Firefighters' center will ban smoking at bingo, other events
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Article RatingBonnie Marpoe says a decision to ban smoking at the Shippensburg Firefighters’ Activity Center stinks, but she pledges it won’t keep her away from the bingo table.
Reita Summers, a non-smoking player, says the decision makes a good thing even better.
“It’s a great idea,” she says.
The fire at the SFAC bingo hall goes out for good Tuesday when the no-smoking policy goes into affect.
The center’s operating committee made the decision in September after a movement in the state Legislature to adopt a statewide smoking ban failed this summer.
The new policy prohibits smoking inside the SFAC for any event.
Kevin Nehf, vice chairman of the operations committee, says there are many good reasons to ban smoking, but some members are concerned that the move may hurt bingo attendance.
Marpoe was at her regular spot Wednesday evening an hour before the games began, with her bingo cards ready, a burning cigarette between her fingers and an ashtray at her elbow.
“I think it (stinks),” she said of the impending smokeless environment. “When I gamble, I smoke.”
But when it comes to boycotting bingo, Parsons says, there’s little chance of that.
“I’m a bingo player,” she says matter-of-factly, making it clear that when they start calling numbers Jan. 2, she’ll be there.
Health, cost and comfort
Nehf says there are health, cost and comfort issues that demand the no-smoking action.
Installation of more effective filtering devices several years ago made the blue cloud disappear, Nehf says, but the pervasive odor of smoke in the hall still burns eyes, stings nostrils and saturates clothing.
Eliminating smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes will cut the cost of maintenance to the center’s smoke eaters, which cleanse the air, he explains. Additional savings will come in the form of energy costs, Nehf says, because heat and air-conditioned air escapes the building when the smoke eaters work.
Then there are the health issues linked to second-hand smoke.
The most important issue could be the well-being of volunteers who run the bingo program.
“We have people who won’t work because of the smoke,” Nehf says, “and players who have quit coming because of it.”
Smelly clothes
Nehf has worked bingo at the SFAC since it opened in 1992. He says his wife won’t let him in the house when he comes home from a bingo night.
“She makes me get undressed and I have to shower before she lets me sit on the furniture,” he explains.
SFAC Chairman Carolyn Kerns says she is a “smoking has-been,” and she shares Nehf’s domestic experience.
“I despise going home smelling like smoke, and my husband hates it,” Kerns says.
There is the risk of a backlash, Nehf says, but results of no-smoking policies at other fire company bingo halls indicate any attendance drop will be small and temporary.
Other fire companies
SFAC committee members polled other fire company bingo operations before making their decision.
Nehf says a slight dip in attendance at Fayetteville reversed itself quickly. Attendance at Newville reportedly blossomed after the bingo nights went smokeless.
Nehf is also relying on the powerful attraction of bingo for its fans.
“I hoping their need for bingo will overcome their need to smoke,” he says.
Kerns has an even more optimistic streak.
“I’m hoping there will be some (quit smoking) New Year’s resolutions,” she says.
