February 2005
| Next |
Tuesday,
March 1st at 7:00 PM
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Meeting
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Club Info & Events
SHPC Meeting News
Those of you who read this newsletter regularly know that since July of
last year our club has been dealing with homelessness due to the MA State
Smoking Ban. But the heavens have opened and God has smiled down upon
us. Psalm 124 from the Old Testament might better explain how we're feeling
right now.
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Why am I getting all religious on you now, you ask? I'll
tell you why. Because we have at last found safety and solace in a house
of Worship and my faith in God has once again been renewed.
I was asked after our January meeting if it had dawned on me that we've
been banished from restaurants and bars, hotels and workplaces and for
some of us, even from parks and open spaces, but we can still find refuge
in God's house. God does work in mysterious ways!
The icing on the cake is that our new location falls within the guidelines of the Mass Smoke-free Workplace Law. I urge all of you in need of a place to meet and smoke or just need some spiritual guidance, to pursue this option (gently) . Undoubtedly, it will still be up to each individual facility to allow smoking or not, but at least we have some options that should allow us to continue meeting in a way we are more accustomed to without feeling like outlaws.
Below is the excerpt from Section 22 (a) from the Mass Smoking Law that was mentioned above:
"Membership association", a not-for-profit entity
that has been established and operates, for a charitable, philanthropic,
civic, social, benevolent, educational, religious, athletic, recreation
or similar purpose, and is comprised of members who collectively
belong to:
(i) a society, organization or association of a fraternal nature that
operates under the lodge system, and having 1 or more affiliated chapters
or branches incorporated in any state; or
(ii) a corporation organized under chapter 180; or
(iii) an established religious place of worship or instruction
in the commonwealth whose real or personal property is exempt from
taxation;
We invite our members who have been away for a while, to rejoin us this March and celebrate our victory.
Upcoming Events
Northampton Pipes & Antiques
Dock
Perry has invited us all out to his neck of the woods on Saturday March
5th for a smoke in his smoking room then it's off to Northampton to check
out the Aurora Borealis Smoke Shop and some antique and books shops. If
there's time left we may take a ride up to Deerfield to to check our a
few more antique shops. So if you've been looking for just the right accent
table or wall adornment for your smoking room or den, maybe a first edition
of your favorite book or if you just want to hang out and smoke with friends;
this might be your lucky day. Come and join us.
If you're interested in taking the drive out to Northampton (about 2 hrs
or so from Boston), send me an email
and let me know. Or better yet, come to the March meeting and you can
get all the info and directions first hand.
13th Annual New York Pipe Convention
Otherwise known as the March New York Pipe Show, happens on Fri, Sat &
Sun. March 12-14. We have about 10 people interested in going so far this
year and it should prove to be a great time, as always. If you're interested
in going, be sure to come to our next meeting so you can get all the details
and make your hotel and travel arrangements with others that are going.
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Pipes & Tobacco News Bring Back Cigs No Smoking in Cuba: By James
Suckling What's Next... our living rooms? Cambridge Citizens for Smokers Rights. More smoking news for Massachusetts and around the world. The United Pro Choice Smoker's Rights Newsletter Websites Worth A Look The
Dan Pipe Catalog To just download the catalog, click here. PipeFlix This Month's Tobacco Raffle Since we spaced out the raffle at the January meeting and February's raffle was graciously donated by Ernie Quintiliani of Watch City Cigar (thanks Ernie), we will be raffling off the January tobacco in March... Did you get all that? So here it is again.
Peter Heinrichs #312 CAO Patriot Flake
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This
is a mixture of dark and light Virginia with Curly Cut and is the
perfect all day smoke for those who like straight Virginia flavor
without condiment tobaccos. 
For
New England Patriot lovers. This tobacco features U.S. Virginia
grades and Virginia tobaccos from Mysore with additional fermentation
under pressure. It is press aged, sliced thin and kept in flake
form. Easily rubbed out. This blend has an excellent cool burn with
a satisfyingly rich, but smooth flavor Medium Strength.
Occasionally I'm
looking for a news item to help fill out this newsletter. So if you have
some interesting
pipe, tobacco or smoking related news, or would like to share your knowledge
on a particular
pipes and tobacco related subject, please send it along and maybe I'll
use it. (Preferably by e-mail).
