Students for Smoke Free Boise

Last December we set up an event at Boise State University (which has recently decided to become a smoke free campus!) to get students and faculty involved in the smoke free movemnt. While there, we were able to gather over 200 petition signatures! Not only were we able to spread the word about Smoke Free Boise, but we were also able to educate the students, faculty and others on campus about the dangers of smoking through a small game we had set up. Everyone who signed the petition was entered to win free Bronco Bucks, and three lucky students had that honor. Overall it was a great event, and we really feel like the students and faculty at Boise State are better educated about Smoke Free Boise and the postivie aspects of having a smoke free campus.

Gold's Gym Oct. 30

On October 30, Smokefree Boise volunteers woke up bright and early to spread the word about Smokefree Boise and collect signatures at the Parkcenter Gold's Gym location. The trainers at the gym were full of the Halloween spirit as they helped encourage gym members to sign the petition. By the time the day was over we collected 280 new signatures and had many great opportunities to talk to people about the dangers of secondhand smoke and the importance to have smoking removed from all indoor public work places. Thank you Gold's Gym for supporting our cause!

GREAT day at the fair!

Coalition partners and volunteers with Smokefree Boise battled the heat Monday to collect petition signatures at the Western Idaho Fair. By the end of the day, we had found 604 new supporters and talked to hundreds more people about the importance of smokefree workplaces. Thanks to everyone who sacrificed time to help us out! And thanks to Professional Bull Riders Wyatt and Wilie for supporting tobacco-free efforts in our state!

Out with the Old

Well, the time has come for this Organizer to move on. The contract funding my position expires on August 20th so I will be moving into full-time job hunting, though I certainly plan to remain a Smokefree Boise volunteer as long as I can stay in Boise. It has been a great campaign -- I've met great new people, we've seen many bars voluntarily go smokefree since we began, and people are beginning to recognize our logo and cause as we meet them on the street. All in all, Smokefree Boise is on a great path to success, and I will join other volunteers to follow it through so we can improve the health of all Boise workers.

Thanks so much for everyone's support! -Katie

Grainey's Smokefree Celebration -- on the News!

Last night's Happy Hour at Tom Grainey's to celebrate its new smokefree policy drew some great media attention. Channels 2 and 7 both covered the event. To check out what Channel 2 had to say and to vote on the poll for smokefree bars, go to http://www.2news.tv/news/26040389.html.

Thanks to Red Sky Media, here's the video of our stories on both Channels 2 and 7:

"Need to Breathe" Plays at AA5

Tonight's Alive After Five band couldn't be more fitting for Smokefree Boise: Need to Breathe. Bar employees, entertainers, bouncers, and patrons often feel the Need to Breathe as they work their shifts, play their gigs, or enjoy a night out in secondhand smoke filled environments.

Bring your friends down to Alive After Five tonight and share the Need to Breathe by visiting the Idaho Business Review tent where we will have petitions to sign to create more smokefree environments in Boise. And you can pick up the latest copy of the paper which includes a GREAT article about our efforts... check it out at: http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/07/21/Smokefree-movement-tackles-bars--Publishers-Notes

Volunteers Speak to Mayor Bieter at Mayor's Office Hours Saturday

Saturday, a group of Smokefree Boise volunteers visited with Mayor Bieter about our hopes for smokefree workplaces. The Mayor listened to us intently, took notes, gave us some great ideas, and overall, the meeting was a success. Smokefree environments are just one way we can make Boise an even more desireable place to live and work, and ratifying comprehensive smokefree policies here will keep us up to speed with competing cities, like Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, and even Missoula.

Thank you to Linda, Jacki, Loren, Jennifer, Tom, and Chryssa for taking time out of your Saturday to tell the Mayor why you believe in Smokefree Boise!