Introducing SmokeFree Wisconsin's newest member - Steve!

My name is Steve Elliott, and I am very happy to be joining the SmokeFree Wisconsin team as the Policy and Grassroots Specialist. My background is in grassroots organizing, campaign management and political advocacy, and I've worked with various levels of government, from the county level to federal elected officials and agencies. I'm looking forward to working with all of you, to raise awareness, hold elected officials accountable and make sure that everyone has the ability to choose a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Wisconsin is now the third state that I have lived in as smoke-free laws were passed and enacted. Because of the efforts of you and this organization, my 2-year old daughter, Alice, will have the opportunity to grow up in a healthier, cleaner environment. I look forward to joining in blog discussions as we all pursue the best and healthiest Wisconsin possible.

Introducing our newest staff member- Emily!

Hello everyone!

My name is Emily Rohloff and I am SmokeFree Wisconsin’s newest member! I will soon be taking over much of the blogging for SmokeFree so I wanted to introduce myself. I am currently SFW’s Communications Specialist. I started my career as a TV reporter but am now excited to move into the area of health-related communications. I am passionate about making sure EVERYONE has the chance to live a healthy lifestyle and am excited about being part of a team working towards this goal. I’ll update the blog multiple times a week with different news articles for you to read or just some things for you to think about and will also ask all of you for your comments on how you feel about various topics. I’m very excited to get started and to keep you all informed with what’s happening in our newly smoke-free state!

Greetings from Erich!

Hello All,
My name is Erich N. Pitcher and I am a new staff person at SmokeFree WI. I am very excited to join the team here at SFW as a Policy & Grassroots Specialist. Originally from Ohio I completed my undergraduate training at Antioch College. In keeping with Antioch’s rich history of producing activists and community organizers, I am here to ensure Wisconsin becomes a Smoke-free state. This issue is of interest to me because my mother experienced a major health crisis caused by her own smoking as well as a career working in smoking environments. It is my belief that if Ohio was smoke –free many years ago, she would have quit earlier and it would have had a significant impact on her health. For my mother and for everyone else who has lost or almost lost a loved one I am dedicated to this cause.

Erich N. Pitcher

Hi! My name is Emily Reynolds.

Hi! My name is Emily Reynolds and I am one of the new additions to the SFW staff as a Policy and Grassroots Specialist. I recently moved to Madison from Washington, DC where I worked as a grassroots organizer. I graduated in 2004 from Illinois State University with a double major in Political Science and Public Relations. I’m looking forward to helping Wisconsin communities follow my home state of Illinois in going smoke-free. I am very passionate about this critical health issue, and am excited to be a part of the SFW team!

Hi, I'm Austin!

My name is Austin Hetrick, and I'm the newest addition to SmokeFree Wisconsin's team! Originally from Indiana, I'm a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin studying English and Secondary Education. I'm here at SFW because I'm passionate about protecting non-smokers like my step-mom, Pam, who died of a smoker's cancer in 2005. Together with my father, grandfather, and much of our family, smoke-free legislation in Indiana (and now Wisconsin) has become a cause we regularly discuss and fight for. Through this blog (and the rest of SFW's activities), I hope to keep fighting for clean air and safer workplaces.

Hi! I'm Amber...

Hello all, my name is Amber, and I'll be voicing my comments, thoughts and perspectives on this blog from here on out. In the last year or so, I have really gained an interest in smoke-free air campaigns, and I am in strong support of Senator Risser's Breathe Free Wisconsin Act!

As a 22 year old student at the University of Wisconsin, I am a strong supporter of the smoke-free air in the bars and restaurants here in Madison. Although I support smoke-free air for many reasons, including improving the lives of bartenders and waitstaff, I have to admit on a personal note that I love being able to come home from a night out with my friends and not having to wake up with a sore throat the next day.

I am originally from Neenah, WI, a small city ten minutes south of Appleton. Even now when I visit home, I strongly advocate going out in Appleton as opposed to going out in Neenah, simply because I cannot stand breathing smoke while I'm out and smelling of smoke when I leave. It's not just me though; many of my friends agree that even though Appleton isn't our "home turf," we prefer hanging out there simply because we can breathe free.

Anyway, enough about me. I look forward to reading everyone's comments on the issue, and I'll talk to you soon.