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Last MADD is done

PORT HARDY—The last Vancouver Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is about to shut its doors for good.
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Norm Prince is disappointed no one wants to take the reins for the local chapter of MADD

The last Vancouver Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is about to shut its doors for good.

Citing low interest, the president said he recently made the decision to close the local chapter of MADD.

“I’m going to have to fold it up because there aren’t enough people to sit as directors,” said Norm Prince of the chapter he helped start in 2001.

“Everybody sees the need for MADD, but to take that extra step to become responsible for running it, it doesn’t seem to work.”

Prince said he held a meeting March 8 looking for new blood for the chapter, but there just wasn’t any interest in continuing the organization dedicated to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving and to help victims of crimes by people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“MADD national has rules in terms of making sure there are fresh people and they gave me extra permission to stay on to keep it going but I can’t get anyone to sit on the board,” said Prince.

“I need five directors and I have a vice-president, but I don’t have a secretary, I don’t have a treasurer, etc.” Prince said it’s tough to see the chapter fold.

“It’s sad and I’m disappointed, but I think it’s a disappointment to the community as well,” he said, noting MADD often helped police.

“For every RCMP detachment from Sayward north, we’ve bought at least one — if not two — breathalyzers and we had bursaries for students at both high schools.”

Local police said they appreciated the efforts of MADD.

“They were definitely a welcome help,” said Port McNeill RCMP Sgt. Phil Lue.

“We did do stuff with Norm and the part they did help us and Port Hardy out with is they were able to purchase and provide four or five roadside screening devices, which is obviously a big help in our campaign against drinking and driving,” he said.

“They also helped out the police tons with getting the drinking and driving message out there.”

Prince is moving south soon, but said he still has a couple of MADD-related tasks to complete before he leaves.

“I’m in the process of cutting off the phones and we’re moving the office out at the end of the month,” he said.