TO: University of Texas at El Paso, English 1311 Students
FROM: Ameriah L. Sanchez, English 1311 Student
DATE: September 10, 2010
SUBJECT: (MADD) Mothers Against Drunk Driving of the El Paso District
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) of the El Paso district was established in 1982 by Betty Duggan. Duggan and six other community members began this local agency because they wanted to reduce the amount of DWI’s in El Paso. Surrounding counties such as Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio have also began (MADD) agencies to raise awareness of drunk driving. This agency’s main goals are to stop drunk driving, support the victims, and to prevent underage drinking. The staff consists of the Executive Director (Virginia Gonzalez), the Senior Administrative Assistant (Alice King), the Manager of Victim Services (Vanessa Luna), the Victim Services Specialist (Leticia Miranda), the Program Specialist (Christopher French), and the Victim Advocates (Don Owens). This agency is related to other organizations such as the national MADD agency. The information is the same except the national agency is concerned with all drunk driving issues and is not focused on one specific location. The national MADD agency is finding a way to pass stricter laws about alcohol availability and consumption. The national MADD agency was founded in 1980 by Candice Lightner, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver.
Communication
The community plays an essential role for this agency. MADD of El Paso uses genres such as websites, commercials, social networking sites, brochures, billboards, and other advertisements in order to get awareness and information across to the community. It is important for the agency to communicate with other citizens because it helps them raise awareness in the society. Through websites the webmaster communicates with people through updated information and statistics, an attractive layout, and easily accessible information. The webmaster must update information for citizens to view and read the most current news involving this agency. An attractive layout is important to grab attention for new members. Easily accessible information is also vital because it is important for members in this agency to view the information in an easy non problematic way. The webmaster also has included bills relating to drunk driving on the website. This allows members and also newcomers to view legislation dealing with the agency. Contact information is found throughout the website, which gives the agency a higher rate of gaining new members. Through advertising, this agency grabs the attention of many viewers on their website. On the local website, http://www.madd.org/chapter/4811_3636, an advertisement says “Face the Brutal Truth About Underage Drinking”. This impacts people and teenagers to join the agency and help terminate underage drinking in the El Paso area. A disadvantage to this genre is that not all community members have access to the internet. Commercials are highly significant in advertising for this agency. In a commercial directed by Russell Kostner, teens are shown drinking. They use the slogan “Friends don’t let friends drink and drive”. This advertisement recruits many teenagers to help reduce drinking and driving.
Community Issues and Awareness
(MADD) of El Paso also communicates through various community programs. The “Tie One On for Safety” program helps reduce the amount of people drinking and driving during the holidays. It also helps create public awareness by an individual tying a red ribbon to their vehicle in promise of driving sober. The “Walk like MADD” community activity also helps raise awareness of drunk driving. Money raised at this event is contributed to the agency in reaching their goals. The agency also includes teen programs such as “Shattered Dreams” and “Operation Bridge”. The “Shattered Dreams” program allows high school students to experience a scenario dealing with drunk driving. This gives teenagers awareness of the severe issue of underage drinking and driving. The “Operation Bridge” program deals with underage drinking and teenagers crossing the bridge from Juarez, Mexico to El Paso, Texas. Many teenagers go to Juarez, Mexico and get drunk. They then drive drunk to their homes back in El Paso causing accidents. The “Operation Bridge” program will help reduce the amount of underage drinkers crossing the bridge from Mexico to Texas. There are also ways for community members to volunteer such as hearing a court case about drinking and driving, speaking at schools and other public venues about underage drinking, and helping in the agency office. These activities greatly allow members of the community to become aware of this issue.
