Smoke-Free Knoxville Coalition will have a membership recruitment and orientation breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Miller Building at Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville. The coalition's mission is to "reduce death, disease, disability and financial impact related to the use of tobacco," and it wants any individual or organization — especially those who work with young people — to attend and learn about joining.
At this year's meeting, the coalition will introduce the Peter Carter Award, which will be presented to the group or individual having demonstrated leadership in tobacco use prevention in the community. It's named for oncologist Dr. Peter Carter, who in 1993 convened a group of volunteers to urge local restaurants to ban smoking — a group that ultimately grew into the coalition.
Carter testified in 1994 before Congress, addressing the health impact of tobacco in users as well as in secondhand smoke. The coalition credits him with helping Tennessee establish the Nonsmokers' Protection Act of 2007, which bans smoking in some public places and worksites. This year, the coalition will focus on youth, building and improving programs to educate them on the dangers of tobacco use and prevent its use.
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