The Dawn of a New Club

It was February 18th, 2007 in Tulalip, Washington, that the three charter members comprising the Cohiba Club met officially for the first time. Prior to that meeting came a full fourteen months of living under Washington State’s smoking ban, through which the idea of the Cohiba Club developed and finally reached fruition.
In November of 2005, Washington State residents approved a smoking ban initiative which went into effect on December 8th, 2005. Indeed Washington State’s Initiative 901 was instrumental in promoting the formation of the Cohiba Club through the desire to give back to cigar smokers what the state had taken from them; the right to have a cigar and a drink in a so-designated public place. The plan was presented to charter members Robert and John by Fernand , and following its approval, that first Cohiba Club meeting was held. Evidence of the value of this group and its program is found in the rapidly growing interest on the part of potential new members.
So in February of 2007, at Fernand’s invitation, John and Robert were in attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Cohiba Club to establish a brotherhood of cigar enthusiasts. This organization will hold it’s bimonthly meetings on the first Sunday of odd-numbered months, for male fellowship, to conduct tastings of recently recommended cigars, to exchange ideas on all aspects of “Herfing”, and to recognize the last remaining places where a man can smoke a cigar in our state, the tribal gaming establishments, by bestowing them with our patronage.
As many as 24 native tribes in Washington operate casinos which are not subject to initiatives passed in the state, or laws passed by the Legislature. When the statewide smoking ban passed in 2005, the only places remaining that allow for public smoking were located on Indian reservations. For the Cohiba Club, the tribal facilities offer the freedom to smoke while relaxing with a drink, as well as enjoying a meal with friends.
Welcome brothers of the leaf !

--Update--
In the Fall of 2007 it was unanimously decided to change our meeting schedule to 'monthly'.
FR