Chippewa Co. Health Department Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator

NEWS RELEASE

TO:Eastern U.P. Media Network

FROM:Julie K.O. Trotter

Chippewa Co. Health Department Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator

Chippewa Co. Tobacco-Free Living Coalition Coordinator

SUBJECT:Knights of Columbus Council is Recognized for Smoke-free Policy.

CONTACT:Julie K.O. Trotter, 635-3636

DATE:March 2, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Knights of Columbus Council #649 was recently recognized by the Chippewa County Tobacco-Free Living Coalition for implementing a 100% smoke-free policy in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Sault Ste. Marie. This policy went into effect in mid-December 2008, designating this building as smoke-free at all times.

Mr. Al LaVictor, Grand Knight, reported that about 15 to 20 events are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in a year’s time in addition to the pastie sale that is held on a monthly basis. These monies that are raised are used for donations to local and state charities, local Catholic churches and schools, and to cover building expenses.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization that began in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882, when Father Michael J. McGivney called together a small group of pioneering Catholic laymen and founded a society designed to provide financial assistance for the widows and orphans of its members. Father McGivney’s original idea grew quickly into an organization of Catholic men and their families dedicated to promoting the concepts of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

The Monsignor O’Callaghan Council #649 Knights of Columbus of Sault Ste. Marie was founded in 1902. Presently, this organization of Catholic men has 108 members, and meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 2755 Ashmun Street, which was built in 1990. Prior to that time, this organization was housed in the former JC Penny building and at old FortBrady.

“Last summer, we verbally informed people that our building is smoke-free,” commented LaVictor. “It seemed to go over pretty well. We only have a few members that smoke and our meetings have always been smoke-free. With all that being said, we decided in our December meeting that it made sense to make the building smoke-free at all times. That’s when we contacted the health department to obtain signs and the smoke-free policy and lease information. We posted the signs and removed the ashtrays and that was all there was to it.”

Julie Trotter of the Chippewa County Health Department reports that facilities, such as the Knights of Columbus Hall, are exempt from the Chippewa County Clean Indoor Air Regulation because they fall under the exemption of food service establishments, which are regulated by State law. In this case, the Knights of Columbus Council is surpassing the requirements of Michigan law by implementing a voluntary smoke-free policy that designates their building as smoke-free at all times and for all events.

“ Thank you Knights of Columbus, for your leadership and example in making the Knights of Columbus Hall smoke-free at all times – and for taking a stand to protect the health of our community members and visitors,” stated Trotter at the smoke-free policy recognition event held in February. “We offer this certificate of recognition with gratitude for your interest in public health and for doing the right thing to promote smoke-free air in our county and in our State. We remain optimistic that the State will follow your example and provide smoke-free air for everyone – everywhere.”

For more information, please call the Chippewa County Tobacco-Free Living Coalition at 635-3636 or visit and To learn more about the status of State smoke-free legislation, please visit For tobacco cessation assistance, please call the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line at 1 800 QUIT NOW (1 800 784 8669). For further information about the Knights of Columbus Council in Sault Ste. Marie, please call (906)632-3653.

Photo: Members of the CCMPCB Tobacco-Free Living Coalition present a certificate of recognition to members of the Knights of Columbus Council #649 for implementing a smoke-free policy in the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 2755 Ashmun Street in Sault Ste. Marie.

Left to Right – Front:John Krupa and Robert Sampson, Brother Knights; Deana Knauf, ITC of Michigan; Al LaVictor, Grand Knight; Tony Mauris, Deputy Grand Knight; Julie Trotter, Chippewa County Health Department; Bill Suggitt and Ray DesRochers, Brother Knights.

Left to Right – Back: Al McKay, Tom O’Lear, Ray Bauer, Clayton McGahey and Jim Hendricks, Brother Knights.(Mary McKay, Chippewa County Health Department, was also present, but was not pictured in the photograph.)