Answer the Call! Industry Summit in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Salon owners, manufacturers and distributors … the Indoor Tanning Association wants you to help repeal the Tan Tax. Interested? Then be sure to make room on your calendar for a trip to Washington, D.C. on May 21-22 for the ITA’s Industry Summit!

Tired of paying the Tan Tax? Then, it’s time to join the ITA in Washington, D.C. and tell your elected officials about it. The organization that protects everyone’s right to tan has scheduled its Industry Summit, which provides salon pros the opportunity to help garner support for a proposed bill to repeal the Tan Tax. “Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R-NY) has agreed to reintroduce his bill to the House of Representatives while we are there, and members of this industry can help him recruit co-sponsors,” said Rob Quinn (TanPro), ITA President. He continued, “The purpose of the Summit is to match tanning industry professionals with elected officials from their home states, so they can tell their Congressmen and Senators about the devastating impact the Tan Tax has had on their businesses. We will provide plenty of information for attendees to share with lawmakers during their meetings.”

Beyond just repealing the Tan Tax, Quinn says there is good reason for industry professionals to become acquainted with their elected officials at the Federal level. “Politicians are being influenced by outside interests every day and, unfortunately, most of what they hear about our industry comes from our detractors,” he commented. “By participating in the Industry Summit, tanning pros can ensure that their voices will be heard in Washington, D.C.”

The Industry Summit is a two-day event planned and coordinated by the ITA. “Attendees will meet with members of the ITA on the morning of May 21 to discuss the intricacies of the next day’s meetings,” Quinn said. “From there, everyone will be given a personal meeting schedule, key talking points and a fact sheet to help them make a personal connection with their home-state elected official in order to request their support in repealing the Tan Tax. We’re also asking that each salon owner who plans to attend brings specific information about the impact the Tan Tax has had upon their business.” After the planning session, attendees can join the ITA at the exclusive Capitol Hill Club for a fundraising event hosted by the organization’s Political Action Committee.

This year’s Summit is inspired by a similar event held in May of 2011. “We’ve always said that speaking with elected officials can have a huge impact on how lawmakers view our industry, so we organized this event to further our cause,” Quinn said. “Two years ago, about 80 people from various industry sectors came to Washington, D.C. to participate in more than 200 meetings with 120 Congressional offices – that’s more than 20 percent of Congress! I can honestly say that everyone did an excellent job representing the tanning industry to federal lawmakers, and we’re certain that it had a positive impact.”

Vince Lorraine, IST Magazine Publisher, attended the ITA Tanning Summit in 2011, and he’ll be doing so again this year, as well as encouraging other tanning professionals to get involved. “It was a great opportunity to meet other people who care enough about their livelihoods and our industry as a whole to participate,” said Lorraine. “I was able to meet with four Congressmen – Dave Camp (R), Dale Kildee (D), Thaddeus McCotter (R), and Mike Rogers (R) – from my state, and their chiefs of staff, to inform and enlighten them about our industry and the roles our businesses play in our communities. I came away from the summit feeling that this was one of the most productive and positive things our industry could have done.”

Quinn and the ITA’s Board of Directors wish to encourage tanning industry professionals to attend this year’s Summit. Those considering getting involved are urged to contact the ITA for more information.