Feeling ‘very hopeful’ about MADD chapter

Yarmouth County chapter issued plea for more board members last fall; interest expressed at recent info session

It’s good to see some new people interested in getting involved in MADD, says a local spokesperson for the organization, who says they’re optimistic about the group’s Yarmouth County chapter.

Based on the interest that was expressed at a recent information session in Yarmouth, it looks like the local chapter will continue, said Candice Phibbs, vice-president of MADD Yarmouth County, who is serving as the chapter’s acting president.

Last fall, the chapter was down to two board members and the chapter’s fate was uncertain. An information session was then scheduled for early January, where it was hoped some new people would turn out and maybe get involved.

Referring to the info session, which was held Jan. 9, Phibbs said, “we had three members of the community that had not been involved in the past attend the session and two of those new community members mentioned they had friends interested who just weren’t able to make the time and date.”

The session was held at Sip Café in Yarmouth, in their community room, where the chapter holds its regular meetings the first Wednesday of the month. The next one is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Phibbs says they’re feeling better about the future of the Yarmouth County chapter, given what they saw and heard at this month’s info meeting.

“Yes, at this point, with new interest from the community, it does seem like we should be able to keep the chapter running, as long as that interest continues.”

— Candice Phibbs

“Yes, at this point, with new interest from the community, it does seem like we should be able to keep the chapter running, as long as that interest continues,” Phibbs said. “We’re very hopeful. It’s always great to see community members come to an information session, but, of course, our hope is that they continue to attend meetings and take a step up as far as joining the board and helping us move the chapter forward in the community.”

The Yarmouth County chapter of MADD was established in 2004. Phibbs became involved in it in 2010.

In an interview last fall, Phibbs said the number of board members with the Yarmouth County chapter had declined during the past couple of years, with people moving away, perhaps for workrelated reasons.

In a letter to the editor that was published in the Tri-County Vanguard last November, Phibbs wrote, “we need new membership. We need volunteers willing to work alongside us and help us continue our work.”

Unless new people were found, she said at that time, they might look at reducing the local chapter’s status or maybe closing it altogether.

A couple of months later, Phibbs is glad it hasn’t come to that.

“It’s good to have some new blood show some interest,” she said.

Meanwhile, for those who might have missed this month’s information session but perhaps are interested in getting involved, Phibbs says people are invited to attend the Yarmouth County chapter’s monthly meetings.