smoking

Ever heard of "Tobacco Road"

College basketball fans know it as the heart of the Atlantic Coast Conference, with Duke (Durham), North Carolina (Chapel Hill), North Carolina State (Raleigh) and Wake Forest (Winston-Salem) competing against each other with all four schools within six miles of Interstate 40. But deep and rich within the cigar culture, historians... Read More

By 1915 , Seidenberg & Co. was operating a five-story factory with 260 workers – almost all women. The biggest factory was the El-Rees-So, started by a former Southern Pacific Railroad worker named John Rees around 1915. By 1917, he had 300 employees and boasted that “all the cigars are made by girls . . . pretty girls.” A 1922 edition of the Greensboro Daily News noted that the city’s factories turned out about 300,000 cigars combined each day, or about 30 million per year, an impressive total for the time. But by 1955, the cigar boom in Greensboro had fallen to hard times. The El Moro company was the last of the cigarmakers to close, finally selling in 1955 to T.E. Brooks Co. of Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The El Moro factory site in Greensboro is, today, a parking lot.A well known historical with the cigar culture is up and down, boom cycles which promote exciting change. The most recent, "The Boom of the 90s", which began, among other things, the recognition of the Women who Smoke Cigars. It was then, that we first received acknowledgment that we existed in this community. The 90s was then, and this is now.Here we are, and some would agree, in the midst of another boom "The Boom of Web 2.0". Never in cigar culture history has so many enthusiasts had the opportunity to virtually meet to discuss, compare, review and share their love of the leaf. And from all over the nation, internationally, men or women, our commaraderie knows no boundaries. Our culture has taken on another face. Together with an innovative approach, a more youthful group of connoisseurs has joined this deep culture. Along with the Urban flair and swing of , and his entertaining audio review show, Stuart Carnes of caters to the youthful cigar lifestyle enthusiast. And then of course, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there are Women, and lots of us. We're not simply the Girls of the Show, a novelty act meant to draw the attention of the male cigar lover, as part of an over-done marketing ploy, which dates back to the 1890 wholesale grocers, but we are, true aficionada, enthusionada, and sisters of the leaf. We are indeed witnessing a significant change in this culture. Its an exciting time, and it is "The Boom of Web 2.0".

How do I fight the good fight -
When players on my own team won't get with the program?

"So what does that mean Damsel...you won't give up" she asks....

This past weekend was a little challenging - my purpose, and I think I've been incredibly clear, open and honest about my intention, and that being to draw the industry's attention to our under served sector - Women who Smoke Cigars - and assist in the creation of a real market for us, or at the least, include us in the cigar companies campaigns in a unique way - as we are the same cigar smokers and we are sisters of the lovers of the leaf! A vital force within our community.

I've been active on a variety of Cigar forums - spreading the word and being faithful to my blog, as it is here, we are central to the cause. My actions and the fruit of my labor are begining to take form - recently "Damsel's Blog" has been provided a link on Cigar Inspector, made the top 3 on Cigar Top Sites, Life in Transition will be moving over to SearchMarketing, LLC, bringing it home, because thats where it all started. And last but surely not least, and very important and dear to me, is my passion in the success for the Women of Social Cigar.

So when I feel my efforts to assist in developing this market, are being thwarted, perhaps without knowing, or perhaps knowingly by individuals with certain personal agendas created to fulfill their own egos and their need for validation from the men they surround themselves with - I become disallusioned, disappointed and frustrated. Their actions remind me that we have such an uphill battle, and more disappointing is that they are women. I'm not generalizing nor am I an ice queen, but women have historically in this culture been portrayed at times in an offensive manner. Sexuality, beauty and class, professionalism and the wonders of womanhood should be celebrated not the need to be one of "the boys" - We need no validation, we are confident - a unique group, Women who Smoke Cigars.... and I would love to meet the Women in this industry who aren't in the industry for the male market, but in the industry for the SOTLs...

Here is where I clearly define my mandate, and set myself apart and distinquish myself outside of the women who are in the cigar community for the men - I'm not for you, but I'm not against you - my purpose is for my sisters!

I would love to reach out to my brothers and to their intelligence - to say that playing into the sterotypical role established for women in the cigar culture, only portrays you in a negative fashion... and you my friends, are far better than that...

don't worry, I won't give up the fight... onward and upward. My mantra will be - There's no holding us back, and what's comforting is, with a little help from my friends, we are the majority!

Luv you lots, Damsel.... thank you for letting me vent..

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