Roundtable to help businesses adjust to smoke-free law

Businesses and individuals seeking help in Louisiana’s smoke-free environment may find answers at one of two local community roundtable meetings next week.

Tante Chatman, regional coordinator for a Tobacco-Free Living, said the meetings will be divided into several categories and offered at specific times to assist businesses and agencies struggling with Louisiana’s Smoke-Free Air Act, which went into effect Jan. 1.

Meetings will be held at the Office of Public Health in Thibodaux and the Terrebonne Parish Library System (Main Branch) in Houma on Monday. All sessions are open to the public.

Chatman will be the keynote speaker at the Thibodaux community roundtable. Rochanne George, a health initiative representative for the American Cancer Society, will be the guest speaker for the Houma roundtable.

Both meetings will be conducted simultaneously from 8 a.m. to noon. The roundtable schedule is:

• Restaurantsn8 to 9 a.m.

• Schoolsn9 to 10 a.m.

• General Businessesn10 to 11 a.m.

• Law Enforcement Agenciesn11 a.m. to noon

Smoke-free organizations statewide have collectively said that this legislation marks a turning point for Louisiana, placing it among national leaders in the effort to protect Americans from the dangers of secondhand smoke, Chatman noted.

Other smoke-free entities participating in the community roundtable are the Louisiana Cancer Control Partnership, the Department of Health and Hospital’s Louisiana Tobacco Control Program and the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

For more information about the rules and regulations of the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act,visit the Louisiana Campaign for TFL Web site at www.tobaccofreeliving.org or call Chatman at (985) 447-0916.