Well my sophmore year is going to begin soon. And i think i will be starting my own club at school. the SCC stout cigar club. I am not sure on everything but i am fairly sure on having a set due at the beginning of the year to set everyone up with a small desktop humi and a sampler of smokes. i will hold meetings every other week. to discuss new cigars, ratings, and smoking cigars with friends. so any suggestions would be welcome. like what cigars to get for beginners, what humis, beads of course, and any info on how to get a manufacturer to do a demo or event would be great. TIA
-
BOTL UPCOMING MAINTENANCE
Hi Everyone, as mentioned in my introduction post, BOTL needs quite a bit of updating, patching and whatever else I might come across. Over time BOTL may be unreachable on occasion as I do migrations or updates, etc. Just be patient - we'll be back! I'll generally try to keep these maintenances until later in the evenings.
SCC "Stout Cigar Club"
- Thread starter RigilKent
- Start date
Sounds pretty cool! Make sure that your school is not a bunch of assholes like mine, tho. No smoking clubs allowed, because smoking is not a 'wellness activity'. But my school blows, so hopefully you'll have better luck with yours.
If it does become an official club, many schools will either give your club money or match a certain percentage of the money you raise, so look into that!
TYLER
If it does become an official club, many schools will either give your club money or match a certain percentage of the money you raise, so look into that!
TYLER
codemachine
Cigar n00b
As long as you call it a Social Club, don't mention anything smoking related in the paperwork to get it established, and allow anyone to join, even if they don't smoke and don't plan to, I don't see how they could give you too much trouble. Oh, and as long as meetings are held in locations allowing smoking...
Mitch
BOM 2/09-Keeper BOTtLe
You might want to write some of the tobbacco companies and ask for "premiums and samples". Explain that you are getting a club started and could use ashtrays, lighters, cutters, humidor, hygrometers, whatever and you will likely get some stuff sent to you. Will take some of the pain out of the start up costs and may be a nice perk if you work it hard. If you have a relationship with local B&M(s) who will likely benefit from your club ask them for discounts for members, trial memberships to lounges, and expecialy samples. Most cigar stores get free sticks from the vendors to hand out and may share some of those or get you in touch with the reps who hand them out.
Mitch
BOM 2/09-Keeper BOTtLe
Another great way to get adopted by a local shop is to ask the manager or owner to come out and teach you all about cigars. Storage, lighting, beetles, whatever. It makes them feel important and honored, gets you all to know each others faces and start a relationship. If you can get some nice samples, door prizes are a nice touch.
If you go to a cigar event and meet the local rep for a brand give them your contact info and ask if they would be able to talk to your group or provide a door prize or samples of their product for an upcoming meeting.
Make sure if you work with reps you get them thank you letters. Their job is to connect with the locals, and letters are things they can show the boss when he wants to know what they have been up to.
I used to be a buyer by trade, so know the whole broker, vendor rep gig well. You'd be supprized what you can get if you manage to ask the right people the right questions. If you can start a scrap book or web site showing past meetings, with samples being given out, reps talking, etc. it will lend legitamicy to your club and many who would have or did say no the first go around will start to help out if they see other stores or brands are supporting you. Remember the people who give you stuff want the marketing value for it, so use thier names (with permision) on hand outs, flyers, and always be kind when publishing anything about them. You can be real within the club, but always take the high road on things that others may see. If a rep sees you bash another rep or brand, they may not want to risk the negative publicity and pass you by.
Hope this helps, let us know how it goes.
If you go to a cigar event and meet the local rep for a brand give them your contact info and ask if they would be able to talk to your group or provide a door prize or samples of their product for an upcoming meeting.
Make sure if you work with reps you get them thank you letters. Their job is to connect with the locals, and letters are things they can show the boss when he wants to know what they have been up to.
I used to be a buyer by trade, so know the whole broker, vendor rep gig well. You'd be supprized what you can get if you manage to ask the right people the right questions. If you can start a scrap book or web site showing past meetings, with samples being given out, reps talking, etc. it will lend legitamicy to your club and many who would have or did say no the first go around will start to help out if they see other stores or brands are supporting you. Remember the people who give you stuff want the marketing value for it, so use thier names (with permision) on hand outs, flyers, and always be kind when publishing anything about them. You can be real within the club, but always take the high road on things that others may see. If a rep sees you bash another rep or brand, they may not want to risk the negative publicity and pass you by.
Hope this helps, let us know how it goes.
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
WTG, Mitch. You have a veritable fountain of info there and some great ideas that I will pass on to my son as he is wanting to establish pretty much the same plan. I continue to be amazed at the things I learn on here and it just goes to show what kind of braintrusts cigar smokers are.
smokinafuente
This space for rent.
We started a club in the spring, but not at a school. Feel free to drop me a pm if I can help you out. Check out my sig tag, it's a link to the website I put up for it. Keep in mind that the site and the club are works in progress. lol
thanks fuente any info on what to hold meetings about. or what to discuss or what i should get everyone for starting out would be great. and what do you guys think i should charge for a due to get them all starter humis. like 25ct and a sampler of smokes and some beads? or what
smokinafuente
This space for rent.
Dues would have to be based on your overhead (building, electric, cable/satellite, water, etc... ) and what you have to offer.
Now if you all are just going to meet some place each week or month, I would not bother with the dues. Put together a group buy and have the guys in on the decisions (they will learn a lot from this) on what all you need. Then instead of handing them sticks to start with, maybe you all could just smoke the same cigar as the first stick of the night and discus it while smoking. If you like they can pay inadvance for the first smoke. You can learn what what your buddies like at the same time they start to figure it out. lol Try to keep it fun! Don't make it seem like there is only one thing to be talked about at the meetings, they have already spent the day in class. May be try to stay on topic for that first smoke the just hang out and enjoy. Well, thats my $.02
Thats more typing than I do in a year. I need a smoke now. LOL