MT reACT! Against Corporate Tobacco

Update

Hopefully you have all enjoyed the pictures on Flickr! If you want to read more about what Jen, Allie, Missy, and Cassie did in New York City and New Jersey, check out this awesome website:
http://www.takingontobacco.org/event/altria07/

And remember to register for the summit if you haven't already...it's filling up fast!!

New reACT photos up on Flickr!

Altria Shareholders Meeting in NJ/NYC, MTUPP Statewide Meeting, TLT May 4-6 meeting, etc......

Check em out at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtreact

PS--If you want to see your photos up there, send them to mtreact@mt.gov

2007 reACT Summit Registration- now open!

Want to be in this picture?

Then get moving! All teens ages 13-18 in Montana are invited to register for the 2007 reACT! Against Corporate Tobacco teen summit.

The summit will be held Sunday, June 24 through Wednesday, June 27, 2007 in Helena at Carroll College. This is a 100% FREE event for 200 Montana youth between the ages of 13-18. Accomodations at Carroll, meals, and bus transportation to Helena will be provided by MTUPP. There is no registration fee, either!

For those of you who were at reACT's first summit in Bozeman last year- expect it to be bigger and better! Highlights of the 2007 summit include:
-separate first year and "returner" tracks
-expanded art offerings including performing and visual arts
-a teen showcase to highlight the amazing work that has been done across the state in tobacco prevention
-daily regional meetings for teens to get to know others in their area and create action plans
And, of course,
-an amazing activism event!!

For more information about the event, including registration forms, please visit: http://www.umt.edu/ce/cps/YouthSummit.htm. On the site you should find answers to most of your questions, including the bus schedule, a FAQ form, and all of the registration information. Or, call (406) 243.2979.

This is a first-come, first-served event which is expected to fill to capacity very quickly, so register early! (NOTE: Registration is not considered completed until all required forms are turned in.)

Hope to see you in Helena!

reACT's new Teen Leadership Team!

reACT's got a new Teen Leadership Team! These 21 teens from across the state will be serving a one-year term which will end in October. Thanks so much to everyone who applied- the competition was intense and we're super excited to see so many people interested in taking a leadership role in reACT!

Without further ado, the 2007 TLT Members are:

Missy Price, Lincoln
Nik Wong, Billings
Tess Bryan, Great Falls
Molly Matthew, Trout Creek
Cassie Carter, Columbus
Catherine Miller, Great Falls
Ethan Keeler, Butte
Bambi Erving, Plains
Bradyn Harsha, Columbus
Chelsea Schwartzkopf, Laurel
Palma Tiberi, Helena
Bethany Seifert, Glendive
Asunda Zimmer, Kalispell
Jen DuToit, Butte
Madison Perrins, Columbus
Kim Weaver, Bozeman
Micayla Lakey, Chester
Torrie Wolery, Inverness
Dylan Ryder, Froid
Alison Strand, Plentywood
Stephanie Harbuck, Forsyth

Get to know your TLT- after all, they represent YOU!

Calling all Leaders!

Hey! Here's your chance to really be in on the action.....

reACT is recruiting 19 teens from across Montana to serve one-year terms on its Teen Leadership Team. What does that mean? You receive tons of great training, get to travel to Helena for free 3 times a year, meet fellow teens from across the state, and have the most say as to what happens with reACT- what projects we focus on, what gear we order, etc. Basically, you’re serving as a representative of both your area and teens from across the state. You'll also lead teen trainings both in your communities and at the June summit...where, I might add, you get to walk around with a big bad "STAFF" on the back of your shirt :) Yes, there is a time commitment involved (mainly the trainings and monthly conference calls) but it's an awesome leadership experience and a super sweet thing to put on a resume!

You only have until November 29th to apply, so get going already!

Download an application at:
http://tobaccofree.mt.gov/youthempowerment.shtml
or contact kpezzimenti@mt.gov for more info.

Big Tobacco's latest tactic...little cigars!

Wanted to bring this to your attention...

The tobacco industry is always up to new and exciting promotions! We know they've got to get creative since so many of their customers are dying each and every day (1,200 to be exact). Their latest hot product has definitely raised people's interest here in Montana! They are called "little cigars"---but what they really are is, essentially, cigarettes wrapped in brown paper.

Why would the tobacco industry do this, you ask? Make a little cigarette, wrap it in brown paper and call it a cigar? Well, here it is in a nutshell: if a tobacco product is classified as a cigar and not a cigarette, the tobacco companies don't have to pay as much tax on it. It also isn't subject to any of the rules regarding pack size (i.e., you can only buy cigarettes in packs of 20, but 'little cigars' can be sold in much smaller packs...even individually!) So there is a definite advantage to tobacco companies, since they are easier and more affordable for teens to purchase. And of course, they come in all sorts of yummy flavors like berry, mint chocolate, peach...even rum!

If you haven't seen little cigars before, check out some pics of them below:

They look pretty much like cigarettes, right? Well, there are a ton of different brands and types. In fact, you'll notice that some brands and packaging look strikingly similar to some other products popular with teens, like markers or lip gloss:

So, this has definitely been a hot topic in Montana this week. There was a press conference on Tuesday to call attention to the issue, and there was a rules hearing today at the State Capitol to try to figure out what really makes a cigarette a cigarette, and to try and classify little cigars as cigarettes. No news yet (the process takes awhile), but 10 people spoke in support of calling little cigars cigarettes, so the support for our side is definitely there!

Here is some recent Montana media coverage on "little cigars" and the events of this week.....

Newspaper:
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2006/08/31/newsstate/hjjdjbgjhggeed.txt