by Heidi Kyser

Editor's note: This story was updated with new information on Feb. 24. 

Don't try to find the Southern Tea Society of America at its Web site, www.southernteasociety.org... at least for now. The recently formed association is in the process of picking a new name.

A pre-existing group with a similar name asked the Southern Tea Society of America to stop using its name, according to one of the society's co-founders, Melanie O'Hara-Salyers, owner of both miss Melanie's Tea Room and the Tea Academy in Johnson City, Tenn.

Tesha Gibson, who founded the the Southern Tea Society in 1998, confirmed she had contacted O'Hara-Salyers' group, through co-founder, Tami Jo Halliman, owner of Kathleen's Tea Room in Fletcher, N.C. 

"We felt there was a strong likelihood of confusion, particularly because they (the Southern Tea Society of America) were dropping "of America" on their Web site, social media sites and in the media in general. We did not want our mark to be confused with them in the tea industry/world," Gibson said.

O'Hara-Salyers said she and Halliman had complied with Gibson's request.

"We are in the process of changing our name," she added. "Our board of directors is meeting soon to choose a new name, and then we will re-launch the Web site." In the meantime, O'Hara-Salyers said, inquiries can be directed to her by phone at (423) 926-0123.