Georgia E-Cigarette Industry Bands Together To Join Industry Alliance

Tampa, FL, May 15, 2015

VISTA Truth, Inc. (VISTA), a national non-profit vaping industry alliance, is pleased to announce the addition of the Georgia Smoke Free Association (GSFA) as a VISTA member. Together VISTA and GSFA will proactively lobby at the state level in Georgia for business rights, oppose legislation that would be harmful to the industry, and promote a free and open market for adults throughout the state that support tobacco harm reduction efforts.

“The hard work and dedication of small businesses to organize and join VISTA is proof that business owners in Georgia are passionate about protecting their industry. VISTA looks forward to working with the GSFA and our lobbyist in Atlanta to protect against over regulation and unwarranted taxation on the most viable alternative consumer product for adult smokers to live a combustible tobacco free life.” said VISTA President Kevin E. Skipper.

“The GSFA and our members are pleased to unite with VISTA and join a growing network of fellow business owners and vapers in Tennessee and Florida. VISTA has a proven track record of defending small business rights over the past year. As part of the VISTA team, our ability to network and disseminate information will be greatly enhanced. Also, and crucially important, we will now have a voice in Atlanta.” said GSFA President Bill Funderburk. “We are excited for this opportunity and look forward to increasing our membership this year in order to strengthen our industry. We want to ensure that Georgians continue to have both access to electronic cigarette products, and at a reasonable cost. We oppose taxation, but hope to work with lawmakers on sensible regulations.” Funderburk concluded.

For more information visit www.vistatruth.org or www.gasmokefree.org

Jonathan Beardsley

Vice President/Executive Director East TN

Tennessee Smoke Free Association

*ATTENTION VENDORS IN CHUCK FLEISCHMANN’S DISTRICT*

The congressman sits on the Appropriations Committee that is handling bill HR2058. There are over 20 shops represented by him and its extremely important we reach out to him and his staffers for support. I am copying Gregory Conley’s instructions for you to follow. PLEASE DO THIS ASAP!

*BUSINESS OWNERS — IMPORTANT INFO*

…

– Call the D.C. office of your Congress representative during normal office hours. The number can be found on their website.

– Do NOT just communicate your position to the person answered the phone. You are a business owner in the Congressman or Congresswoman’s district — you can get further up the chain than a normal person.

– Tell the operator that picks up:

My name is ____. I am a small business owner in Rep. ____’s district. There is a vote coming up in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday that is extremely important to my business, my employees, and my customers. Before Thursday, I was hoping I could speak to either Rep. _____ or a member of his staff that deals with Appropriations Committee issues.”

– If they ask you for a summary of the issue:
“On Thursday, the Appropriations Committee will consider a funding bill for the FDA and other agencies. I want Rep. ____ to support Section 747 of the bill and fight back against any attempts to remove it. It would save my business from being shut down by overbearing FDA regulations. I want Rep. ___ to know that this bill would not stop the FDA from regulating e-cigarettes and vapor products, but it would just stop them from banning over 99% of products already on the market. Without this fix, my business and thousands of other stores just like mine will be shut down. Additionally, I’d like him / her to co-sponsor HR 2058, which would make the fix permanent.”

Remember, before Thursday, you want to talk to a staffer who works on Appropriations Committee issues about this issue.

If you can generate calls from your employees / customers, GREAT. The simple message that they should deliver is this: “Please co-sponsor HR 2058.” That’s it. Just tell them to leave an address

Over the last six months we have had an overwhelming interest from consumers on how they can contribute to the Tennessee Smoke Free Association. While we continue to encourage vapers to support the TSFA primarily by shopping with vendors who support the TSFA, we are rolling out a Consumer Membership program. Consumer Members will receive a NOT BIG TOBACCO T-Shirt, Sticker, and TSFA Membership Card, which will be numbered. The TSFA will continue to be primarily supported by Tennessee Vendors.

The Consumer Membership cost is $50. There is a PayPal transaction at the end of the sign up form.

TSFA will be accepting Cash payment at Vapecon this weekend.

Anyone can sign up on the Become a Member tab of our website home, where there is a link for the Consumer Membership form.

Or, to sign up now, click here.