International Pipe Smoking Day

On February 19, 2012, Pocono Intermountain Pipe Enthusiasts held a smoking contest at El Humidor to celebrate International Pipe Smoking Day (Feb. 20). We had seven contestants. The winner, Aaron, rarely smokes a pipe and was only in the contest because Matt was too hungover to participate. Aaron had an amazing time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 33 seconds and could have gone longer but the tobacco was making him sick to his stomach. Not bad for a newbie!

Similar to other countries Poland also celebrated International Day for the pipe-smokers (IPSD). The main event was a conference in city Gdansk. Other clubs, Śląski Klub Fajki Katowice (Silesia Pipe Club Katowice) and Klub Kolekcjonerów Fajki – Poznań (The Pipe Collector Club Poznań) made also celebrations. Below are summary reports.

Gdańsk, February 19, 2011
The central ceremony was held in Gdansk. The main event was a conference on the theme of pipe and tobacco, entitled “Education and Traditional Medicine,” and a competition-tasting blend of herbal tobacco substitutes. About 60 people attended the lecture, and some of them (38 competitors) took part in contest.

Katowice, February 20, 2011
In Katowice (Silesia) , Snorkel Club celebrated the feast of the world’s pipe-smokers (IPSD) meeting at Tucher’s Pub. During the meeting a pipe smoking contest was held. The meeting was attended by 10 people. Full information with pictures can be found at the SKF – Katowice club web here.

Poznan, February 20, 2011
Members of The Pipe Collectors Club Poznan met at a ceremonial meeting. We listened to the text appeal of the Vancouver Pipe Club about IPSD, and then raised a toast. Next we lighted a pipes with one common candle. 17 people attended the meeting. Participants of the meeting are immortalized on a commemorative photograph. The festive atmosphere of the meeting can be seen in the pictures here.

Our stores (Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, 1645 Central Ave., Albany, NY and 528 N Greenbush Rd, North Greenbush, NY) will be having an IPSD event running all day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). We will be having in-store discounts on pipes and accessories, and we will have our limited edition 2011 IPSD blend available (only 122 total tins). Our pipe club (Capital District Pipe Club) will have members in attendance throughout the day. Our e-commerce/mail order business, www.PipesandCigars.com, will be giving a free goody bag (valued at over $50) to the first 200 customers who place orders on Feb. 20. The 2011 IPSD blend from Hearth & Home will also be available on the website as well.

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Pipe smokers everywhere will celebrate IPSD by raising their pipes in a unified toast to show their shared passion for pipes and the strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie that exist in the worldwide pipe smoking community. IPSD provides an opportunity for pipe smokers to stand up side by side with pride to educate others about the traditions and pleasures of pipe smoking and to promote our hobby in a positive way.

All UPCA member clubs, informal pipe smoking groups (for instance, those that get together to share a bowl in their local pipe shops) and individual smokers are encouragedto take part in IPSD. Inform your members and schedule a special IPSD meeting on or around February 20 to celebrate with your friends. If you are smoking at home, take a moment when you light up to salute your fellow briar lovers across the nation and the world.
 
Here are a few suggestions:
 
---For further information, go to www.ipsd.eu where you will find a colorful new IPSD poster and a brochure that explains the IPSD mission, purpose and philosophy. Download and print them out for distribution to your local pipe shops. Point out to them that IPSD offers a unique opportunity for retailers to invite in their pipe customers by holding special sales and promotions. We are asking IPCPR to again send out a release to their members.

---Inform your local newspapers and broadcast media about IPSD, its significance to pipe smokers and the events you plan for the day. In the last two years two national newspapers, the Wall Street Journal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, have published very favorable articles about IPSD and pipe smoking. There have also been stories in local papers and TV coverage of some events.
 
---Please send a short report on your event and take some photos that can be posted on the UPCA, CIPC (www.pipeclubs.com) and IPSD's own website. Send them to webmaster@unitedpipeclubs.org and the other sites.

---Inform your local newspapers and broadcast media about IPSD, its significance to pipe smokers and the events you plan for the day. In the last two years two national newspapers, the Wall Street Journal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, have published very favorable articles about IPSD and pipe smoking. There have also been stories in local papers and TV coverage of some events.
 
---Please send a short report on your event and take some photos that can be posted on the UPCA, CIPC (www.pipeclubs.com) and IPSD's own website. Send them to webmaster@unitedpipeclubs.org and the other sites.
 
Again, IPSD is a day to demonstrate that we continue to enjoy our pipes despite all the restrictions and high taxes that the anti-tobacco forces have imposed on us. In today's climate, it is particularly important to seize every opportunity to present our hobby in a positive light and IPSD allows us to do that.

Celebrating International Pipe Smoking Day, the Pocono Intermountain Pipe Enthusiasts sponsored a pipe smoking contest this past Saturday, February 20. We had a great time and maybe got a new member for the club. We followed CIPC rules as closely as we could (we allowed the drinking of beer). Top time was 51 minutes. Spilman Mixture was used as the tobacco. We made page 3 of the local newpaper. See the story here.

SMOKING OUT THE COMPETITION

Seven gentlemen gathered Saturday afternoon to compete in the first annual pipe smoking competition hosted by El Humidor Smoke Shop, Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre.

Read all about the event in an article published at timesleader.com. 

IPSD was a huge success in St. Louis!  At 12:00 during the 22nd Annual Gateway Area Pipe Show and Swap, our own Vernon Vig led the entire exhibit hall in raising their pipes in celebration. 

Shown at left at the UPCA table are (L to R) Craig Cobine (CPCC), Bob Callaway (a host of the St. Louis Show), Frank Burla (CPCC) and Vernon Vig.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch even covered the event. Read the article that appeared on February 21, 2010 and view the Photo Gallery created by their photographer, Eric Lunsford.

On our IPSD page, we will document activities we learn about from around the world. The St. Louis Pipe Show is actually being held on February 20th and we will be there to document it for you!  You might also want to visit the official IPSD website.