May 2021 e-newsletter

Over the Memorial Day holiday period in 2020, even during the pandemic, the Virginia State Police reported there were 8 fatalities and 70 arrests for DUI. MADD VA urges everyone to designate a non-drinking driver if their Memorial Day weekend plans include alcohol.

 

Plan to be on the water? Did you know that people are just as impaired at a .03 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on the water as a .08 BAC on land?  That’s due to environmental factors such as the motion of the water, the weather, the sun, the cold water and other factors that increase impairment.

 

“Prior to 1980, people drove with a beer in their cupholder. Today, you would never watch someone get in a car with alcohol in their hand and drive away,” said MADD National President Alex Otte, who was severely injured when she was struck by a drunk boater at age 13. “But that happens every single day on our nation’s waterways. This is a culture shift that has yet to happen, but it must if we’re going to save more lives.”

Read more here: US Coast Guard- BUI, www.nasbla.org, and VA Dept of Wildlife Resources.

MADD MidAtlantic Calendar

 

6/8/21 6:00p Monthly Support Group – For Victims of Impaired Driving Only
Held on 2nd Tuesdays of the month, 6-7pm (ET). For more information and to register for the monthly support group, please contact robin.stimson@madd.org.

 

6/11/21 12-1pm - Mini Volunteer Orientation via Zoom – Thinking about volunteering or just want to learn more about MADD? Join us! To register email cristi.cousins@madd.org

 

6/16/21 6-7pm - Mini Volunteer Orientation via Zoom – Thinking about volunteering or just want to learn more about MADD? Join us! To register email cristi.cousins@madd.org

 

6/19/21 Monthly Injured Survivor Support Group 6:30p – For Injured Victims of Impaired Driving Only
Held on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 pm (ET). For more information and to register for the Injured Survivor Support Groups, please click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/madd-injured-survivors-virtual-monthly-support-group-easterncentral-tickets-150303432613

 

6/23/21 6-7pm - MADD Power of Parents Workshop - To register email cristi.cousins@madd.org

6/25/21 12-1pm – MADD Power of Youth Workshop - To register email cristi.cousins@madd.org

7/29/21 Grief Education Workshops  6:30p (ET)
Description – MADD Mid-Atlantic, along with The Living Legacy Foundation (LLF) are co-facilitating several virtual grief workshops throughout 2021. If you are a griever that feels a lack of support from your friends, family, and/or community, we hope these workshops can provide a safe and supportive environment to learn about the unique nature of grief and connect with others in a similar situation. Save the date and check out www.thellf.org/workshops for more information and to register for sessions (closer to the date):
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 6:30 pm – Grief 101
Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 6:30 pm – Traumatic Loss
Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 6:30 pm – Returning to Normal
Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 6:30 pm – Grief Within the Family

8/28/21 Virginia Walk Like MADD – Dorey Park, Henrico and VIRTUALLY Around VA   

Want to volunteer or be a sponsor?

Contact: va.state@madd.org

 

9/18/21 Maryland Walk Like MADD –  Ballenger Creek Park, Frederick, MD.

Want to volunteer, walk, or be a sponsor?

Contact: Bryna.ClarkBraverman@madd.org

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

4/23/21 Ann Seaton, 49, Waynesboro

5/1/21 Ralph Plasse, 54 and Stacy Plasse, 44, Orange

5/2/21 Sateya Baker, 19 and Jendaya Hunter, 25, Norfolk

5/8/21 Jarrett Hand, 48 and Christopher Fugitt, 29, Carroll County

5/8/21 Joseph Adorno, IV, 21, Virginia Beach

5/16/21 Marcus Jeffries, 43, Chesapeake

Driver Sentenced to 6 years for DUI Crash

National Story- Impaired Driver on the Run after Killing WVU Student

MADD Around VA

Shown: Susan Cleveland, MADD Loudoun volunteer and Walk coordinator, Roderick Howard, MADD Mid-Atlantic Regional Executive Director, Alina Baymetova, MADD Loudoun volunteer, and Jennifer Hamilton, MADD VA Program Coordinator

Walk Like MADD- Loudoun was held at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg on May 22nd and raised over $23,000! Congratulations and THANK YOU to: Susan and Roy Cleveland and their MADD Loudoun volunteer team,

all virtual and in-person walkers, to all of the sponsors, and to all of the online auction item donors and bidders who make this Walk a success that exceeds its goal EVERY YEAR!

 

Newsletter News!

Things will look a little different next month with the inaugural issue of the MADD MidAtlantic Newsletter! We will expand the information we share to include the entire MADD Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Delaware and DC in addition to Virginia.  We welcome your suggestions and feedback! Contact jennifer.hamilton@madd.org.