the half-percent club
over 46,500,000 (that's 46.5 million) americans smoke.*
the half-percent club isn't like other clubs: nobody nominates you for membership; you nominate yourself. nobody votes on whether you can or cannot become a member; your vote is the only one that counts.
of those, 70% (or 32,550,000) say they want to quit.*
of those, 34% (or 11,067,000) attempt to quit each year.*
of those, 2.5% (or 276,675) succeed.*
that's about one-half of one percent of the total number of american smokers.
the half-percent club.
* (these statistics are taken from the american lung association publication, "TRENDS IN TOBACCO USE", published in june of 2002. since i don't have similar statistics for any other country, i'm going to assume that the percentages are about the same; people are people, wherever they live, and nicotine is nicotine, no matter who's addicted to it...)
the half-percent club has no meetings; it has no meeting halls.
it has no officers; no president, no secretary, no treasurer.
it doesn't march in parades, organize food, clothing or fund drives, hold garage sales or have bingo on wednesdays.
but it does have dues.
and if you want to be a member, you have to pay your dues.
it doesn't matter who you know, doesn't matter what you know, doesn't matter if you're from the right family, doesn't matter if you went to the right school, doesn't matter if you're from the right side of the tracks, doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman, doesn't matter if your skin is the right color, doesn't matter what religion you follow (or even if you follow any at all), doesn't matter what your political opinions are.
the only thing that matters is that you pay your dues.
because the half-percent club isn't like other clubs: nobody nominates you for membership; you nominate yourself. nobody votes on whether you can or cannot become a member; your vote is the only one that counts. you elect yourself.
as long as you pay your dues.
as long as you never take that first puff; as long as you're clean, you're a card-carrying, paid-in-full member. and nobody can vote you out, or even ask you to leave; once you've paid your dues, the only way to lose your membership is to take it away from yourself by taking that first puff.
I love this, and I love being in this club. And I'm proud!
I'm in...now that I have been free from nicotine for 12 months I decided to join "the half-percent club"
I'll never take another puff...my choice everyday...one day at a time.
Sandyz
Kevin,
I'm in the half percent club too!
I just read this and loved this. It's a great thing to refer people to who are thinking of giving up the quit or for those who have "slipped". I am definitely a part of this club.
note: the comments above were left on the original tale at the date and time indicated.
I have been quit five months and will never smoke again so can I join and be a half percenter.
Is this a club for ex smokers who never blipped never had a single puff not even a drag whilst they were quitting ...if so i am in
this is another excellent article - and thank you for them - which triggers the thought there should be an actual card, the size of a credit card, that can be carried in the wallet. I phrase it the way i have as i'm not yet eligible for it. I've done, or am today doing 52 days, and i look forward to being a member of this club. I will make and carry such a card at that time unless there a a generic one we can share & use - i would look to design & share one but i've not the computer skills to do such online.
fyi Kevin - 718 days since my last cigarette. And your site is one of 2 or 3 that was very helpful. Thank you for it.