fungirlz

Some of us for some time have wondered exactly what the ITA and Smart Tan gang are doing for us....

Though many many of us have pledged our funds each year we have been unsure just what in the world is going on with in the walls of these good ol' Boyz “get togethers”.

Well.. I had the chance to speak with several of our Board members and Directors of these organizations in Nashville.. and the news is good..

Both ITA and Smart Tan along with our very own Don Smith and Others helped to squash the myth that people receive 80% of their sun exposure before the age of 18.
The groups were able to prove that actual exposure data showed this rate to be less than 25% and not the 80% that had been reported by Diane Godar a researcher in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Another new study was launched and it proved there was NO evidence found linking tanning units and melanoma.. ...
The proof is now out there...

There are so many other things the ITA has embarked on for us this past year.. and Smart Tan has supplied us the valuable information to keep us sharp and on task with our studios..
Don Smith has blazed the way with new and exciting research.. and Bob Wagner pounds the key boards writting the facts so we have them at our finger tips these days........
How very good for us all.....

At nearly every turn our industry has faced these groups comprised of hard working individuals have fought for our right to operate our facilities..

We may not always get the answers here on line from these people, but I want you to know if you just walk up to John Overstreet, Joe Levy, Our ITA President Dan or any of the Board members like Karen Meade-Bentlage, Ken Dion…
and let me not forget....the Mr. Drop Dead Gorgeous who looks like he stepped out of the pages of GQ Magazine the one and only make your heart jump a beat or three... Mr. Frank Muscatello ... and several others I had a chance to talk with.. they will be very willing to share a conversation with you about the direction they are working very hard on for the POSITVE growth of our industry..

Don Smith was very right when he asked us all in his talk.. When was the last time we thanked these hard working people.?…. I guess he knows what its like doing the ground work and not getting the support from the group you are doing the work for .. (by the way FREE work.. no one is getting paid for the positions they sit in)..
Because Don Smith is a man who I admire and respect with all my heart.. I did go out to thank them.. and you know what.. they each smiled and said.. Thanks, we are here for the salon owners, to help make the road better to travel for all of us……..
I believe with out these people and people who have served before them, we could not have lasted this long in our industry..

I encourage all of you who have not shook hands with these folks.. Do so.. you’ll be proud to say.. I’m an ITA/Smart Tan Supporter...
Get out there get together.. Together things can change for the better...

See you in Can Cun ya'll....
C


_________________
Christine'
Home from Nashville.. and gonna tell ya about it..
[ This Message was edited by: fungirlz on 2002-11-16 11:42 ]

Rayztanning

When THEY start praising US for the work WE do online, then and only then will the circle be completed Christine.

You can't have them sitting there wanting us to notice THEM while they passively, and actively, work overtime denigrating all online.

It is a two way street, and they are walking on one side, USING it, while trashing the good that this has done.

Look at ALL of their issues, how many of them ORIGINATED as online discussion threads? How many YEARS have we pounded for things that THEY now want to take credit for thinking of?

This goes back to the days of Chicago. Before the ITA was even a glimmer in their eyes. The ITA was FOUNDED to put on a tradeshow and save them money, PERIOD. Those of us there back then can vouche for that. All the rest came along in response to all the heat they took for being so self serving, none of the 'good things' were initially intended to happen, they were forced into all of them to cover up the greed in the founding fathers ideas.

Ask Don, he was there too Christine, don't let the smoke blind you dear, they blow a LOT OF IT.

fungirlz

Maybe just maybe there is a chance for change in this now..

I attended Chicago also Bruce years ago.. I was too shy to get out and mingle.. I stood back and tried to listen to "what was what".. Well this little girl is not so little anymore..
I am not so shy anymore.. and I am willing to mingle and ask questions and attempt to see if WE can make a difference..
I do think Bruce the time is near that everyone can begin to bulid the bridges of communication and give credit where credit is due.
At least that is what I am striving for.
Will this be easy? Heck NO.. but with others thinking the same way maybe.. just maybe we can get some bricks laid and a new stronger foundation of the bridge can be bulit..

I always do take to heart the things you and Don and others who are our "fathers of this trade", say Bruce.. and I extend to you all also respect and admiration for your years of hard work..

C

Becky

I understand your point Bruce, however I agree with Christine. If we never try, we can never achieve.

No, maybe they haen't recognized the online contribution, but we need to keep on keeping on.

Better communication between ALL parties can only benefit us.

BronzeBabe

After the wonderful talk presented by Don I looked at a lot of things at a different angle...Don is right there are people out there that are that are working very hard, not for money but for the industry at a whole and I appreciate it....I dont believe that everything should be a peeing contest..like I did this and I did that...we need to do things as a whole every step we take we take it together and the only way to get to that other side of the bridge that Chris speaks of is if we work together...I am glad to be a part of ITA/Smart Tan...dont get me wrong the online communities are definitly not praised enough for what they do and hopefully someday they will acknowledge online...but lets not get caught up in it..lets stand together...build that bridge...and make our industry stronger!!

Christina

Frankie

Hey everyone this is really a great post. First Chris I can`t believe you were ever shy. The word means cautious, timid, bashful. OMG not Chris?

Now on the serious note. I, like Chris, have spoken with several of the board members. Doug Tiffany is a dear friend of mine and we have talked in length about things the ITA has done and hopes to do. Ken Dion is a great person and he has so many ideas. He is one that will listen because he cares about this industry. John Overstreet is a "hoot". You should have seen him at the Alabama Concert". Having a ball with all of us. Frank Muscatello...yes Chris I have to agree with you on that one. Talking about Gorgeous!!

What I am trying to say is these board members are people just like we are. Give them a call, ask them questions, let them know we are behind them.

NO Bruce I am not a dumb blonde. Blowing smoke is not one of my traits. I believe if we want online support we are going to have to "raise the bar" a little. Stop bashing each other, stop bashing someone because you don`t agree with something they say. Agree to disagree? Yes.

My motto has always been "Together We Can Make A Difference"

Don Smith a salute to you. You are a special person.

See you all in Cancun.

fungirlz

Yes Frankie.. believe it or not I was once very bashful.. I have grown up though..and know that I have a chance to join with others in our great industry and help bulid that bridge of communication..


You are right Frankie.. together We ALL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

BooBop

This seems to be a splinter in somes thumb, but what is need is the people that want to work to make our online community readily acceptable. And that means we need to clean up our act. No more goon type posts. If you disagree or dislike something say so in a more professional tone. "Don't we like to call ourselves Professional" Well we need to act like it and stop acting like kids in the school yard.

I think ITA does some good for us, even though I think the money could be spent differently. ie, on NAC or RAC at least to begin with. But this disagreement does not mean that I think they do NO GOOD for us. We need to work on changing it and getting them to particpate with us is a step in doing that.

All these people were in this business way before me, so I am sure they have tried many things. But maybe now is another chance to try some of the things again.

Don Smith

All:

I must admit that I have been upset in the past when I spent hours and hours preparing for a FDA meeting only to have the majority of the trade publications ignore my contributions and "spin" the coverage to make it look like ITA/Smart Tan had played a role when they didn't.

And I must admit that I have been bothered by the fact that the GOBN always want to control everything and everybody.

And I must further admit that I have been (and still am) bothered by the ITA/Smart Tan effort to achieve a "political" solution to what is, IMHO, a "scientific" problem.

Over time, however, I have come to the conclusion that the REAL task in front of us, which is fighting the well-organized and financed anti-tanning coalition, is to support and applaud anyone and any organization that is trying to "make a positive difference" for our industry.

That's why I asked everyone who attended my Nashville talk to thank Joe Levy for the role he played in leading the fight when no one else was willing to enter the fray.

That's why I encourage everyone to support the effort by Michael Stepp of Wolff to generate some positive publicity.

That's why I encourage everyone to support Lonn Dugan's efforts to play a role.

That's why I encourage everyone to support what ITA/Smart Tan is doing to support Dr. Holick's important work.

And I would apreciate it very much if everyone would help support our work at the UVR Research Institute.

The "bottom line" from my point of view is that each and every one of us must play a role in the fight against the anti-tanning coalition and perhaps our cumulative efforts will be successful.

If you are too busy running your business to attend FDA meetings, participate in our E-Campaigns or write some letters.

And if you are too busy to do anything else, send the organizations you support a check!

Does what I have said in this post mean that Ask Don will join in the singing of "Kumbala" with the GOBN? Not in this lifetime!

Does that mean that Ask Don will quit putting the interests of tanning salon owners first? NEVER!

Does this mean that Ask Don will withdraw from the fight and hope that someone else will keep on top of the regulatory issues that confront us? Not until I see someone else putting in the time that I do to understand these complex issues!

What it does mean is that Ask Don has come to realize that we need EVERYONE who is willing to fight to do everything that they can to help win the war we are in. There is, my friends, plenty of work to go around for everyone!

And Ask Don FIRMLY believes that tanning salon owners MUST quit being so apathetic and become active in this fight. After all, this is OUR industry.

Don "Who LOVES A Good Fight!" Smith

Don Smith

All:

I must admit that I have been upset in the past when I spent hours and hours preparing for a FDA meeting only to have the majority of the trade publications ignore my contributions and "spin" the coverage to make it look like ITA/Smart Tan had played a role when they didn't.

And I must admit that I have been bothered by the fact that the GOBN always want to control everything and everybody.

And I must further admit that I have been (and still am) bothered by the ITA/Smart Tan effort to achieve a "political" solution to what is, IMHO, a "scientific" problem.

Over time, however, I have come to the conclusion that the REAL task in front of us, which is fighting the well-organized and financed anti-tanning coalition, is to support and applaud anyone and any organization that is trying to "make a positive difference" for our industry.

That's why I asked everyone who attended my Nashville talk to thank Joe Levy for the role he played in leading the fight when no one else was willing to enter the fray.

That's why I encourage everyone to support the effort by Michael Stepp of Wolff to generate some positive publicity.

That's why I encourage everyone to support Lonn Dugan's efforts to play a role.

That's why I encourage everyone to support what ITA/Smart Tan is doing to support Dr. Holick's important work.

And I would apreciate it very much if everyone would help support our work at the UVR Research Institute.

The "bottom line" from my point of view is that each and every one of us must play a role in the fight against the anti-tanning coalition and perhaps our cumulative efforts will be successful.

If you are too busy running your business to attend FDA meetings, participate in our E-Campaigns or write some letters.

And if you are too busy to do anything else, send the organizations you support a check!

Does what I have said in this post mean that Ask Don will join in the singing of "Kumbala" with the GOBN? Not in this lifetime!

Does that mean that Ask Don will quit putting the interests of tanning salon owners first? NEVER!

Does this mean that Ask Don will withdraw from the fight and hope that someone else will keep on top of the regulatory issues that confront us? Not until I see someone else putting in the time that I do to understand these complex issues!

What it does mean is that Ask Don has come to realize that we need EVERYONE who is willing to fight to do everything that they can to help win the war we are in. There is, my friends, plenty of work to go around for everyone!

And Ask Don FIRMLY believes that tanning salon owners MUST quit being so apathetic and become active in this fight. After all, this is OUR industry.

Don "Who LOVES A Good Fight!" Smith