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Newsletter - Fall/Winter 1998-1999 | |
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ADOPTS A "SMOKE-FREE" POLICY! 
Did you go to the Pomona Fair this year? Did you notice the difference? You could BREATH! Thanks to the hard work of KICK BUTTS, and several other organizations, the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona adopted a "smoke-free" policy, and no longer accepts money from the tobacco industry for sponsorship, promotions or advertising. This policy was enforced in the souvenir book, and the KICK BUTTS posters. KICK BUTTS staff, and volunteers, attended the fair and gave out posters to several vendor booths which happily posted them! The Pomona Fair ran from September 10th, through the 27th, and was a huge success! Attendees were entertained by the many food and entertainment booths, carnival rides, and petting zoo. Horse races ran hourly and music concerts at night. If you did not have the opportunity to attend this years first "smoke-free" Pomona Fair, make plans to attend next years festivities. Thanks to all the coalitions, organizations, KICK BUTTS members and staff, for making this years Pomona Fair "smoke-free." 
On October 2 KICK BUTTS premiered it's newly redesigned "Vulture Billboard" on Garey Avenue and Alvarado Street, in the City of Pomona. The KICK BUTTS billboard is based on a 1995 billboard design of a person smoking, with vultures preying on him. The new design is modeled by youth that represent the diversity of the KICK BUTTS members. Four vultures are preying on the teens smoking, representing the tobacco industry giants: Philip Morris, BAT industries, and RJ Reynolds. On October 23 KICK BUTTS premiered it's theater advertising campaign in the Magic Johnson Theater, at the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Plaza. The theater campaign is based off the new KICK BUTTS vulture billboard, but is updated with a brick wall background, and graffiti. This ad represents the many schools sites that have a common wall where teens go and smoke. Does it sound familiar to you? KICK BUTTS has several other components to the ad campaign. Watch out for our new pamphlet, flyer and postcard. They are all updated and have information that is important to YOU. If you would like to see a copy of the billboard, log onto our web-site at lalung.org. You can also write to us and request a copy of the postcard, pamphlet or flyer at [email protected], or KICK BUTTS, c/o American Lung Association of Los Angeles County, 5858 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036. From August 21st to August 25th, four KICK BUTTS members from Roosevelt High School attended the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) conference in the Westminster Woods cite, near Oakland California. The KICK BUTTS members were active in tobacco prevention and advocacy issues for at least one year before they were invited to attend. CYAN paid for all travel, food and lodging for the 200+ attendees of this five-day conference. The CYAN conference trained teens in advanced advocacy skills, such as: international tobacco issues, the global settlement implications, public speaking, assessing community norms and problem areas, group leadership skills, internet design and much more! One of the goals of the conference was to create a "Statewide Youth Coalition" that will enable youth advocates to communicate and support one another, as well as coordinate efforts and share ideas regarding tobacco-free activities. Of course, the conference was not all work, and no play! Attendees were able to enjoy hiking, volleyball, a ropes course, swimming, a pie eating contest, a dance with a DJ, and MUCH MORE! Two of the four KICK BUTTS members that attended this conference were able to give us an idea of what went on during the conference. Tina and Kennedy from Roosevelt High School gave us the opportunity to interview them and tell us what they learned at the conference: "I learned many new things!" Stated Kennedy, "How to work effectively with other people, and how to make things happen." Tina shared her thoughts; "I learned how to prepare a fundraiser. I also learned how hard it could be for a smoker to quit." As one the goals of attending this conference, participants must be willing to make a one-year commitment to take part in the Statewide Youth Coalition. Tina and Kennedy made that commitment, and told us how they would be active in the fight against tobacco: "I am currently in a peer counseling class, where I teach my peers on the effects of tobacco." Stated Kennedy, Tina continued "I will try to tell every teen and kids how tobacco can kill them." Of course, we didn't just ask them serious stuff! We also asked if they had enjoyed themselves during the conference. Everyone in attendance agreed collectively that the "Conference was a great opportunity to meet other teens from the state." "I enjoyed meeting new people." Stated Kennedy. And Tina? "I enjoyed meeting different people and how to work together with other people. I would like to go again next year!" Sensing the excitement in Tina's voice, we feel that ANY KICK BUTTS member would have just as much fun, and learn just as much by attending next years CYAN conference. Don't stay behind! Join the KICK BUTTS chapter in your school, or if there is not one there, call us! We will tell you where there is one. KICK BUTTS has several other activities that are planned! You can enjoy and participate in them if you join an existing KICK BUTTS chapter, or start a new one! Call us, we will tell you how. 1.800.806.LUNG, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Say you smoked a pack a day and you decide to quit. Here is what would happen to your body after quitting for: 20 minutes:
8 hours:
24 hours:
48 hours:
One to Nine months
KICK BUTTS is now on the information super-highway! Have you taken a look at the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County web-site? KICK BUTTS has a web page attached to it! It has a lot of very cool stuff! The home page is updated with a lot of cool graphics and information: A picture of our new billboard that is used in the Magic Johnson Movie Theaters, highlights the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County home page. By clicking on the picture, you will be given the "Story behind the Board." By clicking on the "KICK BUTTS" icon you will be taken to the KICK BUTTS home page. Cool graphics, colors, and information to read is all at your fingertips. At the home page, you will be able to move to different sections of the KICK BUTTS web-site by clicking on the icons. Some of the information includes the most recent KICK BUTTS newsletter; information on how to join a KICK BUTTS chapter, or how to start a new one; the history of Prop 99; KICK BUTTS activities, as well as "smoke-free" events, and events that had "alternative sponsorship;" KICK BUTTS merchandise; and a VERY COOL contest where you can win tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain! Don't worry, if you don't have access to the internet, you can also enter the contest by mailing in your entry to: KICK BUTTS, c/o American Lung Association of Los Angeles County, 5858 Wilshire, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036. You can also link to other cool web-sites from the KICK BUTTS home page! And, if you have any questions or comments, or just want to write and say HI to our staff, you can e-mail us at ! Good luck on the contest, and don't forget to check our web-site often for KICK BUTTS activities, and cool information! 
As part of the KICK BUTTS mission to have community events and venues to not accept tobacco sponsorship and events that were silent on the smoking issue to be promoted as "smoke-free," KICK BUTTS approached the Watts Summer Festival organizers in the summer. KICK BUTTS was prepared to speak to the promoters about the importance of having a family event promoted as "smoke-free." KICK BUTTS also explained different ways to request sponsorship, other than to use tobacco dollars. KICK BUTTS was able to work with the promoters of the Watts Summer Festival, and have this years event promoted as "smoke-free." The KICK BUTTS goal was met, and a successful event was planned! The 32nd annual Watts Summer Festival was host a variety of things, including carnival rides, food, and different booths. Everyone was able to have a good time! Thank you to the KICK BUTTS staff and members for making this event successful! 
KICK BUTTS was invited to participate in the 1998, UNITY in the Community, hosted by Fulton Middle School in Van Nuys. The LA Free Clinic organized this event, as part of Project ABLE and UNITY (Understandable, non-preachy, and innovative teachings for today's youth) advisory board. UNITY in the community was promoted as "smoke-free" as part of the mission of KICK BUTTS of having community events that were silent on the issue promoted as "smoke-free." The event was held October 10, from 9 am to 4 pm was a host to many different activities. Community organizations hosted information booths, and participated in class-session workshops; lunch was provided with the entertainment of a Mariachi Band, and a dance group. Prizes were given every hour, and face painting and balloons were available to anyone in attendance. A DJ played music requests, and a few people decided to dance along with the music! Overall, it was a very fun and informative event to attend! KICK BUTTS was able to host a booth that gave tobacco information, and information on how to join KICK BUTTS. KICK BUTTS also hosted a workshop for children and adults on the dangers of smoking. Other organizations were excited to have this event promoted as smoke-free. Ernesto Soprani, with the LA Free Clinic said "I saw someone smoking, and I told him this was a smoke-free event. He put out his cigarette." Thank you to the event organizers and everyone in attendance for making this a very exciting event to be a part of, and to have promoted as "smoke-free." The KICK BUTTS key chain and book cover were selected by the TECC (Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California) to appear in their catalog. This catalog provides low-cost or free tobacco educational materials that have been selected for statewide distribution. Only 29 new items were added to this year's catalog, two of which were KICK BUTTS and one of which was on the cover! Congratulations to the KICK BUTTS staff for their hard work! KICK BUTTS is working very hard to reduce the number of events sponsored with tobacco dollars, and to have events that were silent on the smoking issue to be promoted as "smoke-free." KICK BUTTS needs your help! Do you know of events, or venues in your community that are sponsored by tobacco dollars? Would you like to see those events promoted as "smoke-free?" KICK BUTTS can approach this events or venues, and suggest a "smoke-free" policy. You can be an active participant in this process! Please send event suggestions to [email protected], or write to us at: KICK BUTTS, c/o American Lung Association of Los Angeles County, 5858 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036. KICK BUTTS is working alongside LA Link, American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Club of San Gabriel, and several other organizations to have the LA Zoo adopt a "smoke-free" policy. The LA County Zoo is one of the largest in the nation, and only one of the few that does not have a "smoke-free" policy. Every day hundreds of children from the Los Angeles County School District go to the zoo on field trips. Children and animals are exposed to second-hand smoke, in a place of natural beauty. KICK BUTTS wants the Zoo to be a safe haven for children and their families. The Los Angeles County Zoo should be a place that YOU can visit and be free of second-hand smoke. Help us in the fight to keep clean air! Support KICK BUTTS by sending letters or email expressing your concern to us. If you know of any other venue that has not adopted a "smoke-free" policy, and you feel it should have one, please call us with the name of the event/venue, location, and phone number to: 1.800.806.LUNG.
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