MADD ADJUSTS TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

This past October, the national MADD organization eliminated Executive Directors Lois Harvick’s position in Eugene and closed the office. The Eugene MADD office was the last to be shuttered in the Pacific Northwest region. “We are not ready to give up, nor go away, but are going back to grass-roots all volunteer effort,” stated Barbara Stoeffler, founder of the local organization.

Across the United States, the downturn in the economy has adversely affected donations from sponsors, businesses and individuals. On a national scale, MADD has made sweeping cuts, eliminating the Portland and Seattle offices and 55 of 397 paid employees nationwide, or about 14 percent of its work force.

The elimination of the local MADD office, Harvick said, should be seen as a “call to action” for the community. Twenty-seven years ago, volunteers launched MADD of Lane County as a grass-roots organization, raising awareness via prevention education, county campaigns and projects, plus strengthening DUII laws. Through the years, it has grown in size, finally overseeing the south half of Oregon, coast to border.

Even though we are back to an all-volunteer organization, MADD Eugene is going roll up our sleeves and get to work. Meetings will be called to set goals and strategize our future –check our website calendar for time and place. Our priority is to serve victims, encourage DUII campaigns, and discourage underage drinking.

Our Goal – to maintain MADD programs and to open a local MADD office in 2010 and hire office staff. We need your help: We are calling all supporters to volunteer. You can volunteer from home, in a courtroom, as a trained victim advocate, with a victim/survivor – it all depends on your interests and schedule. We’ll be grateful for any amount of volunteering you can devote to MADD.

It is easy to contact us or come to a meeting: e-mail Eugene.pacificnw@madd.org or phone 541-343-8115. A volunteer will get back to you.