MADD Moments in West Virginia

March 2009 Vol. 1, No. 2

MADD MOMENTS is an e-newsletter about Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) activities and events in West Virginia. Please help us reach more readers by forwarding this newsletter to your colleagues, friends and family. And if you know of someone who would like to be added to our e-mailing list, please send us a contact address. For more information about any of the items in our newsletter, send a response to this e-mail or call us at 304-776-0222 or toll-free 800-776-0635.

Friends Asking Friends

We know you support our campaign to eliminate drunk driving, and now is a critical time for you to demonstrate that support. MADD urgently needs funds to continue our mission in West Virginia. We ask each of you who receive this newsletter to send us a $20 contribution. If each of our readers donates $20, we would raise nearly $25,000! We also ask you to contact three friends or family members and challenge them to donate as well. Donors will be acknowledged in our next and subsequent e-newsletters. You can donate via credit card through our West Virginia website www.madd.org/wv or you can mail your check or cash donation to: MADD West Virginia, 502 Old Goff Mountain Road, Charleston, WV 25313.

May 12th – Metro Valley Law Enforcement Recognition

MADD is pleased to partner with the Metro Valley Region of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program for our first Charleston area law enforcement recognition luncheon. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 12th in Charleston. The luncheon will recognize state, county and local law enforcement officers in Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Logan Counties for their efforts to stop drunk driving and prevent underage drinking. Next week law enforcement agencies in these counties will receive information about how to nominate officers for the recognition awards. All interested persons are encouraged to be part of this exciting inaugural event, though advanced reservations will be necessary. Law enforcement officers may attend without charge. Tickets for non-law enforcement attendees will be $15. Information on ticket reservations will be announced in our next newsletter. Mark your calendar today and plan to attend!

Bluefield Police Officer Killed in Off-Duty Crash

Sgt. John A. Jones, an 18-year veteran of the Bluefield Police Department, died in an off-duty single vehicle crash in Mercer County on Sunday, March 15th. MADD extends our deepest sympathy to his family and many friends, and to Chief J.W. Wilson and all the members of the Bluefield Police Department. We appreciate the dedicated service that Sgt. Jones gave to his community. His death is a tragic loss for Bluefield, for Mercer County and for our state.

June 4 - Community Champions Luncheon

We are looking for a few good men and women – community champions – to honor at our June 4th fundraising luncheon. We ask the honorees or their supporters to raise a minimum of $1,000 and provide a gift for the silent auction that is valued at $100 or more. How do you raise $1,000? You can sell 10 tickets for the luncheon ($100 apiece). You can ask family and friends to support you. You can ask your employer to sponsor you. Or you can do any combination of these efforts. What do you get out of it? We will treat you like a king or queen for the day. Your picture will be in the paper and in our program, you will receive an award, and you will be invited to an exclusive networking reception on April 23. And most important of all, you will be supporting MADD’s mission to stop drunk driving in West Virginia. Do you want to be an honoree, or do you know someone who would make a good honoree? If so, please contact Helen Alten (helen.alten@madd.org ).

The Kanawha Valley Community Champions fundraising luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 at the beautifully decorated Edgewood Country Club ballroom in Charleston. The luncheon features the gourmet talents of Edgewood’s Chef Jeremy Still. The meal will be a duet of steak and salmon complemented with new potatoes and a lightly steamed string bean medley. A fresh garden salad and a decadent chocolate dessert complete the meal.

Next to Edgewood’s ballroom, luncheon attendees will enjoy stunning views of the river valley while they enjoy bidding on a variety of silent auction items. Among the items will be unique pieces of art, opportunities for fun family or individual outings, and romantic packages for two. More in our next newsletter. If you have an item that you could donate to the silent auction, please e-mail Helen Alten (Helen.alten@madd.org).

Are you interested in attending the luncheon and supporting MADD West Virginia, but not sure you want to be an honoree? You can purchase a ticket or two ($100 each) or a table of 10 seats ($1,000). You can also be a corporate sponsor for the event. Contact Helen Alten (Helen.alten@madd.org) for more information. Also, we need volunteers to sell tickets for the luncheon, so please help!

A special thank you to the following businesses and individuals who have given or committed to give generously to support the Community Champions event: West Virginia American Water, Middle Kingdom Imports, Edgewood Country Club, Mary Stewart, Renee Margocee, and Betty Rivard.

Crime Victims Day at the Legislature

MADD West Virginia, along with state and local criminal justice agencies and other victim advocacy organizations, participated in Crime Victims Day at the Legislature on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Our display featured a poster board with MADD red ribbons, representing the 142 innocent persons killed by drunk drivers on West Virginia’s roadways during the past year. Thanks to our Victim Advocate, Margie Sadler, and her husband Chuck Sadler for the hours of volunteer labor they put into creating this powerful display. Over 300 Legislators, lobbyists, news media and the general public visited our display table and received MADD brochures, donation envelopes and red ribbons.

“We’ll Remember You” Table at the Charleston Town Center Mall

On Saturday, February 14th, in honor of Valentine’s Day, MADD West Virginia set up a display table in the Charleston Town Center Mall. Connie Beauchamp organized volunteers to staff the table as a Junior League of Charleston February service project. Thank you to Lauren Kelly, Samantha Carney, Beth Harvey, Mary Stewart, Leigh Ann Zitzelsberger and Connie Beauchamp who staffed the table from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also we thank MADD volunteers Darlene Hardwick and Carolyn Andrews who, along with their friends and family, helped in asking passersby for donations to support MADD West Virginia. Tribute hearts were posted by families of drunk driving victims and by other mall visitors. One group of young men wrote hearts that expressed the love they have for their girlfriends. Many small children received safety-themed coloring books and crayon packets. Ribbons, brochures and bumper stickers were also distributed. The event raised $550 for MADD West Virginia.

State Operations Council

MADD seeks volunteers to serve on our State Operations Council. The Council serves as an advisory group to the state office to provide guidance and advice on program development, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, budgeting, victim services, legislative policy, and other MADD matters here in West Virginia. Meetings are held quarterly in Charleston, but may be held more frequently as necessary. We are seeking 5 new members with a desire to help MADD grow in West Virginia. For more information, contact Donna Hawkins at donna.hawkins@madd.org or call 304-776-0222 or 800-776-0635.

November 2008

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) West Virginia kicked off the 2008 "Tie One On For Safety" red ribbon campaign with West Virginia's First Lady Gayle C. Manchin on Monday, November 17, 2008 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the West Virginia Governor's Mansion.

"Tie One On For Safety" annual observance takes place during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.

Individuals across West Virginia are encouraged to tie red ribbons or place a decal on a visible location on their motor vehicle or on the outside of their home to show support for law enforcement efforts and to remind everyone to drive sober this holiday season.

During the kickoff event a Gubernatorial proclamation was presented to recognize the "Tie One On For Safety" campaign.

Wal-Mart presented MADD-WV with $1,000 to support the red ribbon campaign this holiday season.

MADD-WV is proud to join with the Governor's Highway Safety Program, the West Virginia Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention, law enforcement and other agencies to focus attention on drunk driving prevention during this holiday season.

September 2008

MADD-West Virginia received the Public Policy Achievement Award from MADD's national organization for successfully supporting a new DUI law that provides stiffer criminal penalties and mandatory ignition interlocks for offenders.