Don Smith

FYI:

As some of you know, some of the folks over at Lonn's website have been "dissing" me and requesting information about what I have done for the industry (an attempt that I perceived as an a means of "dissing" me). While I felt that I did't need to "justify" myself to ANYONE, I realized that perhaps "newbies" may not know much about what I have TRIED to do on behalf of tanning salon owners. Therefore, for what it is worth, listed below is the information I posted there.

Cat:

Your questions/comments deserve answering.

1. I am not "running" for a position on the NAC Board of Directors.

2. I have "recommended" that the NAC be "organized" by a group of 12 women from the industry (the "Distaff Dozen").

3. I have stated publicly that I, TSO and the UVR Research Institute (which is a subsidiary of TSO) will support ANY AND ALL "legitimate" efforts to improve the image of the industry that we all love.

Right or wrong, I "interpreted" Kimmee's questions as being part of an effort to support Lonn's program and to "diss" me personally (like Bob has been doing). Since I know that I have ALWAYS done my best to look out for the best interests of tanning salon owners, I don't feel the need to defend myself (To thine ownself be true!).

Moreover, I feel that anyone who has been in the industry for a while knows what I have tried to do to look out for the best interests of tanning salon owners; therefore, I didn't feel a need to "toot my own horn" about what I have done. Perhaps this was wrong and the summary below may help.

1. I have written over 70 articles (that have been published in all 4 trade publications) promoting the premise that the benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR outweigh the minimal and manageable risks involve.

2. My presentation at the 2000 TEPRSSC meeting was instrumental in defeating Amendment 1 (which would have "mandated" the existing exposure schedules) and Amendment 2 (which would have "saddled" us with the infamous "Cancer Action Spectrum". [Note: I was the only one who "spoke out" against these two Amendments.]

3. At the 1999 TEPRSSC meeting, I "stood up to" the dermatology community representatives who were trying to "force" FDA to "mandate" melanoma warnings on sunbeds. I was able to "point out" that I had received a private e-mail that stated the opposite of what this dermatologist had presented to TEPRSSC. FDA "rejected" the petition by the dermatologists to mandate the melanoma warning. [Note: This was the first time that we (the indoor tanning industry) had "confronted" the derms "face to face" and I find it interesting to note that they have not participated in any "face to face" meetings since.]

4. My presentation at the recent (5/22/2002) TEPRSSC meeting helped to defeat the Amendments 4 & 5 (pertaining to "Warning Labels") and Amendment 3 (Definition of a Manufacturer). [Note: I was the only one who "spoke out" against Amendment 3 and I my presentation took 23 or 24 minutes compared to less than two minutes for the ITA representative who "spoke out" against "warning labels".]

5. In September, 2000, I gave several presentations (the only one in the industry to do so!) at the FDA/Indoor Tanning Industry meeting.

6. At the Feb 7 & 8, 2002 meeting, I made 7 of the 9 presentations made by the indoor tanning industry. My presentations were technical in nature and they were based upon our work at the UVR Research Institute. [Note: If you or anyone else are interested in what transpired at this meeting, go to www.naatso.org and "click" on the "Regulatory" tab at the top. You will see 9 reports on the FDA meeting that will cover what I presented there.]

7. I was invited by FDA to take part in their "session" on UVR at last summer's American Society of Photobiology meeting. I made presentations covering (1) skin typing/subtyping, and, (2) the calculation of exposure schedules and Barbara Grant (of the UVR Research Instute) made a presentation about the "methodology" of measuring sunlamps and sunbeds. Michael Stepp (President of Wolff Technology Corporation) also made a well-recieved technical presentation at this meeting. [Note: Although our presentations were made to "hostile" dermatologists and photobiologists, we acquited ourselves very well!]

8. My 160 page response in 1998 to FDA's ANPRM (Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making) "set in motion" the strategy we have used subsequently.

9. In late 1999, I founded the UVR Research Institute (UVR-RI) for the purpose of doing "basic research" on sunlamps and sunbeds. [Note: My wife and I have spent over $35,000 of our own money thus far in 2002 funding UVR-RI.]

A. At the 2/7/02 FDA meeting, I presented our data on the development of a "standard test protocol" for testing sunlamps in a test stand in order to insure sunlamp compatibility. Much of our data will impact the final "protocol" that FDA will mandate.

B. At the meeting tentatively scheduled for September/October, 2002, we will present our data regarding the development of a "standard test protocol" for testing sunbeds. We believe that our data will play an important role in the development of a new standard.

C. We are now deeply involved in a "project" to test all of the eyewear used by tanning salon owners in order to ascertain whether or not they will "comply" with the new "language" adopted by TEPRSSC two weeks ago. We will report this data at the September/October, 2002 FDA/Industry meeting.

D. When we get some more money, we will finish a study we have underway to "integrate" all of the factors that enter into the development of exposure schedules that neither overexpose, nor underexpose, our clients.

10. I am busy "collecting" the scientific data the industry will need to defeat the proposed regulations covering (1) annual limits, (2) an "irradiance cap" on sunbeds, (3) adoption of the "Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Action Spectrum", and, (4) the reduction of the initial "dose" from 0.75 MED to 0.5 MED.

11. Finally, I am working to prepare information that will be sent out to the 2,000+ "media outlets" in the USA.

The 11 items listed above are "specific" accomplishments that I am proud of but I would prefer to be remembered for the fact that I have ALWAYS "stood up" for the best interests of my peers and that I was ALWAYS willing to "stand and deliver" our "message" in scientific forums!

The "bottom line" is that (1) while we (the indoor tanning industry) have made a lot of progress over the past few years, (2) we have a LOT of work that remains to be done. We need to have more tanning salon owners who care enough about these issues to attend these important FDA meetings (only 5 attended the 2/7 and 2/8 meetings and only 3 attended the TEPRSSC meeting!).

We have gone from a "passive" industry who simply "accepted" whatever happened to one that is STARTING to understand the benefit of being "proactive" rather than "reactive" but we have a long way to go. Right now we are "reacting" to the "bad news" that is being published and we must start "acting" in order to get our message out to the media and the American public. Fortunately for us, Cat, the scientific "facts" support OUR position and not the position of our enemies.

So, let's get moving! I stand ready to do whatever I can to support ANY AND ALL "legitimate" activities to help improve the image of our industry.

Don "Who Cares About Our Industry" Smith

PS: Can anyone tell me why those of us who try the hardest to improve our industry are the first ones to be attacked? And why the "attacks" always come from individuals who have done little or nothing to help our cause? And why our industry spends so much of its time and energy fighting among ourselves and so little of our time and energy fighting our enemies? And finally, who would replace me if (1) I "kicked the bucket" or, (2) decided that I have had "enough" of this abuse. Anybody have any answers?

BooBop

Don, my hero, you are the first to be attacked because you are in their face doing something for our industry. I guess it just comes with the territory. Sad but true.

Just to let you know, you are appreciated

solarmeter

Don,

Quote: "So, let's get moving! I stand ready to do whatever I can to support ANY AND ALL "legitimate" activities to help improve the image of our industry."

Will you put that in perspective of an NAC in particular? As momentum grows, and specific ideas proliferate, it becomes more and more confusing to figure out where anyone who wants to contribute should:

1) 'Vote' for a leader
2) 'Vote' for a group of leaders
3) Send $$$

Maybe the cart's still ahead of the horse, but several horses are running awful fast.

Just like the ITA says they have a mission and 'running' an NAC is not at this time part of it, TSO/UVR-I also has a mission (including your already stated preparation of 2000 media outlet packets). But beyond that is 'running' a larger picture NAC in your deck of cards or not?

Continuing to wonder who/what/where/when to support beyond an initial token to Lonn's NAC effort. Are you planning to join and assist that one with science? or? or what?

Just trying to pin this down... it continues to skitter about waiting for a pin to be stuck in it.

Steve

Kimmee

Don,

I do not know where you got I was "dissing" you...

QUOTE "Right or wrong, I "interpreted" Kimmee's questions as being part of an effort to support Lonn's program and to "diss" me personally (like Bob has been doing). Since I know that I have ALWAYS done my best to look out for the best interests of tanning salon owners, I don't feel the need to defend myself (To thine ownself be true!)"

All I asked was a simple question and the answers I wanted were the same ones you provided after someone else asked.

I never proclaimed to be on Lonn's side or Bruce's or Greg's...

I am on no one side except salon owners!
I am part of Big Dog... which is not associated with any one board... it is a congregation of salon owners.

I was a newbie asking a legit question and when you kept passing me over I spoke my mind...

I was giving you a chance to *toot your own horn* and give me some feedback that was my only agenda...

But I heard you have a hard time playing with others... I guess that is why people think that... actions speak louder than words.





_________________
Suntanning.com Moderator
Big Dog B.O.D.[ This Message was edited by: Kimmee on 2002-06-05 11:38 ]

Don Smith

Kimmee:

You said "But I heard you have a hard time playing with others" and I'm sure you (and Bob English) heard that from people (1) who have been upset that I supported the best interests of tanning salon owners against THEIR vested interests, or, (2) who have wanted me to "join" their particular movement, once again, for their own "vested interests" and were upset when I refused, or, (3) who are part of the "old boy network" who resent ANY tanning salon owner who has the audacity to say that WE should have a say in OUR industry.

I make NO appologies to you or anyone else for taking the "stands" that I have taken on behalf of my peers over the past 5 years! If taking those positions causes SOME people to say that I don't "play well with the other children" then so be it! I have the courage to say what MOST tanning salon owners only think and that subjects me to a certain amount of criticism and abuse (as Mitzi said, it "comes with the territory").

I have a "suggestion" for you, Kimmee. Your last sentence showed your "true" colors and so I strongly recommend that you go over to TanToday, TanningProfessionals and TanTomorrow and "diss" me (you've already done so on SunTanning and here) because it's not fair for you to "favor" just two websites with your "anti-Don" diatribe (and I KNOW you want to be "fair" Kimmee! LOL).

So, Kimmee, are YOU part of the solution or part of the problem?

Don "Trying To Be Part Of The Solution" Smith

Kimmee

When did I EVER state that I was anti-Don?

How can I be against something I know nothing about hence the reasons for the questioning.

Don Smith

Kimmee:

"I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts." [John Locke: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding]

Don

PS: This is my last comment on this counterproductive issue but you can keep going if it makes you happy!