VT: VFW post defies state law, votes to allow smoking

United Pro Smoker's Newsletter ^ | March 16, 2006

[SheLion]

BURLINGTON, Vt. --The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Hyde Park is defying a 6-month-old state law and will allow members to smoke in a private section of the club.

Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts VFW Post 7779 Commander Bruce Martin, a nonsmoker, said he was one of those who voted to allow smoking. The issue was more than cigarettes.

"These people are sick of the state taking away our private rights," he said.

Immediately after club members voted 7-4 Tuesday night to bring back smoking a number of members lit up.

VFW auxiliary member Robin Ferris filed a complaint Wednesday with the Vermont Health Department.

Ferris who used to work in the VFW said that when she worked there she suffered frequent respiratory ailments and her clothes smelled of smoke.

"I don't want to be affiliated with the kind of organization that breaks state law," Ferris said.

Health Department Spokesman Robert Stirewalt said he was unaware of the complaint.

He said when a complaint is filed a staff member is sent to investigate.

Stirewalt said there have been a handful of complaints since the law took effect in September and all have been settled voluntarily.

Martin said members would decide what to do if the Health Department investigated Ferris's complaint.

"I imagine we'll fight it," he said.

Organizations that refuse to comply can be fined up to $10,000 or each offense.

"Obviously, we're hoping that's not the case" with the VFW, Stirewalt said.

Read

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VT: Elks Vote No On Smoking Ban.

Elks Vote No On Smoking Ban

Burlington, Vermont -- June 18, 2004

Several states and cities have enacted smoking bans in bars and restaurants, but in Burlington the prohibition does not apply to private clubs.

One of those clubs, the Elks, considered a voluntary smoking ban Thursday night.

Elks Exalted Ruler Moe Decelles told Channel 3 News that the members defeated the voluntary smoking ban on a vote of 125-45, an almost three-to-one margin.

Decelles says smoking is allowed at the Elks bar and lounge, but an existing no smoking policy will continue in a separate room used for functions.

 

[SheLion]

Good old Robin sounds like a barrel of laughs,doesn't she? They should just kick her out of the Post.

I totally agree.  Why should they let one person ruin it for the whole bunch.  The world doesn't rise and shine on her azz!

[SheLion]

Hitler loved these folks... gave them brown shirts to show his appreciation...

She sounds like a dried up old prune anyway.  Barrel of laughs.  ugh!

[SheLion]

Stay safe Shelion !

Thanks for your input.  And stay safe there, as well!

[SheLion]

Now see the green ecoweenie and the insurance-company puke engaging in profit-enhancing mass behavior-mod BS telling the veterans they can't light up.

Screw the weenies and the pukes in suits. The smoking lamp is lit, guys. Light 'em if you got 'em.

When Maine forced a total smoke ban, they forced the American Legion's and the VFW's to go smoke free as well.

Just heard that the clubs are going to take it to a vote to see if they can allow smoking for their members again.  I sure hope and pray that they pass this.  They will get my money again. 

BIG NEWS!!

Maine: Smoking may return to vets' clubs

02/02/2006 - AUGUSTA -- Veterans who smoke can, for the moment, breathe in a hazy sigh of relief now that the exemption that allowed smoking at private clubs, such as American Legion halls, is no longer threatened.

Not only did the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services strike down a bill threatening the clubs' exemption, but it sent an amendment to the House that would make it easier for veterans to smoke in private clubs.

Current law requires clubs with paid employees to obtain a "yes" vote from a majority of its entire membership before smoking can be allowed.

Representatives of veterans' groups told legislators that it is unrealistic to expect a club with membership of around 1,000 members -- only 25 of which are active -- to obtain a majority vote on anything. Veterans complained that clubs whose active members want to smoke are forced to remain smoke-free because of this.

The law is unfair and discriminatory against smokers, according to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6859 Adjutant Tom Lussier. "Smokers in this country have become bad people," the Portland veteran said. "You have made them bad people. ... A nonvote in any democratic society doesn't equal a 'no' vote."

Representatives of the American Legion, the VFW, the Eagles and other veterans' clubs said they agreed. Most veterans who spoke were united in the idea that private clubs should be allowed to decide on their own whether to smoke or bar smoking, and the decision should be made only by those present for the vote.

One veteran disagreed, however. Army veteran Dean Grivois of Van Buren said that any exemption allowing smoking for veterans' clubs was discrimination against nonsmoking veterans.

"My wife and I do not frequent the veterans bar, because within an hour, we cannot breath, our eyes are red and our clothes smell," he said to the committee. "As a veteran, I would love to see this organization treated as all other businesses in the States. They should not have this as a special privilege, because it causes harm to their health, and to the health of their comrades."

Grivois' opinion was backed by representatives of the American Cancer Society, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health.

"It is well-established that exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health threat," said Paul Kuehnert of the Center for Disease Control. "Over the past two decades, medical science has proven that nonsmokers who breathe secondhand smoke suffer many of the diseases of active smoking, including heart disease, lung cancer and asthma."

Kuehnert said that his office has received numerous calls from employees who said club members tried to intimidate them into voting to allow smoking. Kuehnert said his office referred the calls to the attorney general.

Maine's Tobacco Control coordinator, John Archard, confirmed that the attorney general's office did receive about 100 calls on the matter, 30 of which were specific complaints of intimidation. Archard told the committee that club employees across the state also complained that members were "stuffing the ballot box, having an open ballot box on the bar."

"We've heard of many, many voting irregularities," Archard said.

Archard and other health officials urged committee members to vote in favor of the bill proposed by Sen. Karl W. Turner, R-Cumberland, which would have eliminated the option of clubs to allow smoking. All members present, except for William R. Walcott, D-Lewiston, and Elizabeth S. Miller, D-Somerville, voted against Turner's bill.

In the end, they unanimously voted in favor of the bill proposed by Rep. Carol A. Grose, D-Woolwich, which proposed that the smoking decision of private clubs be made based upon a majority of votes cast, not a majority of the total membership of the clubs.

They recommended the bill pass with the following amendments:

Clubs give members 30 days of notice before votes.

Absentee ballots must be provided upon request.

No intimidation be allowed

Ballots must not be accompanied by literature intending to sway voters.

[SheLion]

Robin "the fink" Ferris has spoken!!

[Kakaze]

A bump for those who know that freedom isn't free & it means personal responsibility!

"VFW Post 7779 Commander Bruce Martin, a nonsmoker, said he was one of those who voted to allow smoking. The issue was more than cigarettes."

These guys get it, after all they had to fight for it and know what its worth...Freedom.

[383rr]

Bravo! More people need to follow this example.And some good 'ol fashioned civil disobdience couldn't hurt either.

"he could have said "We've fought Nazi's before, it don't matter what shore they're on, we'll fight'em again."

AWESOME!

[Gabz]

"It is well-established that exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health threat," said Paul Kuehnert of the Center for Disease Control. "Over the past two decades, medical science has proven that nonsmokers who breathe secondhand smoke suffer many of the diseases of active smoking, including heart disease, lung cancer and asthma."

I can't believe these people can get away with such blatant lies.........and get paid by tax dollars to do so.

Last year, after the state conference, a subject from the conference that was brought at a meeting of our local Moose Lodge was the number of Lodges that have voluntarily gone smoke-free. The most vocal people against doing the same at our Lodge were all non-smokers. Including the guy that attended the state conference and raised the issue in his report.

[AIC]

VFW auxiliary member Robin Ferris filed a complaint Wednesday with the Vermont Health Department. Ferris who used to work in the VFW said that when she worked there she suffered frequent respiratory ailments and her clothes smelled of smoke.

For those that may not know. An auxiliary member is a person that has NOT served in a foreign war. They are kin to a person that has. From the way the article read, it appears that this person worked the bar serving drinks or something of the like while the club was open. My main question to her would be, why did you take the job in the first place before the smoking ban became law and then after the smoking ban law became law, you started your complaining and saying you couldn't stand to be around people who broke the law. That's nothing but CRAP.

[freepatriot32]

yes true patriots in ever since of the word these guys get it and if they didnt defy the smoking ban it would only be a matter of time before they werent allowed to drink at the vfw bar Officials Make Public Intoxication Arrests Inside Bars

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[SheLion]

"VFW Post 7779 Commander Bruce Martin, a nonsmoker, said he was one of those who voted to allow smoking. The issue was more than cigarettes."

These guys get it, after all they had to fight for it and know what its worth...Freedom.

That's why I can't understand how Maine was able to force a smoking ban on our American Legions and our VFW's in this state.

[SheLion]

I can't believe these people can get away with such blatant lies.........and get paid by tax dollars to do so.

Have you seen Lise Wiel on Fox News?  I can't stand that witch!

They had her on earlier today talking about Calabase, California.  She said our right to smoke ends at her nose!  And she is telling the damn lies that SHS is just as dangerous as smoking.  I can't stand that SOB.  I wish Fox would get rid of her.

[SheLion]

For those that may not know. An auxiliary member is a person that has NOT served in a foreign war. They are kin to a person that has. From the way the article read, it appears that this person worked the bar serving drinks or something of the like while the club was open. My main question to her would be, why did you take the job in the first place before the smoking ban became law and then after the smoking ban law became law, you started your complaining and saying you couldn't stand to be around people who broke the law. That's nothing but CRAP.

She sounds like some old hag that needs attention.  ugh!

She probably worked there for years.  Back even when smoking was allowed.  Now she has the nerve to bitch about it today. 

[Gabz]

I have not seen Fox News in I don't know how long. If it is not on the Travel Channel or HGTV I haven't seen it........I rarely ever wtch TV anymore at all.

[beckysueb]

VFW auxiliary member Robin Ferris filed a complaint Wednesday with the Vermont Health Department. Ferris who used to work in the VFW said that when she worked there she suffered frequent respiratory ailments and her clothes smelled of smoke. "I don't want to be affiliated with the kind of organization that breaks state law," Ferris said.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[beckysueb]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to say here.

I think hes trying to say smoking is the lesser of evils.

[beckysueb]

That's why I can't understand how Maine was able to force a smoking ban on our American Legions and our VFW's in this state.

Because the AL and VFW ALLOWED it. Maybe they aren't aware of the exemption and the law sure ain't going to tell them about it.

[Kakaze]

" That's why I can't understand how Maine was able to force a smoking ban on our American Legions and our VFW's in this state."

Let's hope this spurs these old gentleman all over the country to band together and fight once again.

[Old Seadog]

With all the government intervention prohibiting smoking in all public places, why, oh why, is our federal government still subsidizing tobacco farmers?