ECCA AGM 14th of april. Any requests?

[MarkS]

Apr 10, 2013 23:26:21 GMT bipbip said:

Is there an info pack that members could hand out? Cause that's always good. Also I've not look at the website but perhaps a welcome pack when people join and donate x amount?
Your got to make people feel a part of the thing.

Info packs are a great idea.

Also has someone else pointed out some vendors are already campaigning to their customers regarding the EU plans. some are even sending out leaflets with details on how to contact ?MEP's etc. I have not seen ECCA mentioned once on those leaflets or any vendors websites.

This is one area where vendors can help without crossing conflict of interest boundaries.

[matt1988]

gibla53 try this link www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2013/02/meps-who-supports-vaping-who-is-unsure-and-who-wants-a-ban.html

[MarkS]

I think Jemima has more or less covered everything else, please keep you comments and suggestions coming.

Some really great and constructive stuff so far.
Signing up to ECCA does not mean you have to be actively involved, your membership alone has value and if you can donate even £1 it will help.

If you cannot donate then not a problem either, but do please sign up. www.eccauk.org/index.php/login.html

[MarkS]

Apr 11, 2013 10:52:17 GMT gibla53 said:

Apr 11, 2013 11:07:38 GMT matt1988 said:

gibla53 try this link www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2013/02/meps-who-supports-vaping-who-is-unsure-and-who-wants-a-ban.html

Thanks form pointing it out Gibla and thanks for correcting it Matt.

OP has been updated with the correct link.

[markm]

Just a couple of quick ideas/thoughts.

Is the organisation registered as a charity, that not only lends a level of credibility but has some welcome financial implications.

How close an eye are you keeping on the FDA etc, they have a track record of affecting outcomes in other countries,
Canada for instance, while failing to prove their flawed points at home. The various legal battles going on elsewhere
have a potential to hurt us all globally.

[giles]

Apr 11, 2013 11:02:59 GMT MarkS said:

ECITA going to Brussels was for a "Vested Interest" meeting which only business's were invited too. I did see rumours that a German consumer body was invuited to Brussels for a separate meeting but cannot confirm this. the thing is if they had been invited it is unlikely they would have been able to cover the costs of doing so.

In order to cover costs you need to have the visibility. Whoever runs ECCA should be known to us because he's active in the media, active here, gets quoted. Only person I know like that is hifistud. I'm not going to contribute to the costs of someone if I don't know who he is, what he thinks, how he thinks. If I opened a "send hifistud out of the country" fund we'd get him to Brussels, no worries (New Zealand with any luck...).

And of course we should have been invited to Brussels for meetings, but if we weren't already talking to them - politicians, researchers, even bureaucrats - then no, I don't suppose we were.

[MarkS]

Apr 11, 2013 11:28:08 GMT markm said:

Just a couple of quick ideas/thoughts.

Is the organisation registered as a charity, that not only lends a level of credibility but has some welcome financial implications.

How close an eye are you keeping on the FDA etc, they have a track record of affecting outcomes in other countries,
Canada for instance, while failing to prove their flawed points at home. The various legal battles going on elsewhere
have a potential to hurt us all globally.

To be honest I'm not sure about the charity status Mark, and think Jemima may know more about that than me.

I know that ECCA comment frequently on events all over the globe in relation to anything vaping, especially the FDA.

Just want to say all I am at this current time is a member of ECCa just like anyone else who is a member. I have no official role at ECCA, but have put myself forward as a volunteer. I just think we need a strong consumer body.

Even if vaping gets the green light from the EU and is left as it is things are going to change big time. Corporations WILL take over the mainstream even if we like it or not. some of the successful cottage industries we have grown to love will be bought out etc etc.

We need ECCA now to make sure we still have our right to vape and we will need them more than ever if we win.


Markm from previous posts you have had some great ideas, any interest in getting involved? Attend the AGM online if you can?

[MarkS]

Apr 11, 2013 11:34:59 GMT giles said:

Apr 11, 2013 11:02:59 GMT MarkS said:

ECITA going to Brussels was for a "Vested Interest" meeting which only business's were invited too. I did see rumours that a German consumer body was invuited to Brussels for a separate meeting but cannot confirm this. the thing is if they had been invited it is unlikely they would have been able to cover the costs of doing so.

In order to cover costs you need to have the visibility. Whoever runs ECCA should be known to us because he's active in the media, active here, gets quoted. Only person I know like that is hifistud. I'm not going to contribute to the costs of someone if I don't know who he is, what he thinks, how he thinks. If I opened a "send hifistud out of the country" fund we'd get him to Brussels, no worries (New Zealand with any luck...).

And of course we should have been invited to Brussels for meetings, but if we weren't already talking to them - politicians, researchers, even bureaucrats - then no, I don't suppose we were.

Cannot disagree with a single word of that giles.

[fred]

Apr 11, 2013 10:44:13 GMT MarkS said:

Here is a link for where MEP's stand on vaping www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2013/02/meps-who-supports-vaping-who-is-unsureandwho-wants-a-ban.html but again you are right, this should be up on the ECCA's site, and apologies to anyone from ECCA if it is, it just isn't obvious that it is.

Herein lies a problem - 2 of my 3 MEPs in the North-East do not appear on that webpage. Fortunately, Martin Callanan, MEP, (Conservatives) Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (Member) is currently against the ban. I shall be emailing the other 2 (Fiona Hall - Lib Dem, Stephen Hughes - Labour) post-haste.
This certainly seems to be something that ECCA could run with, and even promote an email/postal campaign or something?

Vendors are a cagey area. Although they are a major part of vaping for all of us they have their own body in ECITA. We do need to work with vendors, but there are valid reasons why they cannot be seen to be too involved.

Yep!! Didn't initially realise that there were several organisations representing the different 'factions'.
I understand that long-term there is a conflict of interest between the 2 organisations, but wonder if temporarily, some kind of coalition could be formed, to pool resources 'against the common enemies'. Obviously just a far-fangled idea, but........

Not out of turn or out of place, but exactly what is needed. Thank you and I hope a few more makes posts like yours before the AGM on Sunday night.

I myself am preparing for 'Armageddon', by starting to mix myself & stocking up - but hey, if we can win this war, it will make it so much easier for all of us.

[Ratfinkz]

I would be interested in volunteering for ECCA also, I've noticed they want a photographer, this is something I am good at when I get my proper gear (Nikon DSLR) out. I could also have a go at being the treasurer.

Atm I feel VTTV are doing better at campaigning than ECCA, but I am prepared to stand behind ECCA if they pull themselves together and start working with us. I think most of us would be happy to get behind them if they start being a company we can get behind, know what is going on and start visibly fighting for our right to vape.

[Deleted]

I posted this first on another thread but I think its a useful message for this one too:

"OK so resourceful current users really aren't at that much risk of a ban, it would be impossible to stop
the converted from finding ways round and through the loop holes.
The issue is it WILL result in so much pain, suffering and ultimately premature deaths of those that they
are attempting to hide this from. Discovering vaping should be the dawn of a new era in public health, not
a dirty secret hidden away (and priced out of existence) in Chemist shops.

Those that misguidedly want to prevent the public from learning about this are on a par with
a guy called Thomas Midgley, who inadvertently did more to damage the planet and those breathing upon it
than anyone who ever lived. He was the bright spark who decided to put lead in petrol, then for an encore
he managed to mess up the ozone layer with CFCs for refrigeration. "

[fred]

MarkS Jemima


OK so as far as the list of MEPs who support/oppose the 'ban', goes,

only 31 of them are actually MEPs when correlated against the list at www.europarl.org.uk/view/en/your_MEPs/List-MEPs-by-region.html

So far as far as I can tell:

14 against

15 unsure

2  for

the current proposals.

I'm putting together a spreadsheet of current MEPs,  contact details, etc, which ECCA can hopefully put to use (hopefully have it 'useable' before Sunday).
Not sure if I'll be able to make the meeting on Sunday, but I'll do my best. Shame really, as Jemima said I could sit next to her . But away to register on ECCA now.

[MarkS]

Good work Fred. You are right that it is the unsure ones we need to work on.

Producing something a little more comprehensive like you are doing will be a valuable tool to use.

Cheers mate....I'll keep your seat warm for you at the AGM

[bipbip]

Whoop well done fred doing something. I

[Jemima]

Apr 11, 2013 11:28:08 GMT markm said:

Just a couple of quick ideas/thoughts.

Is the organisation registered as a charity, that not only lends a level of credibility but has some welcome financial implications.

How close an eye are you keeping on the FDA etc, they have a track record of affecting outcomes in other countries,
Canada for instance, while failing to prove their flawed points at home. The various legal battles going on elsewhere
have a potential to hurt us all globally.

Nope it doesn't seem they are registered as a charity.

quote from Rolygate the chairman "An EU consumer association is being formed, the members are UK, Germany, Holland, Denmark so far. " However I'm guessing like most things these things take time to organise. As the owner of ECF forum as well Rolygate has quite storng ties to the American market and their situation as well.

Apr 11, 2013 11:34:59 GMT giles said:

Apr 11, 2013 11:02:59 GMT MarkS said:

In order to cover costs you need to have the visibility. Whoever runs ECCA should be known to us because he's active in the media, active here, gets quoted. Only person I know like that is hifistud. I'm not going to contribute to the costs of someone if I don't know who he is, what he thinks, how he thinks. If I opened a "send hifistud out of the country" fund we'd get him to Brussels, no worries (New Zealand with any luck...).

And of course we should have been invited to Brussels for meetings, but if we weren't already talking to them - politicians, researchers, even bureaucrats - then no, I don't suppose we were.

The chairman is quite well known if you use ECF at all ? Rolygate is the owner of that forum. I think how much the main committee members are on other forums also leads back onto money and finances again. As long as the committee members have day jobs to earn a living, they will never be on all forums frequently. That's where the forum reps come into it, faces members know and can speak to as often as needed. I am tempted to agree with the hifistud bit but don't tell him I said that

Apr 11, 2013 11:42:52 GMT fred said:

Apr 11, 2013 10:44:13 GMT MarkS said:

Here is a link for where MEP's stand on vaping www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2013/02/meps-who-supports-vaping-who-is-unsureandwho-wants-a-ban.html but again you are right, this should be up on the ECCA's site, and apologies to anyone from ECCA if it is, it just isn't obvious that it is.

Herein lies a problem - 2 of my 3 MEPs in the North-East do not appear on that webpage. Fortunately, Martin Callanan, MEP, (Conservatives) Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (Member) is currently against the ban. I shall be emailing the other 2 (Fiona Hall - Lib Dem, Stephen Hughes - Labour) post-haste.
This certainly seems to be something that ECCA could run with, and even promote an email/postal campaign or something?

I did search for this list on the ECCA website and was quite surprised I didn't find it, I would of though that it would be something they would have listed themselves and then marked out the ones to cajole a bit more

Apr 11, 2013 12:07:02 GMT Ratfinkz said:

I would be interested in volunteering for ECCA also, I've noticed they want a photographer, this is something I am good at when I get my proper gear (Nikon DSLR) out. I could also have a go at being the treasurer.

Atm I feel VTTV are doing better at campaigning than ECCA, but I am prepared to stand behind ECCA if they pull themselves together and start working with us. I think most of us would be happy to get behind them if they start being a company we can get behind, know what is going on and start visibly fighting for our right to vape.

Your quite right, they seem to be.

Will you be coming along to the meeting on Sunday to volunteer as the photographer or do you want me or Mark to recommend you ?

fred I'll try to save you a cake