You gotta be in it to win it. It’s another phrase New Yorkers are familiar with, coined by the state’s lottery system. Ok, I am on a little kick here referencing lottery sayings. Whoever did their marketing in the ’80s for New York’s lottery was a genius.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a passionate advocate for the cigar and pipe industry. How can you expect to pass positive legislation or fight against bad legislation if you are not involved in the process? This is the conversation I have all the time with retailers and consumers.
Being involved with the New York Tobacconist Association (NYTA) as treasurer for the past six years and recently elected as its president, I frequently encourage shops around the state to engage with their elected representatives. Invite them to your shop for an event or open house and start a dialogue. Let them see the camaraderie and friendships that are formed in your lounge. Trust me, legislators want to hear from their constituents. If you are not “going to be in it” how do you expect to “win it?” It’s essential to be proactive if you want to make a difference.
After a successful networking and happy hour event for Women of PCA at the 2024 trade show, it was time to plan our next get together and I felt it was important to have that take place in Washington, D.C.—a great city and the home of the PCA. I wanted people to experience our Capitol just like I have in the past, and also to understand how important it is to advocate for the industry.
So, we announced the Women of PCA Policy Conference set for early June. I arrived in D.C. both excited and a little nervous, hoping that people would enjoy the event we had planned for them. We began the day by having a networking lunch and then gathered together to make our way to the Capitol on foot. It was incredibly powerful to see people from all over the U.S. walking together, all here for the same reason, to come together around our shared love for the cigar industry and to get an inside look at our Capitol.
The excitement in the air was palpable. We had women and men from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Kentucky and even California. Congressman Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, co-chair of the Cigar Caucus, and his staffers were all set to be our guides for this private tour. If you have not been to the Capitol, I highly recommend it. The history there is truly remarkable. Our tour started at the Old Supreme Court Chamber. Right outside the Chamber are columns which are adorned with tobacco leaves on the top said to represent the wealth of the nation. Tobacco leaves in the Capitol? Yes, it’s true.
The rest of the tour included seeing the Crypt room. The center of the Crypt has a marble star that marks the center of Washington, D.C. It has become bowl-shaped and has stanchions around it because rumor has it that rubbing your foot on it brings good luck. I may have given it a gentle rub on the edge—I mean, I can always use a little luck. I have also kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, but who doesn’t want to double down when presented with the opportunity?
The highlight of the tour for me was the Rotunda. That is the large domed part of the building we all recognize from the outside of the Capitol. This room is filled with many paintings and statues and, most importantly, our country’s history. This building represents our democracy and is very special and awe-inspiring. It was a wonderful afternoon. Everyone really enjoyed the experience.
After the tour, we all returned to the PCA townhouse for our advocacy panel and, of course, cigars. I had the honor of being on the panel along with Alex Smith, legislative director to Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida, and Erin Scanlon, an Army veteran working with Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri. It was an engaging conversation with more than 60 women and men in attendance.
The panelists gave us a lot of tips on how to effectively communicate with our representatives. We discussed both federal and state issues concerning cigars and pipes. As more women become part of the industry, I believe it is very important to give our perspective and have our voices heard. Our afternoon conference gave us that opportunity. The policy conference was followed by a cocktail reception with Women of PCA, the Cigar Caucus, and others in the cigar industry and from Capitol Hill. It was a fun evening of networking with more than 200 people in attendance, further fostering a sense of unity within the industry.
What’s next? Stay tuned, as we have some exciting plans for future events. I’m eagerly anticipating what’s to come, and I hope you are too. Let’s unite and “be in it to win it” together.
– Article contributed by Kathleen Kelly, owner of Queensbury Cigar & Pipe, Queensbury, New York.
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 3, 2024. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.