Mid-Atlantic Regional Newsletter December 2021

Executive Director Spotlight

As mentioned in the November newsletter, the Mid-Atlantic Region is currently recruiting Advisory Board volunteers. You can click here for more information about this opportunity.

If you are interested, please contact Roderick before 12/31/2021 at roderick.howard@madd.org and include a resume and/or letter of interest.

MADD welcomes new Public Relations Specialist

Rae Carkhuff (they/them/theirs) is returning to the world of nonprofit after a short stint in K-12 public education communications. They are incredibly jazzed to be joining MADD as the Public Relations Specialist for the Mid-Atlantic Regional team! When they’re not on the go, they can be found at home with a good book or movie, and their black cat, Blanche, in their lap.

Virginia Tie One On For Safety Kick Off

On December 2nd, we kicked off Tie One On For Safety season in Virginia. Thank you to our guest speakers: Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran, Virginia State Police Colonel Gary Settle, Henrico Police Chief Eric English, volunteer Carter Hill, and our Mistress of Ceremonies, volunteer Lisa Black.

Carter Hill was presented with a plaque commemorating 25 years of service to MADD in Virginia. He is shown here with our 3 honored speakers at the event, Chief English, Colonel Settle and Secretary Moran.

Thank you also to the members of local law enforcement and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for attending this event in support. And thank you to our National sponsor, Waymo and our local sponsors, Ron and Jeanine Kody of Richmond Ford West. More pictures and a live stream of this event can be found on the MADD VA Facebook page.

New Traditions for the New Year

Alisa O’Neill

With the 2021 coming to an end, it’s a perfect time to start new goals, new mindsets, new traditions new everything! Maybe 2022 can be the year of new ways to honor your loved one, maybe 2022 is a perfect opportunity to incorporate self-care more this year, or it’s the year to leave things that no longer serve you in the past. Change might sound overwhelming because it can be scary- which is completely understandable because not a lot of people like change. Change is uncomfortable and it can leave a lot of uncertainty. Maybe start off with small changes that you feel comfortable doing so it’s not overwhelming all at once. Or if you don’t foresee any changes being made just yet, this article is here for reference when you are ready! Have listed some idea that we can all try for the New Year if you tried one or two and it didn’t work well- that’s okay! These are just ideas, but the important thing is that you try to find what works for you. Read more here.

“Victim Services Year-in-Review”

Robin Stimson, LMSW

As 2021 comes to a close, MADD Mid-Atlantic Victim Services is proud of and grateful for the tremendous work of our staff, volunteers and community partners that made this year such a success. We are ending the year on such a high-note which includes several HUGELY successful local walks; prevention efforts like Saturation Saturday; our first-time statewide Law Enforcement Recognition event in Maryland; multiple ‘Tie One On For Safety’ campaigns in Charles and Frederick Counties, Richmond, VA and throughout Delaware; and meetings with important stakeholders all over the region. But we thought it was vital to take a moment to re-visit the incredible achievements of our Victim Services team and program. After all, it’s important to understand where you’ve been, in order to prepare for where you want to go.
Continue reading here.

Volunteer Spotlight

Maryland Volunteer Spotlight: Jan Withers

Our daughter, Alisa Joy, was a very kind person, as well as funny, talented, and a bit ethereal. Friends still tell me stories of her kindness that touched them deeply. She loved to dance - in fact, I felt like she was dancing in utero, she kicked so much. She became a beautiful ballerina, and, truly, it was her life. When she was 15 years old, she was spending the night with her best friend and another girl during spring vacation of their sophomore year in high school. It was April 15, 1992. Two senior boys invited them to the go-cart track and her friend's parents allowed it. However, the boys had other plans. They retrieved 2 cases of beer they had hidden and proceeded to a local pond where the boys drank all the beer. Read more here on the Maryland Blog.

Virginia Volunteer Spotlight: Mike Goodove

Mike Goodove, a partner with the Norfolk Law Firm Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz and Goodove, has been a MADD volunteer in the Tidewater area of Virginia for 29 years. Motivated by the death of his younger brother Jeffrey, in an alcohol related crash in 1990, he started the MADD Southside chapter in the Hampton Roads area in 1992 and has remained active to the present time. Professionally, he has dedicated his life to assisting victims, especially victims of impaired drivers. Read more here on the Virginia blog.

MADD Around Virginia

Volunteers George Seal, Susan Vandenburgh and Brian Fitzgerald shared their stories with law enforcement at a Henrico County Sobriety Checkpoint on 12/2.

Volunteer Carter Hill presented Hanover Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Payne with a MADD Award for the most DUI arrests for the agency.

Volunteer Tammy Duffy spoke at Norfolk Naval Base.

Volunteer Vanessa Haislip and Tie One On For Safety sponsor Jeanine Kody of Richmond Ford on WTVR Ch.6. Watch the segment here.

Recent Impaired Driving Stories in the News

12/5/21 Estefania Yesenia Cabrera, 29, Reston

12/7/21 Quentin Norman, 19, York County

11/18/21 Davis Boxley, 64, Rockbridge

11/18/21 Tierra Hubbard, 28, Appomattox

11/6/21 Dennis Davidson, 54, Prince William

11/6/21 Clayton Cummings, 30, Clarke County

11/1/21 Milton Higgins, 31, Rockbridge

10/28/21 Autumn Kidd, 28, Campbell County

Have you or a loved one been impacted in an impaired driving crash? Or are you a concerned citizen or parent who wants to make a difference in your community? The next volunteer orientation is Jan. 18, 2022 at 10 am via Zoom. Contact cristi.cousins@madd.org for registration or to schedule a more convenient time to attend an orientation.

Calendar of events:

Resilient Roundtable: Loss of a Child, Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 6 pm (EST)
Featuring MADD Victims and Volunteers Vickie Brown, Patricia Arnold and Jan Withers
This panel is open to grievers of all types
For your free tickets and to register, please use this Eventbrite Link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/madd-mid-atlantic-resilient-roundtable-topic-loss-of-a-child-registration-196718108157

Save the Date! MADD Mid-Atlantic and The Living Legacy Foundation (LLF), Thursday, February 2, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (EST)
Topic: Building Support Systems After a Loss
Open to Anyone in Need of Grief Support (age 15+)
Description: Having a solid support system is valuable in life, especially for those experiencing grief, which can often feel isolating and create strains on existing relationships. This free virtual workshop will discuss ways to utilize existing support systems and how to build new ones to meet specific needs. We will also explore some of the unique ways people mourn and grow, evolve, and change through the experience. Details and registration information to come.

MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group, Tuesday, February 8th, 6:00 pm EST
https://madd.zoom.us/j/91097099232?pwd=MFltL1BKZU50MnNQQ01YZzJQUTQxQT09
Meeting ID: 910 9709 9232
Password: 397693
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,91097099232# US (Germantown)

Did You know that there is a victim support library available on MADD’s website? You can print copies of any of our excellent victim support publications in English or Spanish. #NoMoreVictims