A True Vintage Cigar

The Tatuaje La Vérité is a special and revolutionary collaboration between Pete Johnson (Tatuaje Cigars) and Jose “Pepin” Garcia (Don Pepin & My Father Cigars). The cigars are composed exclusively of tobaccos grown at Don Pepin’s La Estrella Farm (vega) in Esteli Nicaragua.

The La Vérité cigar is a true vintage cigar because all of the tobaccos in it are part of the same crop - grown during the same year. Furthermore, it is an Estate (or Farm) Vintage cigar because all of the tobaccos in it come from one farm. To our knowledge, this is the first time a premium or super-premium cigar has been produced in this manner; similar to Vintage and Estate wines. As a Farm Vintage, the La Vérité cigars provide a snapshot of taste and aroma that captures a specific time and place.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE...

National Media Honors Certified Tobacconists

Certified Tobacconists from across the country received national media recognition for their accomplishments in a news report today:

Gaining positive media attention is a rare thing indeed these days, and important to projecting and preserving the honor and credibility of the luxury tobacco industry. Congratulations to everyone who has been certified and was mentioned in the article. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. And thanks to all our apprentices. We look forward to certifying all of you and watching this list grow!

The Tobacconist Preservation Act

THE PETITION

This proposed federal law is intended to preserve the rights of retail Tobacconists* (and their customers) who must be allowed to taste, smell, and sample their products within retail Tobacconist stores.

Retail Tobacconists acknowledge and accept any and all risks associated with smoke and knowingly and willingly choose to work in retail stores. Retail Tobacconists accept any potential risk associated with their profession in the same way that professional pilots, skateboarders, truck drivers, judges, police, dancers, mountain climbers, factory workers, soldiers, and other professionals accept the specific risks of their chosen professions.

Professional Tobacconists are custodians of natural products which are artistically grown and hand crafted into delicacies which are beloved by millions of consumers. Premium and luxury cigars and pipe tobaccos are enjoyed by individuals who seek the natural human pleasures of taste, aroma, camaraderie, and relaxation while savoring their time - no different than the pleasures derived from food or drink. The artistry and specialized qualities of luxury tobaccos requires legitimate professionals to represent the products and serve their customers. In addition, professional Tobacconists are well suited to ensure that tobacco products are sold only to adults.

The Tobacconist Preservation Act acknowledges the existence, validity, and necessities of the Tobacconist profession and preserves Tobacconists' rights to smoke on their premises. This act overrides any local and state laws which may prohibit retail Tobacconists from performing their professional duties, representing their products, and serving their customers; including but not limited to the right to smoke in retail Tobacconists. In addition, The Tobacconist Preservation Act acknowledges the significance, validity, traditions, and historical value that Tobacconists represent in The United States of America; in so doing this act protects the rights of a minority of the population and enriches the whole culture.

*Tobacconist: an expert dealer in tobacco and the related accoutrements.

President's Note: As the IPCPR and organizations like the CAA & CRA fight to protect our industry from S-CHIP, FDA, more taxation, and increasingly repressive smoking bans, The Tobacconist Preservation Act will be the first/only proactive and direct political act to be initiated by Tobacconist University. Go directly to our Petition website if you would like to sign our petition to support federal legislation that will preserve Tobacconists' rights to smoke in their shops. We must act now, so tell your friends to start signing the petition too.

Prohibition 2.0: Boston & Dallas

This December the Boston Public Health Commission voted unanimously to ban smoking outdoors on bar and restaurant patios. Similarly, the Dallas City Council successfully voted to ban smoking 15 feet from public doorways. Both cities banned the opening of new cigar bars and Boston has only allowed cigar bars to exist for the next 10 years. WTF?

These laws are based solely on a hysterical response to the fears of secondhand smoke. In reality, the outdoor bans only protect citizens from the potential of odor annoyance; since educated and reasonable people understand that a whiff of smoke is no more unhealthy than a sip of whole milk. In addition, banning the opening of new cigar bars is the equivalent of sanctioning a monopoly - far from protecting business owners and individual rights. And, only allowing them to exist for 10 years is just an insulting usurpation of rights - as it is common sense that you need at least a ten year lease (with options) and a commercial mortgage usually lasts 20 years. So, how can anyone expect to build a career, invest in their community, take care of their family, and live the American dream under these conditions? Or, is the American Dream only available to non-smokers?

Any politician who votes for laws like these is placating a mis-informed public, fear mongering, usurping rights, and undermining the most fundamental values behind our Constitution; including but not limited to the pursuit of happiness as defined by the individual. Please be proactive and help us protect our rights by signing The Tobacconist Preservation Act.

To learn more about these new Prohibitions see CRA or CC. To learn more about the lies behind secondhand smoke propaganda read what Dr. Michael Siegel, a scientist with integrity, has to say at http://www.tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/.

Certified Testimonial

You have been hearing me talk about the importance and value of TU and Certification for years now. And we get many kind and inspiring letters from Certified Tobacconists every month, but this testimonial has special meaning to me and it really captures much of the intangible, yet priceless, value TU provides:


"I cannot sing your praises enough, these certifications my employees have achieved with TU has meant so much to them, their pride is measurable in so many positive ways. As a store owner, TU brings a rare gift to me because no amount of money in bonus or spiff I could give could ever match the value of being a graduate of TU, my guys are so damn proud of their accomplishment and having their diplomas and PINS. Thanks for all the years of hard work you have put into TU because it is going to pay off for years to come for all of us involved in this unique and precious pursuit; loving the lore.


Kindest regards,


David Berkebile,
Georgetown Tobacco
Washington, D.C..

P.S.: You can quote me on this anytime."

My Little Inventory

Inventory is everything to a retail Tobacconist. As we wrap up the fiscal year and analyze our inventory, it is hard to imagine that something so important, precious, and vital can be articulated on a few sheets of paper. The final printout for the year is 61 pages of SKUs, descriptions, costs, and more numbers. There are some oddball figures like 23,000 matches, 740 logo guillotine cutters, 111 pipe filters, 201 pipe screens, -927 waters, and probably $20,000 (retail value) worth of stolen products - this is something the public rarely realizes, but shoplifting is a brutal reality inside walk-in humidors; plus damaged cigars! I smoke so many damaged cigars I think I could play the flute professionally since my finger muscles are so well developed.... but I digress.....

What strikes me every time I do inventory is just how amazing the breadth and depth of our inventory is. In my little 680 sq/ft store the (Certified) Tobacconists have to be familiar with 100+ pipe tobaccos, 300+ cigars, 22 brands of rolling papers, dozens of pipes, humidifiers, humidors.... its even too daunting to summarize; but somehow we do it. Of course, we try to have specialists for every department, but it is still an overwhelming amount of knowledge to retain.

Currently, TU is working with companies who realize the unique challenges Tobacconists face, and together we are researching and developing new ways to help Tobacconists stay educated about their products. While TU teaches consumers and Tobacconists directly through the University, we are also trying to influence the way the industry teaches Tobacconists and customers. Getting manufacturers and distributors proactively involved will dramatically improve the amount of knowledge Tobacconists impart on our customers and society, thereby improving customer service and satisfaction. Just imagine, if it's hard for Tobacconists..... what are our customers thinking? Well, .... don't worry, we are on it.... but if you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Certified Tobacconist Impressions (CTI)

The first step towards acceptance and credibility is to build awareness. A decade ago I had people laugh at me when I told them I was a 'Tobacconist'. And, the society we live in barely recognizes us as a legitimate profession - most days they treat us like criminals. So, awareness is the first step towards carving out a respectable niche in our society.

Tobacconist University exists largely to build awareness and credibility for the luxury tobacco industry. While many more consumers visit TU than Tobacconists, we consider every impression we make a positive Certified Tobacconist Impression (CTI). CTI are created every time a consumer visits TU, thinks about TU, mentions TU to a friend, or says the words 'Tobacconist University'. CTI are created every time TU helps somebody refill their lighter, learn how to cut their cigar, season their humidor, and enhances their appreciation of luxury tobacco: always educating and enhancing appreciation under the umbrella of "Tobacconist University".

Ultimately, if you had to distill down the priceless value of TU into something quantifiable, you could think in terms of Certified Tobacconist Impressions (CTI). After all, you need something to measure and strive for when you are trying to change the culture and fighting for your freedoms. Knowing this, TU regards every Tobacconist Certification with extreme reverence. Every TU Certified Tobacconist goes into the world creating thousands of Certified Tobacconist Impressions per year; by showing customers and civilians that we are legitimate, valuable professionals. Every time a Certified Tobacconist mentions Certification, or shows their lapel pin, or posts their Certified Logo, an impression is made. Every time a human being thinks about Tobacconists as professionals a positive impression is made. In fact, every Certified Tobacconist creates between 15,000 (lazy Tobacconist) and 50,000 (not lazy) Certified Tobacconist Impressions (CTI) a year (conservatively estimated). At this rate just one thousand Certified Tobacconists can create 50 MILLION positive impressions per year. Ultimately, this simple notion of projecting and leveraging our credibility through Certified Tobacconist Impressions (CTI) is a big part of how we will "preserve luxury tobacco for generations to come": one Tobacconist at a time, one impression at a time.

Outlawing Tobacco 2.0

This morning I awoke to find out that TU is the cover story for October's Smokeshop Magazine: this was a thrill and a privilege. Then, I had to put my retail Tobacconist 'hat' back on and do exactly two things for my stores. First, I had to fill out fourteen pages of information for the state of PA, print another 12, make copies and then drive all the way to Pennsylvania to use a notary, then mail these documents to the Department of Health to get permission to smoke in my PA store - even though we are clearly exempted from the law. The state was kind enough to notify us of the paperwork requirement over a month after it was due. The second retail task I did today was to print and frame this (pictured) sign for my Princeton, New Jersey store. It will go in the space where we used to display flavored cigarettes, which have now been outlawed.

We are now transitioning from Outlawing Tobacco 1.0 to 2.0. As cigar and pipe smokers, we are only about 5% of the population.... so our rights can be taken away quickly! Sadly, I do not think a democracy based on the value of human freedoms should so easily take away human freedoms. So, I continue to believe that all retail Tobacconists are great American freedom fighters... underdogs on the front lines of a great battle for justice. Not just smokers' rights, but all individuals' rights, in our pursuit of happiness. Smoking is the 'gateway' civil right, and it has been demonized and beaten into submission.

Ultimately, the only way to win back our freedom is to EARN CREDIBILITY. At TU we are proactively doing that through Certification .... and more: if we want a positive future, we will have to work hard for it.

GROW THE PIE

Grow The Pie. That's the point of TU. Its the purpose of education. It's the reason for Certification. Grow the pie, Grow the pie, Grow the pie.

Its worth repeating because the retail Tobacconist pie has been shrinking for decades. Furthermore, perpetually increasing taxes, smoking bans, mail order, and anti-smoking legislation threaten our industry more than ever. Yet, if you converted just 10% of cigarette smokers to cigars, you would practically double the size of the cigar industry (see Smoking Stats for proof). These are profound facts!

To paraphrase the Outlaw Tobacconist Genius:

'If you focus on growing the pie, your slice automatically gets bigger.'

While the luxury tobacco industry is filled with brilliant business men and women, it has been forced into self-preservation mode for decades. Companies are terrified of legislation and taxes; they hyper-focus on economies of scale, internal efficiencies, and maximizing ROI, all while margins decline, products get commoditized, and taxes increase: it's a brutal scenario.

Not surprisingly, until Tobacconist University, we were practically the only industry without formalized education and certification standards for professionals. But the challenges are far from over for us. Now, Tobacconists, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers of luxury tobacco must get involved and work together to project our credibility and preserve our future.

Stay tuned for more content on Growing the Pie.....

Nicotiana

It is no exaggeration to say that Nicotiana is the earth's most extraordinary plant genus: harvested for its leaves, the largest cash crop (non food) plant on earth, used for approximately 10,000 years, yet its most popular species, Tobacco, is not found growing anywhere in the wild. In order to understand the natural human connection to Tobacco we must learn its history and the value it has added to people for thousands of years. This is a perspective that our contemporary and smoke-hysterical society fails to see; but through Tobacconist University we hope you will find enlightenment and enhanced appreciation. We are adding new content on Nicotiana and Tobacco to our curriculum on a regular basis. In particular, TU's professional researcher, R. Sloane Franklin, CRT has just written an extraordinary piece titled Tobacco use in the Americas before 1492. Check it out, it will enhance your appreciation and remind you why luxury tobacco is a natural and valuable part of a life well lived.

"...understanding tobacco's history as symbol and agent of the sacred, the royal, the medicinal and the pleasurable serves only to enhance our appreciation of premium tobacco products today. Once can indeed say that to enjoy fine tobacco is to enjoy the pleasures of gods and kings."

- R. Sloane Franklin, CRT

ART & CIGARS

One of the most important things we teach consumers, Tobacconists, and society is the amazing and unparalleled nature of the premium cigar. Great works of art, crystal, furniture, and architecture are created in less time than a great cigar; and they last lifetimes! ...while the destiny of a cigar, through combustion, is to return to dust. In fact, hundreds of people and thousands of years of human knowledge and experience go into every premium cigar!

Indubitably, great cigars are works of art*. Great cigar makers are artists. And retail Tobacconists are the curators of these precious miracles. At TU we consider ourselves to be in the art preservation business: preserving luxury tobacco for generations to come.


*The author would like to acknowledge ArtistaCuba, having a non-cigar art collection, and importing and exhibiting art since 1996.

IPCPR 2008 - Las Vegas

It was an exciting week in Las Vegas, to say the least. The response we received as the IPCPR's Official Curriculum Resource for Professional Tobacconists was stunning. We signed up over eighty new stores with even more Tobacconist Apprentices. In addition, we certified extraordinary Tobacconists from Georgetown Tobacco in DC and C.I.G.A.R. in San Antonio.

As I have always said, Tobacconists are starving for the credibility they deserve and now we are well on our way to providing it. This is a big first step towards building a better future for this honorable profession and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

Tobacconist Traffic

While Tobacconist University uses the internet to broadcast our academic curriculum and other services (for free), we are not an 'internet company'. We do not sell our traffic (clicks) or allow advertisements, and we go to great lengths to distinguish our educational platforms from simple information and infotainment. As a University it is our mandate to research, learn, and teach. In that process, we certify and promote the credibility of our retail Tobacconists.

As we ask potential sponsors to help fund certifications and academic development, we make it a point to de-emphasize our internet traffic, since we are not 'that kind' of company. In reality, we do not measure our success in quantity, but quality - like education vs. information. With that said, our internet statistics do offer some amazing and unparallelled facts: our average visitor views 8 pages while more than 40% view more than 3 pages; 11% of our daily visitors spend more than 40 minutes on the site while 60% spend more than 3 minutes.

I think the daily traffic picture above says it all (red dots represent 5 or more pageviews): serious people from all over the world spend significant amounts of time learning about luxury tobacco - through Tobacconist University. I know the internet site looks 'different' as there are no frames, advertisements, or constantly changing headlines with sensationalized information. We don't report on current events or host chat groups or product sales techniques. The uniqueness of our website occasionally leaves people confused since we are used to being bombarded with marketing messages. But in this case, different is good: we are sharing substance and quality, for free.

Co-Branding: Third Party Endorsement

The Third Party Endorsement is the most powerful sanction and form of approval available: this is true in both business and our personal lives. For example, there is a significant difference between your mother saying "you are smart" and Albert Einstein saying so. Things like objectivity, background, and independence influence the value judgement: "who" says "what" matters. You can spend all day telling someone how great you are, but they probably won't listen until someone credible says it once. This is the essence and value of the Third Party Endorsement.

Tobacconist University Certification is the ultimate Third Party Endorsement because:

• Certification cannot be purchased, it must be earned.


• TU does not allow any advertising because we must control the quality of our content and standards.


• We have a Code of Ethics & Standards to articulate, promote, and project our values.


• Our academic curriculum is thoroughly researched and available for public scrutiny.


• We have an open-source academic curriculum where credible Tobacconists are welcome to contribute.


• All of our revenue streams are publicly declared; including certifications, product placements, and sponsorships.


• TU is independent institution and unaffiliated with any product sales.

Other examples of Third Party Endorsements include: newspaper articles, being quoted in the media, 'word of mouth', web-links & listings, and "best of" lists. Each endorsement comes with its own gravitas, but they can all add up to priceless promotional value.

University In A Box: Certified Crate

Somehow, more than a decade's worth of work, computers, cameras, curriculum, promotional materials, and our Academic Administrator Kate, fit inside this crate. This humble wooden box and our internet sites are the heart, soul, and appendages of Tobacconist University (TU). I feel exhausted and relieved knowing that TU is well on its way: this Certified Crate is destined for Las Vegas where we will be available to serve and certify retail Tobacconists. Who knew you could fit a University in a box?.... and yes, in case you were wondering, that is Spanish Cedar trim.

IPCPR & TU 2008 Las Vegas Convention

It's official!

Sign up for our newsletter now, if you haven't already: we have an action packed email going out on Monday.

Certified!!! Miami Cigar & Co.

Well, it has been quite a week for Tobacconist University, and all involved. I was in Miami from Friday to Tuesday Certifying the Miami Cigar & Co. office staff and Salesforce. While I expected it to be fun and rewarding, that turned out to be a great under-estimation. I could not be more proud and thrilled to have such an extraordinary group of people as the first CST organization. While I have known Nestor, Mariana, Rene, and Daniel for many years, it was a special treat to meet their extended family.

I have to catch a plane to Kansas City, to Certify The Outlaw Cigar Co., in six hours, so I don't have time to properly pay tribute to Tobacconist University's most recent additions to the family. But I could not go another minute without at least acknowledging this special accomplishment. TU is thrilled to work with such an outstanding group of people. A company is only as good as its human assets, which makes it a privilege to work with Miami Cigar & Co.

We have many new announcements coming in the next month! But I would like to acknowledge our most recent Retail Tobacconist Certifications as well: Blue Havana II (Alpharetta, GA), Smoking Joe's Cigar Co. (Marietta, GA). And there are many more to come before the IPCPR convention in Las Vegas in July.

Buckle up and stay tuned for more exciting news and events... we are on our way, and in excellent company!

Background & Perspective on TU

I am spending hours per day responding to emails from Tobacconists and Consumers alike. Its amazing how popular an unpromoted endeavor can be. I fully understand why there are so many questions and I would like to take this opportunity to give a little Background & Perspective.

Above all, TU must be a transparent organization. While most of our services are free, we do (or will) disclose all of our income(s) to maintain our independence and credibility. We do not accept advertising and sell or certify products. Currently we are working on a Product Placement (PP) revenue model which will allow photos/specs of products to be placed in the Academic Curriculum by credible industry members - these are not advertisements. PP are intended to be an equitable and affordable 'service' that allows all industry members to share in TU. (I will write more on PP in the future - still in development.) While PP are intended to pay for the internet site(s) and maintenance, eventually we will have Sponsors which will fund Content Development (i.e. content previews) and Certifications (however, we are Certifying now without Sponsors). That's the plan...

To date, including time and money, I have invested at least one million dollars in TU; while we have had $100 in income from our first CST. It has been my full time job for 5 years and I have drawn from my staff of 12 Tobacconists to do it. And now we have a Academic Administrator to help with everything I can't do. In addition, there have been legal, administrative, computer, programming, art, design, printing, travel, and many more costs. Sadly, there is no guarantee that I will get any of that money or time back. We are working with a completely new economic model (i.e. no ads, free services, etc...) but I have always believed that if we create New Value & Opportunities, that everything financial will work itself out . That's the plan...

Currently we are doing our *Pilot CRT Certifications and CST Certifications. We are building a grass roots movement of Credible Certified Tobacconists. While I would rather be spending 'Sponsor' money at this point, we must first prove to our industry that a demand truly exists. As Tobacconists, we demand respect, credibility, and support; through Certification we are showing that we are willing to earn it.

The following email gives a quick rundown on many common questions, so I will simply cut and paste it here:

"Dear ----;

Almost everything you want to know is on our websites: check out the Certification, Certified Tobacconist, and Academic pages. And there is also supplementary information on my blog. We have been Certifying Tobacconists and Consumers since 1996, but the Certified Tobacconist webpage only lists those over the last two years, since that is when the Tobacconist University Code of Ethics & Standards, and other materials were used as part of the Certification. Before that we Certified just under 200 Tobacconists and Consumers under the Cuban Cigar University name: that was a program I used for my retail stores and customers - the development of Tobacconist University started full time in 2003 and that was intended to benefit the whole industry.

I am sorry that the Certification information on the site is not more succinct. Over the next year, as we get funding, we will streamline the Certification information and make it easier to digest. Currently we are doing Pilot Certifications while we refine our Email Seminars and the infrastructure to Certify Tobacconists throughout the country. We are transitioning from a research, development, and publishing organization to a Certification driven organization, and that will take some time. This is an exciting period for us, since over the next 30 days we will add 20 Certified Tobacconists to our family. Certifications will double every 3 to 4 months after that. Right now our focus is on CST and CRT. By 2009 we will be much better equipped to Certify Consumers (CCT), since we will have Certified Retailers in place to recruit and administer the test.

In addition, the development of TU has been intentionally quiet; we have avoided press and promotion in order to focus on our foundation and fundamentals.

If you would like to look at the Certification contracts (CRT), the username/password is Tobacconist/Pride. There is some technical information there you may find useful. In brief, CRT Certification is Free, and the CCT cost is $200 for a lifetime.

Currently we have 5 retailers going through the Pilot Certification programs. The first step towards Certification is accepting the Code of Ethics & Standards. They receive E-Seminars twice a week for six weeks and then schedule to take the final exam. Hopefully, later this year the E-Seminars will be available online ,for free, for you to see/receive at your leisure. As we get Sponsors, hopefully this year, we will begin Certifying at will and our growth will be exponential. The main challenge/bottleneck is that the test must be administered by a Certified human being, it cannot be taken over the internet, so that poses some challenges we are preparing for now.

I hope this answers some of your questions….

If you happen to live near a Certified Retail Tobacconist, then they will be able to Certify you as a Consumer….. but you may have to be patient. If you are ever in Princeton, NJ we can Certify you ourselves.

Recuerdos;"

Disclaimer: Posting this blog has saved me countless hours of emailing.... thanks for reading it.

*Writing this prompts me to release/post a couple of the Pilot CRT E-Seminars... stay tuned for that.

University Means University

As we see it, the function of a University is to TEACH, LEARN, & RESEARCH, which is precisely what we do at Tobacconist University. In that process we are endeavoring to support Retail Tobacconists (B&M) and Preserve Luxury Tobacco For Generations To Come. Our educational platforms are absolutely free to consumers, Tobacconists, and the rest of civilization. In addition, we do not accept or allow any advertising, nor do we sell any products. Our Vision is to set the highest Standard of Excellence in Product Knowledge, Appreciation, and Professionalism throughout the Luxury tobacco industry. Our Mission is to Educate & Certify the most knowledgeable and honorable tobacco connoisseurs in the world. We even have a Code of Ethics & Standards for our Certified Tobacconists, and we expect it to be honored, or else...

All of this is completely new to our industry and it usually takes people a while to comprehend what we are doing: 'invest in education?', 'train Tobacconists?', 'what is a Tobacconist?', etc... Many people can't even pronounce the word Tobacconist, much less understand its significance. The reason it has taken over a decade to get to this point is because we are serious about our profession, industry, and building credibility. Tobacconist University is a value-proposition for a new generation. Perhaps it is the confluence of smoking-bans, hyper-taxation, and societal condemnation that requires such a distinctive institution. Or maybe it was long overdue: the first Sommelier organization did not open in America until 1954. Regardless of the reasons, OUR TIME HAS COME. We are currently Certifying Tobacconists through our Pilot Programs in over twenty States; and our growth will be organic and exponential.

With that said... I would like to officially proclaim my disdain with any company, either manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, who uses the words "College" or "University" in their name or web domain to lure customers while offering little or no substantive education. This shameful ploy has become more prevalent in our industry and it is truly disingenuous.

Every great Tobacconist I have ever known has sacrificed income and time to pursue their own passions, and then shared of themselves without hesitation. I can promise you that every Certified Tobacconist, including current Apprentices, have gone to extraordinary lengths to educate themselves and meet our highest standards; Standards which exist to honor this extraordinary industry and its consumers. In fact, a Certified Tobacconist, by definition [or default], is making sacrifices and giving of their time simply because it is the right thing to do: there is no paycheck or product at the end of our journey. Certification is the manifestation of great passion and conviction! So, rather than just condemn greedy, shady, and disreputable merchants, I would like to personally congratulate all of our current, past, and future Certified Tobacconists for 'walking the walk'. Ultimately, when we say we are Certified, it means something; and we are called Tobacconist University because that says it all.

"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action"

- Herbert Spencer

RTDA / IPCPR Report

I just returned from the 75th Anniversary of the RTDA, now IPCPR, in Houston. I thought I might sleep a full 24 hours today, but I got up bright and early. Despite my bloodshot eyes, aching muscles, and the loss of my voice, I am rejuvenated and more excited about the future than ever before. Great Cigar makers are proactively organizing and working to defeat the absurd taxes proposed by the Senate and Congress: this is truly a fight for our livelihood. For the first time ever, these artists and artisans are working hard to project the Credibility and Value of our industry, demonstrating the differences from a luxury, quality of life experience, and an unhealthy habit. We must separate ourselves from big tobacco.

TOBACCONIST UNIVERSITY: Retailers
The TU Seminar was a GREAT SUCCESS!! Beyond all expectations! Over one hundred people came to our public debut and the feedback was overwhelming. Tobacconists are thirsty for Credibility and we are just the organization to empower them to earn it. It seemed like I couldn't walk more than a few feet without being stopped by someone who attended or heard about it. Tobacconists were so excited I was giving mini lectures on the sales floor, at vendor booths, in the bar, lobby and even in moving automobiles. Here is an excerpt from the introduction part of the Seminar:



"Welcome and thank you for coming. It is a privilege to be here, speaking to you: Retail Tobacconists, my favorite people in the world.

No other professionals have as much passion yet fight as hard for their integrity, credibility and success.

So, Tobacconists are my favorite people...... Great American Freedom Fighters, in the tradition of our Founding Fathers, Tobacconists are preserving our inalienable right to pursue our own happiness. Not "happiness" which is defined by our government, legislators, pop culture, warped statistics, or anything else. Happiness can only be defined by the individual. By me, for me. By you, for you."

And then they applauded, so I will stop there.

As Mr. Jose Orlando Padron says: ' You must crawl before you walk, and walk before you run '. So we will heed that advice and take things slow, since every effort and decision we put in now is geared towards PRESERVING LUXURY TOBACCO FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

As usual, we are dealing with TU specific, or big-picture topics here. If you want some day to day coverage of the show, check out David Savona's Blog on the CA website. I think he was blogging prolifically in his sleep; I don't know when he found the time since every time I saw him he was drinking, smoking, or eating.