drafting recommendations for endorsement,
based on candidates' track records and a recently administered questionnaire.
Candidates who have completed the questionnaire are being invited to attend and
will be given the opportunity to speak. This is good chance to come up to speed
on the upcoming elections and express your thoughts.
Note: For information about the law, please visit
http://www.smokefreedc.org/word_files/smokefree-law-facts.doc.
Other Announcements
Are you a Web designer with some free time? The newly formed Tobacco Control
Coalition is seeking volunteers to design and build a Web site for the
coalition. The coalition includes public health organizations, Smokefree DC and
community groups that want to coordinate tobacco control efforts in the
District. If you are interested in helping out, contact Angela Bradbery,
angela@smokefreedc.org, 202-669-6517.
Outreach coordinator wanted: The D.C. Tobacco Free Families Campaign is seeking
a part-time (30 hours/week) outreach coordinator to help implement an aggressive
cessation program that includes training health care providers in the Unity
Health Care system (a public-assisted health care services program), tobacco
cessation specialists and community-based support groups, and conducting general
outreach to the Latino and African American communities in D.C. Because of the
high rates of smoking in the Medicaid/medically underserved and African American
communities, the project specifically focuses on these two groups. Darrell
Green, formerly of the Redskins, has signed on to be a media spokesperson to
encourage DC residents to quit and to promote a quit line. Partners include the
National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
GlaxoSmithKline, Howard University Hospital, Providence Hospital, Unity Health
Care, Inc., and the D.C. Department of Health. Previous experience in outreach
and project administration is desirable.Please forward your resume to:
Debra Kubecka Annand
dannand@aladc.org
202-466-5864 x219
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