CWNews
IPCPR Helps Congressional Cigar Association Celebrate
Washington, D.C. July 6, 2010 -- To celebrate the first anniversary of the Congressional Cigar Association (CCA), virtually all members of the Board of Directors of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) and several of its Associate Members flew into Washington D.C. for an evening of fellowship and camaraderie with some 200 members of the CCA on June 23. On the following day, all 24 of the IPCPR representatives broke into four teams, with each team visiting between nine and 11 congressional members or their staffs. The two days of intensive meetings and all the work that went into their planning, organizing, execution and follow-up were part of the IPCPR’s ongoing efforts to generate increased understanding of the premium cigar industry among federal legislators, regulators and their staffs. “It’s important for us to be communicating with these key influencers on an on-going basis so that when a piece of legislation comes along that could impact our industry, they are better informed about our industry and the kinds of people and industries that depend on and enjoy premium cigars and pipes,” said Ken P. Neumann, chairman of the IPCPR’s Legislative Committee and owner of Cigars and More of Libertyville, Illinois. The CCA is an official “Congressional Staff Organization” and is officially recognized by Congress. The group is comprised of Congressional staff members who share a passion for premium cigars. They host quarterly meetings and a variety of social events to educate Congressional staff and Members of Congress regarding the premium cigar industry as well as to share their enjoyment of hand-made cigars and the camaraderie they foster. Since the beginning, the IPCPR has been an integral part of the growth of CCA, now with some 150 members, under the leadership of Joe Rowe, executive director, and Chris McCalla, legislative director, with the support and involvement of several retail and associate members of the IPCPR, its Board of Directors under Gary Pesh, and the Board’s Legislative Committee chaired by Ken Neumann, and the Associate Member Advisory Board. The IPCPR hosted an informal Congressional staff briefing for CCA members and other House and Senate staffers on April 29 in the Capitol Visitors Center. The one-hour briefing featured presentations by Rocky Patel, of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars in Bonita Springs, Florida; Gary Pesh of Old Virginia Tobacco in Warrenton, Virginia; Tiffany Rumbo of Club Humidor in San Antonio, Texas; and Jeff Borysiewicz of Corona Cigar Co. in Orlando, Florida. More than 65 staffers showed up to learn how premium cigars are made, about the countries that produce them and the economic impact of the cigar industry in these countries, and about IPCPR retailers, which are largely mom-and-pop small businesses. In addition, open forum discussions were held, focusing on the effects of legislation on premium cigar retailers, especially tax-based Congressional and regulatory actions. Attendees also received background information about IPCPR, premium cigars, retailers and manufacturers, and how misinformation about the health aspects of premium cigars and pipe tobacco is misleading opinion leaders and the general public. The June anniversary get-together was staged on the rooftop of 101 Constitution across from the Capital Building, just a couple of blocks from the White House. The evening reception included refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and plenty of cigars provided by IPCPR Associate Members in attendance including Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars; Christian Eiroa of Camacho Cigars; Eric and Bobby Newman of J.C. Newman Cigar Co.; Jorge Padron of Padron Cigars; Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana; and Dan Murphy of Humidipak. The CCA presented its ‘Spirit Award’ to David Berkebile, past president of IPCPR and owner of Georgetown Tobacco, for his efforts to help establish the group and link it with the IPCPR for its quarterly cigar events, educational staff briefings and informal cigar socials, all of which enable both the CCA and the IPCPR to build relationships with one another. IPCPR’s Washington lobbyists, K&L Gates, were instrumental in organizing the IPCPR teams and their visits with Congressional members and their staffs on the day after the CCA reception.