Mid-Atlantic Regional Newsletter November 2021

Executive Director Spotlight

As mentioned in previous newsletters, the Mid-Atlantic Region is currently recruiting Advisory Board volunteers. You can click here for more information about this opportunity. If you are interested in becoming a board member please contact me at roderick.howard@madd.org.

Mid-Atlantic Region Tie One On For Safety Kick-off

On November 18th, MADD Maryland kicked off the regions annual Tie One On For Safety Holiday campaign in conjunction with the MADD National office kick-off. MADD Maryland would like to thank our participants and partners: the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, the Maryland State Police, Frederick Barracks, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the City of Frederick, the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office,

the Frederick Police Department, the Mount Airy Police Department, and Brianna Kane, MADD MD Victim Speaker.

The Virginia kick-off will be held on December 2nd in Richmond.

Tie One On For Safety® is MADD’s longest running Designated Driver Campaign.

Now in its 35th year, Tie One On for Safety® originates from the phrase “tie one on,” which is slang for drinking alcohol. `At MADD, we use the phrase to remind everyone that drinking and driving don’t mix. And to always designate a non-drinking driver.

Every holiday season, from November 1 through December 31, MADD asks you to display a MADD ribbon in a visible location to remind everyone to always designate a non-drinking driver. That message is especially important when holiday travel, parties and family gatherings put more people on the roads.

As we head into the holidays, a dangerous times of the year on our roads, and considering recent NHTSA findings that road fatalities spiked in the first 6 months this year, it is more important than ever to remember that you can help us create a nation of No More Victims by always taking personal responsibility for getting yourself and your loved ones home safely.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY®?

You can help by tying one on for safety this holiday season – display a MADD red ribbon, magnet, or decal on your vehicle. Want a red ribbon? Email VA.state@madd.org.

And remember:

Put safety before the party, plan ahead and always designate a non-drinking driver
Never ride with someone who is impaired
Choose to be the non-drinking designated driver
Host parties that include mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages and provide alternate transportation or accommodations for guests who choose to drink

Together, we can put an end to this 100 percent preventable crime and make this holiday season safer for our loved ones on the roadways. #madd #waymo #tieoneonforsafety #nomorevictims

MADD Lauds Monumental Provision in Infrastructure Bill

Calls on Auto Industry to Work Toward Earliest Possible Issuance of New Safety Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A provision included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed into law today is the most significant lifesaving legislation in the 41-year history of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

MADD National President Alex Otte witnessed the historic moment alongside lawmakers who championed a mandate that every new car come equipped with technology that will detect and stop drunk driving. Read more at madd.org. Read more at Bloomberg Government. Central Virginia news story featuring MADD National President Alex Otte and MADD Virginia volunteer Vanessa Haislip here.

First Steps in the First State

On Tuesday November 2nd, the MADD Mid-Atlantic Victim Services team traveled to Dover, Delaware where we met with some awesome folks. We spoke with Lieutenant Meadows and Major Cox of the Delaware State Police to encourage SFST training for DSP cadets early in their career since they play a crucial role in our MADD mission to put an end to drunk driving. We are looking forward to

starting the MADD Law Enforcement Awards initiative in Delaware to honor law enforcement officers nominated by their Chiefs for their impaired driving enforcement and prevention efforts.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Kim Chesser, who is the Director of the Office of Highway Safety (OHS), Richard Klepner, who is the Deputy Director, and Veronica Marshall, the Traffic Safety Outreach Coordinator. With this meeting we got a better understanding of currently established impaired driving prevention programs within the state and how MADD can be a part of OHS’s Drive Sober Arrive Alive DE.

We are one step closer in reaching more Delaware victims and to having our presence known in the first state! We hope that these meetings are the first of many and that they will foster long lasting community partnerships all over the state of Delaware.

Volunteer Highlight

Patty Arnold-Halbleib- Maryland

On December 7, 2017, our lives changed forever. We had been planning our Christmas celebration and festivities knowing that we would be with family and friends enjoying warm smiles, stories of past gatherings and looking forward to a holiday full of love and laughter. That all changed in the blink of an eye. At approximately 2:40 AM, we were awakened by a phone call from a friend of our daughter Taylor. Read more here on the Maryland blog.

Vanessa Haislip - Virginia

Vanessa became a MADD VA volunteer in 2015 after the death of her daughter, Melissa. Melissa, 23, was a proud, recent graduate of the School of Nursing at Longwood College. She was killed on her way home from work when a drug and alcohol impaired driver going 85 mph crossed into her lane on a curve and crashed into her car.

Vanessa has participated in WALK like MADD and spoken as a victim speaker for the media as well as to police recruit classes, in prisons, and anywhere else that invites her. She has also volunteered at Sobriety Checkpoints and Law Enforcement Awards Ceremonies.

Vanessa says what she enjoys most about volunteering for MADD is speaking. She hopes that she can reach even one person and keep them from drinking and driving, so that families won’t go through what hers has.

Announcing the Resilient Roundtable and Other 2022 Updates for Victim Services

Robin Stimson, LMSW

As 2021 comes to a close, MADD Mid-Atlantic Victim Services has some new services and supports for 2022 and wanted to notify you about some of the changes to our current slate of resources and events. We are excited to announce a new schedule of workshops with the Living Legacy (LLF) that will include new topics on Children and Grief, Men and Mourning and Creative Expression in Grief. Read more here on the blog

Calendar of events:

MADD Virtual Injured Survivor Support Group – Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm EST
For tickets and to register for this free support group, please click on this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-coast-madd-injured-survivors-virtual-monthly-support-group-tickets-150322453505

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

Don’t forget to check out the latest videos on the MADD Mid-Atlantic Victim Services YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClrdQai8SXDX8YCwWfn6fUg/videos

Honor your loved one or share your own story by participating in our special holiday MADD National Online Candlelight Vigil, December 9th:

https://www.madd.org/get-involved/light-a-candle?fbclid=IwAR2MUYRnWcmxTuOgmzaW4OBBSMlT5SPuHEFlAoN1WA8UMCIWRDkqOZ1-v6s

Join us on Facebook Live December 9, 2021 at 6:00pm Central Time as MADD will host a National Day of Remembrance in honor of victims and survivors.

The Facebook live event will take place here at that time: https://www.facebook.com/MADD.Official/

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