STRENGTH IN   

   NUMBERS

      CA Salon Owners

      Form Group

   As the California Indoor Tanning 

  Trade Organization (CITTO) is sure

  to prove, there’s strength in

  numbers.

In a move that illustrates the entrepreneurial nature of the indoor tanning industry, a group of California salon owners formed a state organization. The California Indoor Tanning Trade Organization (CITTO) was created to focus on the needs of salon owners in the state, and the grassroots effort is gaining momentum. Soon, CITTO should be a force to be reckoned with.

The California Indoor Tanning Trade Organization, or CITTO for short, became official on September 13, 2004 when a group of individuals representing more than 50 California tanning salons met at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. These tanning pros gathered for the express purpose of creating the organization and establishing its particulars – name, vision statement, goals, legal structure and membership criteria. “CITTO is a state organization that represents, promotes and protects the interests of California’s professional indoor tanning industry,” said Rhonda Van Tassell, owner of EuroTan and CITTO’s interim Legislative/Media Liasion. “Our goal is to encourage responsible tanning and provide programs, information support, media liaison and legislative representation for our statewide membership.” The group also elected an interim committee, which will serve for six to nine months, to lead the organization. The committee members are: President–Craig Joyner, Sorrento Sun Center/Great Tan; Vice President–Bob Rogers, Miami Tan;

Secretary–Rich Tong, U-CA-TAN; Treasurer–Jeff Giordano, Summers Indoor Tanning; Legislative/Media Liaison–Rhonda Van Tassell, EuroPro Inc.; Communications Director – Dirk Bohse, U-CA-TAN.

One of CITTO’s first goals was to unite California salon owners against AB 2193, a bill that is severely affecting tanning in that state. The bill, which was approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 27, 2004, bans tanning for children under the age of 14, and requires a parent’s written consent for those aged 14 to 17. CITTO encouraged California salon pros to write letters to the Governor’s office urging him to veto the bill, although, in the end, it was to no avail. “We didn’t exactly win this one, but because of it, we will be more organized the next time something like this comes our way,” she said. “We’re going to move forward while keeping our eye out for future bills.”

When it comes to legislative and political issues, CITTO will take its direction from the Indoor Tanning Association. “The organization has terrific experience in those matters and we will help them any way they wish regarding legislative issues in California,” Van Tassell stated. “This will allow us to focus on other issues that are important to our membership, including obtaining group health insurance and 401K plans for tanning pros, as well as using group-buying power to secure lower credit-card processing rates for salons,” interim President Craig Joyner added.

The meeting and formation of CITTO was considered an initial success, and now the group encourages other California salon pros to get involved with the organization. “There is strength in numbers, and it’s exciting to see leading professionals from all segments of the California indoor tanning industry come together to create CITTO,” said Craig Joyner. “We still have a way to go to make this vision a reality, but we took a very strong first step toward building a solid organization. We were all very pleased with the progress that was made and look forward to this organization’s future.”