September 2007

JEL Off to a Good Start

JEL youth anti-tobacco advocacy groups at Fairfield, Sigourney, Pekin, and Tri-County Schools have held meetings and are beginning to plan events. All area JEL students have been invited to participate in the Kiwanis Kid’s Day Parade in Fairfield on Saturday, September 15. They will man a float in the parade, and meet over pizza afterwards to discuss future activities. Interactive lunchtime booths at Fairfield High School and Middle School were a big hit. Students competed for t-shirts, pens and water bottles by answering tobacco fact questions. Over 40 students signed up to participate in JEL during the lunchtime events

More Area Companies Sponsor Quit Smoking Classes for Their Employees
Two new companies have brought the number to 10 firms in the two-county area that are now paying costs for employees to quit smoking. The local program we offer for the smokers includes $100 of nicotine replacement therapy and four group counseling sessions. A new class with participants from several companies will begin September 26 at Jefferson County Hospital.

Ordinance for Smoke-Free Outdoor Confined Public Places Pending in Fairfield

An ordinance banning smoking in confined outdoor public places passed the first two readings by the Fairfield City Council in August. During the third reading last Monday, the vote was postponed after some community members voiced opposition. They complained the ordinance unduly restricts individual rights. In the coming days the Environmental Committee of the Council will meet to amend the wording and try to make it acceptable to the majority of the Council. State law currently prohibits communities from banning smoking in indoor public places where it is currently permitted (restaurants and bars), but has no such restrictions for outdoor bans. See www.chokesmokes.org/ban.html.

Waukee City Council Passes Local Control Resolution
A resolution requesting the Iowa legislature grant local control to cities to pass indoor air ordinances was adopted recently by the Waukee City Council. This resolution will be presented to state legislators to demonstrate that Waukee would like the choice of enacting an indoor smoke-free ordinance when the state code is changed. This is a huge step in the right direction of one day having smoke-free cities.

Point for discussion: Could we get the cities in our two counties to pass similar resolutions? For a copy of the resolution see www.chokesmokes.org/resolution.html

Adopt a Smoker Contest for the Great American Smokeout
The Jefferson County Tobacco-Free Coalition is planning a county-wide promotion this fall for the Great American Smokeout on November 15. Residents will be encouraged to adopt a smoker for a day to help him or her quit. As an incentive we will draw prizes for participants and their adopted smokers who submit entry forms. We are contacting area businesses for donation to cover printing costs and prizes. A color flyer with an entry form will be distributed in the Fairfield Ledger and throughout the city to promote the program. Thanks to Helen Guy, the grand prize is now a pair of diamond earrings. We anticipate lots of support from area merchants, and many contest entries. Please attend to Coalition meeting in Fairfield this Friday to help us plan and organize, or reply to this email if you would like to help.