MADD Applauds Athletic Director, Tom Osborne, For His Stand on “Fan Can”

Nebraska Says No Can Do!

On behalf of our members and MADD, I want to extend a note of gratitude to our Athletic Director Tom Osborne for asking not to have certain adult beverage cans in our college colors. 

Osborne said in a statement issued Wednesday that the university’s athletic department backed the position of the NCAA Board of Directors, which looked unfavorably on the promotion.

“If cans of beer incorporating University of Nebraska colors are marketed, we hope that people will realize that this is being done independent of athletic department approval,” Osborne said. “We have taken a strong position against alcohol in Memorial Stadium and encourage our student-athletes to abstain from alcohol use.” http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2009/08/27/sports/doc4a96b1416e2ab442922473.txt

Memorial Stadium, Lincoln NE

With Labor Day around the bend, kids in school, state fair kicking off and our first home football game but a week away.  MADD expresses

 sincere gratitude for taking the high road against underage drinking and ensuring that our citizens know Memorial Stadium is a safe place for fans and families.

Simera Reynolds, M.Ed.

State Executive Director

www.maddnebraska.org

Fashion Victim Fashion Show Produced By University of Nebraska – Omaha Student Will Benefit MADD Nebraska

 

Amy Wieczorek, UNO Student, displays her talents & passion supporting MADD’s mission after the death of her close friend due to an alcohol-related crash 

WHAT:           On Saturday, August 29^th, Amy Wieczorek will host Fashion Victim, a fashion show to raise funds for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) promoting  community education and support for victims impacted by this 100% preventable crime. The event is presented by the UNO chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, a health education honor organization.

                        The Fashion Victim Fashion Show begins at 7 p.m. in the College of Public  Affairs and Community Service Building’s Collaborating   Commons at UNO.

                        Wieczorek has an operational website:  http://www.unomaha.edu/esg/fashionvictim.html

Who:              First Lady, Sally Ganem and MADD National Board Member

                           Matt Davison, former Nebraska Cornhusker Football Player

                           Dean Reed, College of Public Affairs and Community Service

                           Dr. David Corbin, UNO

                           Dana McCown, State Chair, MADD Nebraska

                           Trooper Chuck Elley, Nebraska State Patrol

Fashion Victim Fashion Show

    Justin Reese, UNO Student

    Farrah Abraham, model     

Hohnbaum Family, victim/survivor

                Milana Family, victim/survivor

                       

WHEN:          Saturday, August 29^th                            at 7:00 p.m.

                        CPACS Building, Collaborating Commons, UNO

                        Omaha, Nebraska

 

WHY:              In Nebraska, more than 12,000 arrests for DWI were made in 2008.  Wieczorek and  MADD want to encourage everyone to remember this Labor Day to drive safe, designate a sober driver and if you are under 21 it is illegal to consume alcohol. MADD wants  everyone to get to their destination safely this Labor Day Week.

                        Event sponsors include: Bag N Save, Hy-Vee, No Frills, Rightway, Inc., Nebraska Grocery  Industry Association & UNO Athletic Department

DUI Arrests Up and Yes That Means Women TOO

Women are being arrested at a higher rate for drunk driving should not come as a BIG surprise.  More women are working; more women have a disposable income, and more women own cars.  It is a disturbing trend.  There is little doubt that women have more opportunities to transport children and that in point is where the real concern should focus: Every child deserves a safe & sober ride home.

 The Omaha World Herald called and spoke with me yesterday regarding this issue.  My response: Drunk Driving does not discriminate. http://www.omaha.com/article/20090819/NEWS01/708209932

In Nebraska, in 2008 we had more than 8,800 men arrested for DWI and more than 2,200 women arrested for DWI (NOHS).  It appears, from the math, that there still is a disproportionate amount of males driving while intoxicated.  Just think if there were only 2,200 males arrested for drunk driving we could close the ranks on impaired driving dramatically.

Over The Limit Under Arrest

 There is only blame to be placed on the one who makes the choice to drive a 2,000 pound bullet after consuming alcohol.  Drinking and driving is a public health epidemic.  Here in our state one person dies every five days due to an alcohol-related crash. Every 5 days! 

This Labor Day Weekend make sure you have plans to get home by designating a sober driver, make sure your children are not riding with a drinking driver and know enforcement is out. http://www.maddnebraska.org/

Simera Reynolds, M.Ed.

State Executive Director

Checkpoints do make a difference – People support enforcement

 

 

DRINKING AND DRIVING IN AMERICA

A 2005 MADD and Nationwide Insurance Survey Conducted by Gallup

 Drinking and Driving: Americans’ Greatest Highway Safety Concern

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• Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs was listed as the greatest highway safety problem by the largest percentage of respondents (37 percent)—up from 29 percent in 2000– followed by speeding (27 percent) and cell phones (19 percent).
• Most respondents (94 percent) cite driving under the influence of alcohol as a major highway safety problem, followed by driving under the influence of illegal drugs (87 percent) and aggressive drivers (83 percent).

 Most Americans Support Sobriety Checkpoints

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• Eighty-seven percent say they support the use of sobriety checkpoints to check for drunk divers.
• Support for sobriety checkpoints has increased from 79 percent in 1993 to 83 percent in 2000 to 87 percent in 2005.
• Eighty percent say they would be discouraged from drinking and driving by sobriety checkpoints, up from 76 percent in 2000.

 Top 10 Factors to Discourage Drunk Driving

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• Realizing they could kill or injure others                                96 percent
• Realizing they could kill or injure themselves                      91 percent
• Jail sentence                                                                                         91 percent
• Possibility of losing their license                                                   89 percent
• Paying substantial fines                                                                      85 percent
• Having car impounded                                                                       85 percent
• Installing an ignition interlock in vehicle if caught                81 percent
• Fear of losing their job                                                                        80 percent
• Sobriety checkpoints                                                                           80 percent
• Increased auto insurance rates                                                       80 percent

 _______________________________________________________

Simera Reynolds, M.Ed.

MADD Nebraska

Drunk Driving Victims Don’t Get A Second Chance.

Nebraska Man Gets Probation for 3rd DUI Conviction

York, Nebraska Posted: 11:31 AM Aug 5, 2009 Last Updated: 11:31 AM Aug 5, 2009 Reporter: Associated Press Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com Mr. Anderson must have used his.

A 22-year-old York man has been sentenced to five years’ probation and given credit for time served for his third drunken-driving conviction. David Anderson was arrested in September last year after a hit-and-run accident in York. His blood-alcohol level tested out at 0.299 percent, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Anderson was charged with a Class 3A felony, which carries a maximum sentence of five years, and three lesser charges. In a deal with prosecutors, the other three charges were dropped, and Anderson pleaded no contest to DUI. Judge Alan Gless of York County District Court told Anderson Tuesday that this was his last chance, that the “next step is prison time.”

_________________________________________________________________________________

 Susan White/ Victim Survivor/MADD Member

Bob & Susan White

I am sorry that this young man has yet to prove his addiction to alcohol to the judicial system. It is certain that he will cause damage to himself and those on the roads once more. Leniency should not be acceptable to drivers who repeatedly are stopped for drunken driving. A no tolerance position should be in place for all drunk drivers to be removed from the roads. Someone is unsuspecting at this time, but will meet a very unfortunate meeting with this driver days, months, years from now. How sad that a life will be taken, a permanent injury, or his own life will end, resulting from his fourth offence. I am saddened by this decision.

MADD National Board Members Announced – Nebraskan on the Board

MADD Adds Stellar New Leaders to its National Board of Directors

MADD  8/3/2009

Contact Information

Misty Moyse, 469-420-4558

DALLAS (August 3, 2009) – With MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving well underway with 11 states that have ignition interlock laws for all drunk drivers, it is only fitting that the organization would name three new members to its National Board of Directors who will help further these lifesaving efforts, as well as prevent future victims/survivors through underage drinking prevention initiatives.     “We extremely grateful that these talented individuals will contribute their professional expertise to the strategic plans we have to eliminate drunk driving and to reach parents with underage drinking tools,” said Chris Johnson, MADD’s new Board Chairman from Texas.   Johnson first became involved with MADD in 1995 after a drunk driving crash that killed both of his parents and injured his uncle. He has been on the MADD Board of Directors since 2003 and assumed his new role as Chairman on July 1.   

National Board Member, Sally Ganem

The following is what each new MADD Board of Director highlighted as some of the most important contributions they will make:

Sally Ganem, Nebraska’s First Lady, said, “As a First Spouse, I have become active in spouse’s initiative of addressing underage drinking, and in the spouse’s association. I have also led an effort of educating our citizens by bringing in the U.S. Surgeon General and developing a documentary on underage drinking.”   Nicole Nason, former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator from Virginia, said, “I will always be proud of serving as NHTSA Administrator but especially proud of efforts to reduce drunk driving injuries and fatalities through a change in the media campaign Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. and by holding the first ever government sponsored interlock conference.”   Associate Vice President of Safety for Nationwide in Ohio, Bill Windsor, Jr., said, “I am proud that I have been involved with the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving from its inception. Nationwide sponsored the MADD Technology Symposium and was involved in the creation of a concept that will help eliminate drunk driving in my lifetime.”   MADD launched its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving in 2006 and it entails advocating for more law enforcement, interlocks for all drunk drivers, development of advanced technologies and grassroots support. MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.  MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with approximately 200 offices and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives. For more information, visit www.madd.org.