The Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco is back to work.

Ramsey County District Court Judge Michael Fetsch has approved the new plan. There will be greater focus of resources on individual cessation. A rigorous conflict-of-interest policy strengthens the current policy and the board has been restructured into 19 members: 11 at-large and eight appointed by the governor, attorney general, speaker of the house and senate majority leader.

MPAAT's share of the tobacco settlement monies remains under court authority.

"Now more than ever, helping individuals quit smoking is critical for our state," said Jan Malcolm, MPAAT board member and former state Commissioner of Health. "MPAAT wants to build on the enormous success of Minnesota's Tobacco Helpline and reach out to even more individuals who want to quit."

MPAAT held a community meeting Tuesday night at Riverland Community College to explain cessation initiatives, grant programs for the coming fiscal year and goals for making Minnesota a healthier state.

Board members Jeanne Weigum, a former longtime lobbyist, and Pat Piper hosted the meeting, which was the first of its kind since the Ramsey County judge approved the new MPAAT plan and restructuring.

Weigum said there are four critical goals for MPAAT.

"We want to establish cessation programs on 20 college campuses through the state by 2005 to help 18 to 24 year olds quit smoking," Weigum said.

Also, MPAAT wants to take cessation programs into Minnesota businesses, targeting 100 over the next two years.

MPAAT wants to increase the number of Minnesotans who use the Helpline by 25 percent.

Weigum called the new plan "balanced" and that it achieved the goals of the court.

Minnesota received $6.1 billion in tobacco settlements. Of that amount, 76 percent or $4.6 billion goes into the state general fund 12 percent or about $708 million is managed by the University of Minnesota as a medical education endowment; and 9 percent or about $531 million is managed by the Minnesota Department of Health for tobacco cessation and prevention efforts, including those focusing on youth.

Three percent of the tobacco settlement -- $202 million -- belongs to MPAAT.

MPAAT maintains the annual cost of smoking is $2.6 billion or $341 per Minnesotan.

Weigum and Piper believe MPAAT must implement a more aggressive public awareness and education campaign.

"That's where the face-to-face confrontations come in," Weigum said. "We want to go into businesses and talk to employees."

Weigum also said the focus on young adults ages 18 to 24 is another effort by MPAAT to implement "programs that resonate."

Another new idea being considered is an Internet Helpline, Weigum said.

The MPAAT board member said California and Massachusetts remain leaders in smoking cessation and prevention efforts nationwide.

But Minnesota is gaining on their reputations.

"I think we've gone from the point where smoking was considered an irritant to realizing that it makes people sick and it kills," she said.

Piper, the former long-time legislator, said no longer is the legislature's business transacted in "smoke-filled rooms."

"That changed with smoking bans, during my time in the legislature and I think it was a good and necessary change," she said.

Weigum said there is much more to accomplish and Piper said it will take "patience and baby steps."

"There's been a tremendous change, but it's slow," Piper said.

Piper pointed to the medical community, which after showing some disagreement to the harmful effects of smoking now universally embraces its cessation and prevention.

Weigum said MPAAT has enough oversight to guarantee it will stay focused on its mission. Also, the board member said the changes instituted by the court are good for MPAAT.

"I think we've gone from a board that only five years ago was considered a board of experts to a board that now has the expertise, but also is comprised of members who will do what's good for the people of Minnesota," she said.

MPAAT was created in 1998 as part of Minnesota's legal settlement with tobacco companies. The board of directors are unpaid members. Last year, its administrative expenses were 4.93 percent of over all expenses.

The Minnesota Tobacco Helpline is (877) 270-STOP.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com