[SheLion]

Memberships in all of these groups has SYROCKETED and the ban doesn't take effect until November.

Gabz, membership has gone up?  Is that because of the bans?  Or because the members do not realize what is going on?  Or what is pending in the queue?

Additionally, restaurants all over the state are reporting cancellation of bookings for parties during the Holidays, and the lodges and Fire Halls are all seeing record bookings for parties.

I was going to ask you about this.  Are there really a lot of cancellations for the holidays?

[Gabz]

Membership is going up because of the upcoming bans. The bars in the Fraternal Lodges and Veterans posts are defacto fundraising tools - therefore smoking is permitted in these establishments.

The same is true about the rental of their facilities, and those of the Volunteer Fire Companies. When they rent them out for dinners and parties they are making money for their organizations charitable work or support of the Fire Company - therefore smoking is permitted.

Charitable groups that run Bingo for fundraising purposes were severly hurt by the opening of the slots at the 3 race tracks. Those bingos are permitted to alow smoking, but the slots are not.

How many cancellations there have been, I'm not sure, this is just based on what a couple restaurant owners I know have told me. But the increased booking at the Moose and Elks Lodges is STATEWIDE.