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Listed
below are other AAIM Speakers Bureau material,
available through the Schaumburg AAIM office.
AAIM
Videotapes
"AAIM & MWAH -
Addison Trail High School"
"Amanda's Story"
"Drunk Driving-The Victim/The Offender"
"The Story of AAIM"
"Victim Impact Panel"
AAIM
Publications
"The Faces of
Tragedy" Book
"The Voices of Tragedy" CD
__________________________________________________
Overview
There is nothing more powerful than the spoken
word of someone directly affected by a drunk
or drugged driver. Personal accounts by victims
and offenders evoke a compelling emotional response.
The AAIM Speakers Bureau presentations are given
to schools, DUI offenders in the courts, private
industry, law enforcement and legal agencies.
The goal is to create awareness, encourage prevention
and illustrate the devastating consequences
of impaired driving.
Presentation
Format
AAIM’s Education Program and Victim Impact
Panel (VIP), generally consist of Victim Services
personnel to oversee the format and present
an introduction about AAIM and alcohol-related
issues, followed by two victims and one defendant
telling their personal tragedies involving a
DUI crash. Each program is designed to run 45
to 60 minutes. The format can be modified to
suit any organization. An interactive format
is also available for younger students.
Service
Fees
AAIM is required by its Board of Directors to
request a donation for services rendered. Please
contact Victim Services personnel or the Schaumburg
AAIM office for further information and details at 888-240-0027.
Parent's Program
New research has shown that teens are starting to drink at a very young age…as early as the junior high level. We have discovered that many parents try to provide a “safe” place for their children to drink. They think taking the keys, or monitoring their drinking will keep them safe. Scientific research reveals that the brain of a teen is not fully developed and the introduction of alcohol at that age can lead to poor decision making and possible alcoholism.
This program directed at parents is to educate them about the dangers of young people drinking and its effects medically, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We do not preach, we teach. Parents who think children are going to drink, no matter what and who. feel taking the keys, getting them a motel room or a condo in Lake Geneva where they can “safely” drink, will be taught why this is NOT a good idea. There is nothing healthy about a teen drinking.
Our panel consists of a parent who has lost their teen to a drunk driving crash, a parent who has lost a teen as a result of alcohol consumption, a local police officer who talks about the legal and emotional issues and a presenter who will give information about teen alcohol use and abuse.
Our program will work best if it’s mandatory for a parent to attend before their child goes to a prom, dance or other school function where drinking may be involved. If the parents work or can’t attend, they should have a friend, neighbor or the parents of their child’s date represent them. It’s rare that the parents who allow their children to drink would attend this program if it’s voluntary.
The cost of this program is $500 and lasts 1-1/2 hours with questions and answers at the conclusion. If a reference is required, please call Pat Larson, Director of Victim Services at 630-240-4455.
School
Presentations
AAIM’s Education Program is presented
to high schools, colleges and middle schools
and are very well-received by students and faculty
alike. While spring is the most requested time,
presentations are given throughout the year.
Requests do need to be made in advance to insure
speaker availability and to prepare the format.
AAIM’s
Early Education Program is presented to younger children
(middle school, etc.) and may include fatal-vision
goggle demonstrations and activities that students
can participate in. Click on Five
Minutes That Changed My Life, for more details.
Testimonials
“Numerous students told me how your
stories powerfully impacted them. Thank you
for bringing your message to our school. We
need to hear it.”
(April ‘02) West
Leyden High School
“The
SODA Club (Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol)
appreciates you for helping us to learn the
real life consequences of alcohol. You let us
experience the devastation.”
(May ‘02) Bartlett
High School
“
We are deeply indebted to you and your organization for the time and energy that was invested in our “Class Act Choices Week.” The speakers helped reinforce our message of the importance of making responsible, informed, and healthy decisions throughout life. Also, the message that all choices have consequences was heard clearly.”
"Both staff and students have been commenting about the presentations. The evaluations were extremely positive. Comments were that the personal stories were so important for staff and students to hear and that the impact was quite powerful. ”
Maine Township High School (May ’04)
“On behalf of the students, staff and community as well as Consolidated High School District 230, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for your assistance and expertise. The Mock DUI crash reenactment was a defining experience for our students that will have a lasting impression. The immediate reactions and comments verified that the efforts and depictions your personnel provided were internalized and left a definite impact on all who witnessed the events. ”
Victor J. Andrew High School, Tinley Park (April ’07)
“I would like to thank AAIM for an exceptional program you presented to our school. The two speakers your organization provided for our Operation Prom Program were phenomenal. The students seem to relate to them. It takes the ‘it can never happen to me’ out of their vocabulary. The students sat quietly and listened intently to both of your speakers. This is the second year we have had AAIM speakers and we have not been disappointed. ”
Batavia High School (May ’08)
“This is the second year we have dedicated time before prom to the issue of alcohol and drug awareness and the speakers you once again provided were outstanding.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the impact that these speakers had with our students. Two speakers came to speak with our student body. The students were shell-shocked. They empathized with both speakers. The students said they learned many important things. First, they will never drink and drive, and if a friend is about to drink and drive they will call an adult for help. In addition, they committed to never getting into a car with someone who has been drinking. Second, they will re-tell the stories they heard to anyone who will listen so that they too can understand the deadly consequences of such a selfish act. Honestly, after listening to the student’s comments about the impact that these speakers had on them, I truly believe that lives have been saved.
I cannot say thank you enough to you and your organization. Please know that these presentations have changed many people’s lives for the better and I strongly believed their stories have saved lives in our community.”
Guerin Prep, River Grove (May ’08)
“We have a few different programs for the senior class on the week of their prom and the speakers from AAIM have been an integral part of the entire program. We are blessed to be able to have great speakers come to present to our students. ”
Once again, the program was a huge success and the speakers you sent were amazing. They told their stories to 160 freshmen students and 120 senior students. I was amazed at how well they were able to switch the way they presented to every level in order to get their message across. The students from both levels really appreciated the openness and candid talks from the presenters. A few stopped by my office the next day to say how they had been touched by the talks and how they had gone home and talked with their families about what they had heard. We are reaching more than the students in the talks.
Again, I want to than you for sending us these great speakers this year. They were really able to reach the students, and I think that what they had to say really had an impact on the students I look forward to having another panel of speakers from AAIM next year.”
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Chicago (May ’08)
“Thank you for your participation in Welcome to Our Nightmare, the pre-prom assembly program that was recently presented for the students at our school. We are very grateful to your speaker whose time and effort donated are truly appreciated.
As a result of poor judgment, deaths and injuries related to alcohol and substance abuse occur daily in our country. Therefore, it is well worth the enormous effort and time involved in orchestrating these demonstrations to make our young people aware of these preventable tragedies.
Feedback from our students indicates that they were very moved by the program and understand the seriousness of its message. Thank you for your part in this very important effort.”
Carl Sandburg High School, Orland Park (April ’08)
“Thank you very much for presenting vital information and advice to our student body. Your speakers had a powerful and positive effect on the students and staff that attended the assembly. With what they learned from your presenters they can how hopefully make more positive choices in their life. We have received many positive comments from both students and faculty about the presentation. Your speakers had a lifelong effect on the young people who will be our future leaders. The speaker’s interaction with our students was phenomenal. We feel that they were able to reach many of the participants. We are very pleased and look forward to retaining the relationship with AAIM to assist our students and faculty to make the right choices.”
Wells Community Academy, Chicago (March ’07)
Court
Presentations
Every month, AAIM presents Victim Impact Panels
(VIP’s) in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry,
Will and Winnebago counties in Illinois and
at the Hammond City Court in Hammond, IN. The
attendees are DUI offenders, who have been ordered
by a judge to attend, as part of their sentence.
Some panels are evaluated by attendee questionnaires.
They offer very positive feedback and give AAIM
a better understanding of the impaired driver.
VIP
Presentations
AAIM’s Education Program and Victim Impact
Panel (VIP) are requested by many other groups
- local business owners or police officers working
a sobriety checkpoint. Again, it is to create
awareness and exemplify that death and injury
are the likely results of impaired driving.
Testimonials
“
I recently attended your VIP. I wanted to write and tell you my feelings after leaving this panel. I am 18 years old and was convicted of possession of alcohol by a minor. The judge ordered me to take this class. I was overwhelmed, and in shock when I walked out of that room. As I got into my car to go home, the mixed emotions that were going on in my mind were just indescribable. I had just graduated from McHenry High School the night before the class and a whole new chapter in my life is now beginning.
I don’t think this class could have come at a better time for me with all the graduation parties and me leaving for college in August to pursue my dream of becoming a commercial pilot down in Florida. From watching and listening to the victims and accused, I looked around at everyone in the room knowing that most of them were there for a DUI and I had to step back and take it all in; that life is so precious, I couldn’t believe the stories these people had been through. My Mom asked me how it went and I couldn’t explain. I have seen a lot of my peers get tickets and DUI’s at such a young age and it seems they will never learn. I also lost a good friend due to alcohol and driving; it was not his fault and he was only 16 years old when this occurred. Well, the whole point of me writing was to thank you for helping support this class and I wish that everyone in my Class of 2001 could have seen this; maybe our roads would be a lot safer.”
(McHenry County VIP (June ’01)
“The
responses from the training seminar
were overwhelmingly supportive of the panel
and many referenced it as being the most
valuable part of the day.”
(January ‘02) DuPage
County Probation
“I
was strongly affected by every word they
spoke. It really makes you think.”
(June ‘02) VIP attendee
- male, age 20
“An excellent presentation!”
(June ‘02) VIP attendee
- female, age 36
“I attended AAIM’s Victim’s Impact Panel. Your organization is to be commended for the awareness efforts you make toward convicted DUI offenders – like me.
Today, I’m 59. I’ve driven “drunk” many times in 40+ years. The date I got my DUI citation was the last time I’ll ever drive intoxicated….in some part due to tonight’s session. Please let your speakers know that.”
Cook County VIP (Dec. ‘04)
“
I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to Diane for her touching and inspirational talk of her daughter’s story in the Victim Impact class. I will be honest and say that when I first reluctantly walked into that room, I was one of those people who felt an attitude because I was court-ordered to be there. I kept selfishly thinking of myself as a victim of circumstance of how my DUI came about, and felt I was dealt too harsh of a penalty based upon how minor I was over the limit and the conditions that night I was stopped. I was strongly stubborn in that frame of mind, that is, until I heard Diane’s story.
Sadly, it took me actually to hear the pain in a loving mother’s voice to talk about her daughter’s tragic accident to sway my perspective on things. I think now after everything that was said in that room yesterday evening and already can’t believe I thought of things the way I did. Whatever monetary or time inconvenience that I have to endure, it’s not even close to the smallest fraction of pain that she and her family have to go through. I just wanted to thank Diane for her extraordinary courage, and bringing the attention and clarity this DUI issue needs. She also needs to know that she is truly making a difference for the greater good in people’s lives by courageously sharing her ordeal with others; at least she did for me.”
McHenry County VIP (June ’05)
“
I attended a VIP session last night. I thought your approach was much more realistic than other groups. I am enclosing a check to go towards the help you give to victims of uninsured or underinsured impaired motorists. The two speakers you had did a wonderful job of showing both sides of the problems that DUI’s can cause without being overly graphic or pushy. My congratulations to the work you do.”
DuPage County VIP (Oct. ‘06)
“
I got my DUI last April and I made a commitment to myself that I would never drink and drive again. I wanted to thank you for sharing part of your life with me and the group. Your story and the way that you told it really touched me and I want to say thank you and I also want to say that I am sorry and tell you again that I am committed to never drink and drive again. Thank you again.”
Left on windshield of VIP speaker, Winnebago County (Feb. ‘06)
“
Last night my 19 year old son and I attended one of your VIP meetings and I feel compelled to tell you how impressed I was with the panel. Your speaker was fantastic and is obviously providing a great service to victims and their families. I, of course, feel my son is a wonderful person who made a bad decision late one night at college to help a friend after an evening at a bar. I do feel he is paying a very high price with the new laws being what they are in Illinois, but I also understand that the more painful this first offense is, the less likely he will repeat his decision to drive after drinking no matter what the situation.
I was expecting my son to get “reamed” by the speakers and the stories to tear his heart out. However, that was not the approach taken. The speakers were positive and encouraging. They were not punitive or demeaning. The male speaker there last night was a three time DUI offender and his story was meaningful because all three instances were everyday situations that people find themselves in everyday. You cold tell he was just your average nice guy, not some raving maniac that no one could relate to. In his second offense, he was also helping out some friends. I am praying that my son was not only listening to the speakers but really hearing them. I would like to thank you for making this program part of the process of probation.”
DuPage County VIP (Oct. ‘07)
Final
Words
"AAIM's Education Program is given to students,
hoping they will be impacted by the devastating
effects of alcohol abuse and, drinking and
driving, The program tries to touch the student
in an emotional way. One or two victims tell
how a person's choice to drink and drive,
changed their life forever - emotionally,
physcially, financially and eternally. A
defendant, who has killed or injured someone,
also speaks. He or she is totally remorseful,
uses no drugs or alcohol, takes full blame
and wants to make a difference. The combination
of speakers is a powerful force for prevention.
Our goal is to prevent death and injury due
to poor choices."
-Pat
Larson
Director of Victim Services
__________________________________________________
CONTACTS
Pat Larson
Director of Victim Services
Telephone: (630) 530-1411
Fax: (630) 530-9212
Twyla Blakely
Victim Services Coordinator - North/West
Telephone: (630) 941-8704
Fax: (630) 832-7060
Phil Rog
Special Services/Demonstrations
Telephone: (847) 697-0791
Alliance Against
Intoxicated Motorists
Woodfield Grove - Suite 131
870 East Higgins Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
Telephone: (847) 240-0027
Toll free: (888) 240-0027
Fax: (847) 240-0028
E-mail: info@aaim1.org
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