Posted on
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
MADD Campaign Helps Raise Awareness
By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer
Community leaders and volunteers gathered in Tyler to celebrate MADD's third annual "Tie One on for Safety" campaign in East Texas on Thursday, created to raise awareness and recognize those who combat the problem of drunken driving.
Nearly 13,000 people are killed, and half a million are injured each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes, according to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Texas ranks first in the nation in deaths related to alcohol vehicle crashes, the East Texas region places third in the state and Smith County is No. 1 in the region, latest MADD statistics showed.
"It is a reminder to all of us to keep our roads safe from drunken driving," said Master of Ceremonies Nelson Clyde IV, publisher of the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
Vicki Knox, executive director of MADD East Texas, said MADD, law enforcement and Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area G (RAC) are three partnerships trying to save lives in East Texas.
She said MADD helps victims of drunken drivers become survivors, and the organization is putting more effort toward preventing drinking and driving.
More than 100 people attended the event, by a Morning Telegraph estimate.
Keynote speaker and Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber shared two personal experiences in his life of drinking and driving, and said "through our experiences, we are motivated to do good things."
"We all make mistakes and we all learn from them," he said of a conversation about drinking and driving he was forced to have with his children. He thanked MADD for what it does in the community.
Keynote speaker Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, talked of statistics concerning underage drinking and the need to prevent it.
He said East Texas has served more than 800 victims of drunken drivers and the "Tie One On" event reminds people to buckle up, drive safely and drive sober.
He said it was incredible that UT Tyler and Texas College were two of the first 15 universities in the nation to implement a UMADD chapter to create awareness on college campuses.
"That is essential for us in order to solve this problem," he said.
The Tyler universities were presented with special recognition at the event.
Dr. Howard Patterson, interim vice president for student affairs and external relations for UT Tyler, accepted the award. He said he was proud of the role his students were playing in the organization.
Texas College President Dr. Bill Hawkins, who also received the award, thanked his students, staff and faculty, as well as MADD. He said that 29 years ago, his youngest brother died at the age of 21 in a drunken driving accident.
"I understand what drunken driving can do," he said. "It can be very tragic to a family."
On Wednesday, the Texas College and UT Tyler UMADD chapters sponsored "UMADD JAM (Jab Alcohol Misuse)" at UT Tyler to raise awareness on the dangers of alcohol.
Charles A. Hurley, keynote speaker at the "Tie One On" event, and chief executive officer of the MADD National Office, said he considered Tyler to be a national model for the organization.
He said MADD was proud to have served 46,000 victim families in the United States last year. MADD receives a lot of credit for reducing drunken driving, but law enforcement and emergency medical personnel are the "everyday heroes," he said.
Hurley said he saw underage drinking as an adult problem, because adults supply the alcohol and teach teenagers to drink, and MADD wants it to be an adult initiative.
He said he believed 4,000 lives could be saved across the country every year if interlock devices, which detect alcohol consumption, were placed in the vehicles of every person convicted of a drunken driving offense. He also talked of the future, when he hoped every car would have alcohol detectors and would become inoperable to drivers who had been drinking.
Law enforcement and the Smith County District Attorney's Office were also presented with awards for their dedicated service to keep the community safe from drunk drivers.
Accepting the awards for the agencies were Assistant Tyler Police Chief Paula Riggle, Smith County Sheriff Lt. Craig Shelton, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Tim Smith and Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Sheryl Coffey, executive director of the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council-Trauma Service Area G, received the "Difference Maker" award.
She said she accepted the award on behalf of everyone in the council and thanked MADD.
Ms. Coffey has been a driving force in developing a collaborative partnership with MADD East Texas to prevent injures and deaths due to drunken driving.
Two MADD volunteers whose lives have been affected by drunken drivers were honored with the "Difference Maker" awards, but could not be present at the event.
After Lana Kaye Taylor, one of the recipients, lost a daughter to a drunken driver in 1990, she turned to MADD for help. Now, she is an impact panel speaker who shares her experiences with groups in several East Texas counties.
Cindy Grimes, another recipient, was critically injured in a 1970 car accident involving a drunken driver. Her husband and brother were also injured and her 5-day-old daughter and her mother were killed. She is also an impact panel speaker.
Award presenters included Cathey Wise, MADD national vice president of programs; Chris Johnson, MADD national board of directors vice chair; and Lisa Spooner, member of MADD East Texas Regional Operations Council and CBS 19 News anchor.
In closing the event, Clyde reminded the audience that "if we put others before ourselves, then we're going to be responsible citizens."
"Tie One On" was presented by Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area G. Other sponsors are The Rogers Foundation, Chick-fil-A, CBS 19, Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Southside Bank, Dobbs & Tittle, Good Shepherd Health System, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, The University of Texas at Tyler, Hibbs Family Foundation, AAA Security Driving Academy, Austin Bank, Insurance One Agency and ComputerLand.
Staff Writer
Community leaders and volunteers gathered in Tyler to celebrate MADD's third annual "Tie One on for Safety" campaign in East Texas on Thursday, created to raise awareness and recognize those who combat the problem of drunken driving.
Nearly 13,000 people are killed, and half a million are injured each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes, according to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Texas ranks first in the nation in deaths related to alcohol vehicle crashes, the East Texas region places third in the state and Smith County is No. 1 in the region, latest MADD statistics showed.
"It is a reminder to all of us to keep our roads safe from drunken driving," said Master of Ceremonies Nelson Clyde IV, publisher of the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
Vicki Knox, executive director of MADD East Texas, said MADD, law enforcement and Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area G (RAC) are three partnerships trying to save lives in East Texas.
She said MADD helps victims of drunken drivers become survivors, and the organization is putting more effort toward preventing drinking and driving.
More than 100 people attended the event, by a Morning Telegraph estimate.
Keynote speaker and Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber shared two personal experiences in his life of drinking and driving, and said "through our experiences, we are motivated to do good things."
"We all make mistakes and we all learn from them," he said of a conversation about drinking and driving he was forced to have with his children. He thanked MADD for what it does in the community.
Keynote speaker Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, talked of statistics concerning underage drinking and the need to prevent it.
He said East Texas has served more than 800 victims of drunken drivers and the "Tie One On" event reminds people to buckle up, drive safely and drive sober.
He said it was incredible that UT Tyler and Texas College were two of the first 15 universities in the nation to implement a UMADD chapter to create awareness on college campuses.
"That is essential for us in order to solve this problem," he said.
The Tyler universities were presented with special recognition at the event.
Dr. Howard Patterson, interim vice president for student affairs and external relations for UT Tyler, accepted the award. He said he was proud of the role his students were playing in the organization.
Texas College President Dr. Bill Hawkins, who also received the award, thanked his students, staff and faculty, as well as MADD. He said that 29 years ago, his youngest brother died at the age of 21 in a drunken driving accident.
"I understand what drunken driving can do," he said. "It can be very tragic to a family."
On Wednesday, the Texas College and UT Tyler UMADD chapters sponsored "UMADD JAM (Jab Alcohol Misuse)" at UT Tyler to raise awareness on the dangers of alcohol.
Charles A. Hurley, keynote speaker at the "Tie One On" event, and chief executive officer of the MADD National Office, said he considered Tyler to be a national model for the organization.
He said MADD was proud to have served 46,000 victim families in the United States last year. MADD receives a lot of credit for reducing drunken driving, but law enforcement and emergency medical personnel are the "everyday heroes," he said.
Hurley said he saw underage drinking as an adult problem, because adults supply the alcohol and teach teenagers to drink, and MADD wants it to be an adult initiative.
He said he believed 4,000 lives could be saved across the country every year if interlock devices, which detect alcohol consumption, were placed in the vehicles of every person convicted of a drunken driving offense. He also talked of the future, when he hoped every car would have alcohol detectors and would become inoperable to drivers who had been drinking.
Law enforcement and the Smith County District Attorney's Office were also presented with awards for their dedicated service to keep the community safe from drunk drivers.
Accepting the awards for the agencies were Assistant Tyler Police Chief Paula Riggle, Smith County Sheriff Lt. Craig Shelton, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Tim Smith and Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Sheryl Coffey, executive director of the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council-Trauma Service Area G, received the "Difference Maker" award.
She said she accepted the award on behalf of everyone in the council and thanked MADD.
Ms. Coffey has been a driving force in developing a collaborative partnership with MADD East Texas to prevent injures and deaths due to drunken driving.
Two MADD volunteers whose lives have been affected by drunken drivers were honored with the "Difference Maker" awards, but could not be present at the event.
After Lana Kaye Taylor, one of the recipients, lost a daughter to a drunken driver in 1990, she turned to MADD for help. Now, she is an impact panel speaker who shares her experiences with groups in several East Texas counties.
Cindy Grimes, another recipient, was critically injured in a 1970 car accident involving a drunken driver. Her husband and brother were also injured and her 5-day-old daughter and her mother were killed. She is also an impact panel speaker.
Award presenters included Cathey Wise, MADD national vice president of programs; Chris Johnson, MADD national board of directors vice chair; and Lisa Spooner, member of MADD East Texas Regional Operations Council and CBS 19 News anchor.
In closing the event, Clyde reminded the audience that "if we put others before ourselves, then we're going to be responsible citizens."
"Tie One On" was presented by Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area G. Other sponsors are The Rogers Foundation, Chick-fil-A, CBS 19, Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Southside Bank, Dobbs & Tittle, Good Shepherd Health System, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, The University of Texas at Tyler, Hibbs Family Foundation, AAA Security Driving Academy, Austin Bank, Insurance One Agency and ComputerLand.
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