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Spring, 1998 Newsletter (Part 1 of 2) Contents:Part 1 of Spring Newsletter
Part 2 of Spring Newsletter
Volunteers … providing MADD with support MADD’s lifeblood is in its volunteers - people that put their personal time and effort into accomplishing the mission we all hold in common: to stop drunk driving and support the victims of this violent crime. Individuals who use all of their resources to further lifesaving and educational opportunities sometimes go unnoticed by the masses, but their endeavors are never fruitless. Such is the dedication that we have seen from the volunteers working at the Orange County Chapter of MADD. At this time, we would like to give a special thanks to all of the people who have put so much into MADD ... you have helped us come a long way! As you may know, our office has had trouble with our computer system for years. We have lost countless amounts of information, time, and sanity again and again because of this problem. And trying to keep up under these circumstances has been a true test of integrity. Now, thanks to our volunteers, we have a wonderful system that not only works … but doesn’t talk back! This has given us more time to focus on our programs. We have become even more mission-oriented, not paper-oriented. The benefits are already visible in our community! Staff time has been well spent on the rising need for victim advocacy and in dispensing information to the community. We have begun to expand old programs to make them more effective and to spend more time helping people get involved. We have begun our high school outreach program for this year and our response thus far from the young people and businesses in our community to our Sober PromSM has been extraordinary. Our primary corporate sponsors of this annual program are Mitsubishi Motors and Allstate. With your continued support, we hope to see MADD make large strides in the battle against drunk driving. Throughout the year, tie a red MADD ribbon to your vehicle as a reminder to yourself and others to drive safe and sober. Complimentary "Tie One On For Safety" campaign MADD ribbons are available through MADD chapters and Allstate Insurance agents.
Focus on Volunteers: Bob Marlowe You’ve just dropped your keys on the table, and thrown your jacket over the chair. It’s been a long day at work, and the word "relaxation" is the only term your brain can even comprehend. You reach for the remote when the phone rings… should you answer it, or let the machine pick it up? With a less than enthusiastic voice, you answer, "Hello?" The deep voice on the line introduces himself as Bob Marlowe, and invites you to participate in a Sobriety Checkpoint for MADD. MADD? Didn’t you put in an application to volunteer for them a while back? You listen to the list of dates and locations, and think about it for a moment. Saturday nights have been a little dull lately. Asking the man to repeat the information, you pencil the event into your calendar. A week or so later, you show up on a main street, with cars backed up for at least a quarter of a mile. Police randomly stop cars and a group of people wearing MADD hats and t-shirts are standing along the street, conversing with one another. Immediately, you are greeted by the same deep voice that you heard on the telephone, and the tall imposing man who owns it begins introducing you to the group. He’s got the MADD jacket, the MADD hat… he’s probably even wearing a MADD pin and T-shirt under all that. Rather shy, you listen to the conversation and notice that some of the others are just as nervous as you. Bob, on the other hand, seems to know everyone and, he’s got the low-down on all the new laws and trivia. Dry sarcastic humor, witty comments… you think you like him. Hey, if all the MADD volunteers are like this, you may do this more often! So, who is Bob Marlowe? Well, "Hey You" (as he is so lovingly called at the office), or "Mr. Statistic" began his career of volunteering with MADD about 8 years ago, in 1990, when he began speaking to the community as part of our "Speakers Bureau." He helped to educate the schools and community members about the issues of drunk driving with great enthusiasm and received the "Speaker Of The Year Award" in 1993. Since then, he has expanded his activity, truly becoming one of the mainstays of the Orange County Chapter. His work with the DMV, the City Councils and Law Enforcement as well as breaking ground for programs that have since been put into effect earned him the "Exceptional Service Award" in 1995. Bob has a dedication and loyalty to MADD’s mission that is unsurpassed. He currently serves as MADD Orange County’s "Law Enforcement Liaison." He plays a huge part in coordinating our Law Enforcement Recognition efforts, Checkpoints and DMV programs. Despite his hectic schedule, he always makes sure to reserve a time to help MADD!
Focus on Volunteers: Gail Martinez You leave your desk, and head toward the conference room, thinking of your dinner engagements for the evening. The restaurant your friends have chosen has the best drinks in town… you decide to bring a few extra dollars just to tip the bartender. Glad for the "Staff Meeting," you file into the large room with the rest of your coworkers and sit down, You needed some brainless time away from your desk, and the leaning tower of paper. You begin to daydream, as your manager stands up, and begins speaking in his usual monotone voice. He introduces some likable woman you have never seen before. She introduces herself, and pulls out a poster-board decorated with photographs. Interest suddenly grips you, and you begin to pay attention to what she has to say. About 45 minutes later, you walk out of the conference room, just as silent as everyone else. The name "Gail Martinez" and her experience permeate your mind, and the idea of having a "Designated Driver" is a lot more appealing than you ever thought possible. Gail became actively involved with MADD in 1993, two days after her 14-year-old son was hit and killed by a drunk driver. She has been a true inspiration for us all, turning her irrevocable loss into a constructive driving force within our community. Gail herself feels that her work with MADD is a memorial to her son Jeffrey; in this way, she feels that his short life really mattered. She feels that he knows what she is doing for him. Gail’s experience, and the strength she has demonstrated to come through it, is a faith-strengthening example to each one of us. She currently speaks at Victim Impact Panels, in schools, at DARE functions, and on occasion for the California Bar Association. She has helped in presenting the Deuce Awards to officers throughout Orange County, and she is an avid Checkpointer. In spite of so many heartaches, she makes a difference by helping those in need.
The results for the Executive Board elections are in! On March 27th, members gathered to vote for those individuals they felt would best run our chapter. The results are as follows: Barbara Taylor - President Sean Gardner - Vice President Lt. Karl Schuler - Vice President Judi Dutton - Treasurer Bill Neessen - Secretary Congratulations! We wish you the best in your upcoming term of office for 1998!
The Action Guide that helps everyone fight drunk driving Americans now have a user friendly action plan for fighting drunk driving. Partners in Progress, which includes the U.S. Department of Transportation and MADD, released an Impaired Driving Guide For Action in the Fall of 1997. The guide is a resource for people in business, health care, education, religion, government, military and the media. For copies, write: NHTSA's Impaired Driving Division, 400 7th Street SouthWest SW, Washington D.C. 20590.
The Cocktail Neckwear Collection, by STONEHENGE, LTD. The Only Way To "Tie One On!" Jerry Garcia has designed a fascinating collection of ties and scarves, emerging out of an interest in the concept of merging fashion with science and education. This has led to the "Molecular Expressions" line of neckwear, based on the brilliant molecular patterns of alcoholic beverages (such as "Ice Beer" and "Red Zinfandel") as seen under the microscope. These colorful, 100% silk crepe ties are sold in fine department stores, such as Macy’s West, Robinsons-May, Gottschalks, and Harris & Co. Stonehenge, Ltd. has contributed over $400,000 to MADD thus far by means of the revenue from the "Molecular Expressions" neckwear collections to support MADD in its efforts to change attitudes about drinking and driving. These accessories make a great conversation piece. They may even provide the perfect opportunity to share with others that drinking and driving do not mix. We like to say that MADD Cocktail Collection ties are the only way to ‘tie one on’ before driving." Maybe you can help us spread the word too! This page is: http://www.maddorangecounty.org/news/Spring98a.htm Page updated: August 12, 2005 |
