The Citizen, 1991-01-23, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1991.
Madill students fight impaired driving through OSAID
Acting out a play called “First Date Scene”, some members of F. E. Madill’s chapter of Ontario
Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) show the III effects of over-indulging. Seated are:
President Sandy Bennett as Jane and Spokesperson Andrew Mann as Dick. From left are: Patty
Bennett as Jane’s thoughts, Patty Knight as the waitress and Jennifer Procter as Dick’s thoughts.
BY BONNIE GROPP
Watching the vital, enthusiastic
young people involved in the newly
organized chapter of Ontario Stu
dents Against Impaired Driving
(OSAID) at F. E. Madill, one
believes they will achieve any goal
they set out to accomplish.
Formed last October, OSAID
students strive to increase the
public and the student body’s
awareness to the problem of drink
ing and driving. It is their hope that
through education they can dis
courage those who do to stop, and
keep those who don’t from starting.
Chapter President Sandy Ben
nett of RR 1, Gorrie, sees the entire
student body of F. E. Madill as the
program’s focus. “We hope to be
able to graduate future classes with
no deaths due to impaired driv
ing,” she said. “We also hope to
graduate each class as healthy as it
entered high school with no injuries
or criminal records due to drinking
and driving.”
Sandy explains that when the
chapter began there was some
controversy surrounding the tim
ing. “Many felt that it was because
of the students we lost in an
accident this past summer, that we
decided to start OSAID. That was
not the reason, however,” she
declared emphatically.
Madill English teacher, Shirley
Smith, now student advisor to
OSAID, discovered many students
in her Grade 12 class had based
their essays on drinking and death.
She thought this was difficult to
ignore; that there was a message
being sent here, a subtle cry for
help. Through school announce
ments and word of mouth, interest
was stimulated in the OSAID
program, interest that exceeded
expectations. “It was overwhelm
ing,” Sandy said. “We had 30-35
members come out for the first
several meetings.”
“Considering we had only expec
ted a dozen or so, it was really
great,” agreed OSAID member
Patty Knight of Brussels. “Regular
attendance has decreased now, but
everyone is still here to help when
they can. There’s never been a lack
of member participation.”
“We understand that the stu
dents are busy - everyone has
different priorities and needs - but
when push comes to shove they
always are there to lend support
and offer help,” added Sandy.
One can’t help noticing when
attending an OSAID meeting that
there is a significant imbalance in
the ratio of male and female
members. OSAID spokesperson
Andrew Mann of Wingham said,
however, that while the males may
not be visible at meetings, there
are a larger number who support
the group in other ways. “It’s
uncool for a guy to show up at
a meeting like this,” he said,
‘Arrive Alive’
Members of F. E. Madill’s Ontario Students Against Impaired Drivers (OSAID) prepared a float
for entry in several area Santa Claus Parades in an effort to get their message across.
adding they are more interested in
sports and other similar extra
curricular activities. “Just because
you see more girls than guys at a
meeting, doesn’t mean they don't
participate in the program. We
have their support, it’s just not as
visible.”
Sandy added that if the group
can’t get the word to all the males
in the school, concentrating their
efforts on the girls should still be
effective. “The girls are learning
that if their date is drinking, then
there’s no way they are going to let
him drive. If they can’t stop him,
they can at least help themselves
and stay out of the passenger side.
Of 287 impaired drivers involved
in fatal crashes, 259 (90 per cent of
them were male. When grouped by
age, the 16-24 year olds accounted
for the second largest percentage
(31 per cent). Statistics reported by
OSAID claim that while the major
ity of male teens killed as a result of
drinking and driving were behind
the wheel, the majority of girls
were in the passenger side.
Along with educating the Madill
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students, OSAID members are
using various promotional activities
to get the word into the cpmmuni-
ties fis well. For a “buck-a-smash”
you can Wreck-a-Wreck at Winter
Carnival on February 15, and
thanks to the generosity and sup
port of a local businessman Teen
Night Club will be held on January
25, complete with dry bar at the
•Golden Pheasant.
There are also plans to go into
the area elementary schools to
begin education before the problem
arises. “We want to get theyoung
ones interested so when they come
into Grade 9, they want to be a part
of OSAID,” said Sandy. “While we
have a few of the Grade 9 students
helping us with projects we don’t
have any members. They don’t
drive, so I think they don’t feel it
affects them.”
During their visits to the schools,
the OSAID members will show
videos, answer questions, and per
form a script depicting the wrongs
of impaired driving.
OSAID prepared a float for entry
in many area Santa Claus parades.
It depicted a demolished car sur
rounded by empty beer bottles and
cases and bore the organization’s
message “Arrive Alive”. The car
used was donated by Mark’s Auto
Body and was not the result of an
impaired driver accident.
It’s a graphic display, but one
students feel is necessary to get the
point across. “Sometimes you have
to hit people over the head before
they listen, was the sentiment
Sandy expressed, a sentiment shar
ed by Ms. Smith, who has support
ed that intent.
Positive comments from the pub
lic and students have been gratify
ing to the young people. Principal
Herb Murphy, in a letter to OSAID
• members expressed his pleasure at
the formation of the chapter and
offered the strong support of
Madill’s administration. He said he
looked forward to working with the
students in this area and would
welcome their input into the de
velopment of policies and proce
dures dealing with alcohol and
drug awareness. Police depart
ments also indicated their ap
proval.
Community support has been
fantastic, said Sandy, “It’s a cause
for people to really get behind. It
touches everyone, whether through
families or people they know.”
Summing up, Andrew pointed
out that the incidence of impaired
driving in teens has dropped over
the last two or three years. “Huron
County used to be one of the worst
in Ontario for impaired driving, but
that is changing. It’s not something
we want to be number one in.
Actually, we’re shooting for last
place.”
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NOTICE TO RATEPAYERS
TOWNSHIP OF HULLETT
RESCHEDULING OF
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The meeting set for Tuesday,
January 22, 1991 has been
rescheduled for Tuesday, Janu
ary 29, 1991.
The first regular meeting for
February will not be held the
first Tuesday due to other
commitments of council.
Clerk-Treasurer
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