[Virginia GASP]    GENERAL INFORMATION

Virginia Group to Alleviate Smoking in Public, Inc., Virginia GASP®, was founded in late 1985, and its members issued their first newsletter in early 1986.  As it turned out, many people had heard the same thing from managers of grocery stores, administrators of hospitals, banks, etc., "You are the only person who has complained about the smoking here."  Thus it was, that many people in Virginia were ready for a group that was by its very existence a proof that you are NOT the only person who has complained about smoking in these places!  And here was a group suggesting we have the right to breathe without breathing smoke.  More people breathe than smoke, after all!  And a group which was all volunteer, and working to put itself out of business!

And Virginia GASP® provided actions that could be taken by people, suggestions from the members themselves.  Writing letters to legislators and newspapers and businesses, making calls to legislators and businesses and radio stations, and other actions.  Plus providing facts and information, and citations, from the very beginning.  Thus the media began to realize they could depend on information from this group when they were writing or filming or recording a story.

The foundation of Virginia GASP® was numerous individuals who gave such dedication and service to the cause, with the hope that this would contribute in some positive way to enhancing and supporting the healthy lives of themselves and others.

This dedication to the right for every person to breathe without having to breathe smoke led Virginia GASP® to become the group which achieved the first no-smoking law in Virginia (1990) which protects people in many public places.  A copy of the brochure outlining this law is available in this web site.

A short history of the achievement of the no-smoking law is in this web site.

Information on the 2010 legislation,  2009 legislative events, the  2008 efforts, and past efforts, to increase the protections for people are available in this web site, including requiring all restaurants and bars to be No-Smoking as of December 1, 2009.

Virginia GASP® was from its founding an autonomous statewide organization, nonprofit, all volunteer.  In June of 2011, the organization decided to continue with its informational role, but closed the corporation folder.  The organization had not sought any donations for several years.  Several educational entities have found the information in this web site to be helpful, as have others around the world.  It is hoped that this provision of information can continue to be useful.

The words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American writer and also an asthmatic, summarize our commitment:

    " ... to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

We hope that Virginia GASP® -- the foundation of which was those individuals working together who gave such dedication and service to the cause of breathing easier -- have indeed contributed in some positive way to enhancing and supporting the healthy lives of others.  Having a law in place in Virginia in 1990, strengthened through the years, has empowered many businesses, and local governments -- despite opposition from the tobacco industry -- to provide more than the minimum required in the law, and to make their entire building and often the company vehicles a no-smoking zone.  This makes it safer for everyone to breathe, reduces illnesses and deaths from secondhand and thirdhand smoke, and saves money for the business in the long run.  Smokers who wait to smoke outside the building are still smokers.  But when they smoke around others, they make everyone become a smoker.

 The text of the brochures is available online.
   Virginia law - Indoor Clean Air Act
  Virginia law - on tobacco sales and gifts to youth

Purpose

The story of Virginia GASP is in the process of being compiled, and it may give a better picture of why the group was formed, the accomplishments of people who want to live their lives without breathing smoke, and perhaps this will help others who want to do the same in their neighborhood, state, nation.  One person can make a difference, and if that one person is joined by another and another, often a great deal more can be accomplished.

Virginia Group to Alleviate Smoking in Public, Inc., Virginia GASP®, was from its inception a nonprofit, all volunteer organization.  In 1986, Virginia GASP became an organization of nonsmokers and smokers working together to provide that every nonsmoking child and adult be permitted to access every enclosed public place, including the workplace, without ever having to breathe secondhand smoke, and to protect the ultimate nonsmoker -- youth.

Virginia GASP® is the group which achieved the first no-smoking law in Virginia, 1990, which protects people in many public places.  A copy of the brochure outlining this law is available in this web site.

After the passage of the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act, Virginia GASP® moved further into its primary role of an information providing source, utilizing the internet to provide information to students and other citizens of Virginia, the USA, and indeed across the world.

Virginia GASP® is concerned for the civil rights of all nonsmokers, including the ultimate nonsmoker -- youth. This includes the right to civil action lawsuits, including no cap on liability.

There is no constitutional or ethical right to harm another person.

There is no right to smoke in public.

Smoking is optional.  Breathing is not.

And breathing is a very popular thing to do.

Again, the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American writer and also an asthmatic, summarize our commitment:
    " ... to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

No Funding

There is no funding for Virginia GASP® at this time.  
Virginia GASP® does not solicit funds.  All efforts to provide information are done on a volunteer basis. 

In the past years, Virginia GASP® was financed through contributions from the public, tax deductible, and all efforts were accomplished on a volunteer basis. 

A financial report was on file as required by law with the Virginia Division of Consumer Affairs for many years.

As noted above, in June of 2011, the organization decided to continue with its informational role, but closed the corporation folder.  The organization had not sought any donations for several years.  Several educational entities have found the information in this web site to be helpful, as have others around the world.  It is hoped that this provision of information can continue to be useful.


[Virginia GASP]    Updated 22 June 2011
 


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