Community
Key Information
About Us
VISION STATEMENT:
Our community will be tobacco free.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Bismarck Tobacco Free Coalition is a pro-active organization dedicated to promoting a healthy, tobacco free environment.
COALITION ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The
Bismarck Tobacco Free Coalition was organized in 1992 and is
funded by the Community Health Grant
Program, Centers of Disease Control, community contributions,
and private foundation grants. Utilizing a small but well-trained
staff, a meager budget, and diligent guidance from our North
Dakota State Tobacco Prevention Program, the coalition has
attempted to make a significant impact on tobacco use and marketing.
The coalition continues to guard these outcomes and use them
as a foundation from which to build further efforts.
The coalition has promoted change with tobacco marketing practices
and the need for individuals to breathe smoke-free air through
advocacy, policy change, and community mobilization. Since
1992, Bismarck has passed three ordinances which address the
easy access of tobacco by minors and one ordinance for the
protection of public health from secondhand smoke. The ordinances
have the following provisions:
A. Restrict placement of tobacco vending machines
B. Restrict self-service displays of tobacco products
C. Provide for graduated penalties, including fines and license suspension/revocation for repeated illegal tobacco sales.
D. Regulate smoking in public places and places of employment.
From
2000 to 2005, community volunteers visited over 20 community
organizations delivering education about secondhand smoke in
the workplace setting. On October 11, 2005 the Bismarck City
Commission passed a smoke free ordinance which enhanced the
state smoke free law by extending smoke free regulation to
outdoor patio areas of restaurants and removed the provision
to build enclosed smoking areas in restaurant/bar establishments.
The Bismarck Tobacco Free Coalition continues to advocate for
100% smoke free workplace policies.
BOARD MEMBERS
| Beth Hughes |
Tim Kingstad |
| Pat McGeary |
Dr. Steve Hamar |
| Amy Heuer | Nancy Gordon |