Alcohol Awareness Month

Hello, friends and community members, Yasmine here and I am genuinely excited to tell you about this past month in service. In April, Superior AmeriCorps – along with the generous support of more than 60 community businesses – hosted the 13^th annual Alcohol Awareness Month (AAM). Our purpose was to provide activities throughout the month where students in grades fifth through twelfth could engage in safe and alcohol free functions. This year we were happy to sponsor a t-shirt logo and slogan contest, bowling event, basketball tournament, and an all-school dance. We were also very excited to be able to coordinate two mock accidents to educate students on the dangers involved in drinking alcohol.

To kick the month off, we held an AAM logo and slogan contest. Students in grades fifth through twelfth were given the challenge to come up with their own unique logo and slogan that was to be used throughout the month. The winning combo was then screen printed on t-shirts and handed out to tournament participants and volunteers and used as prizes for other events. This year’s winning slogan was “Take a Stand to be Alcohol Free.”

The first weekend our bowling activity was geared towards fun for the whole family and the all-school dance had a “Dancing through the Decades” theme where students were encouraged to dress up. Before the music started all students were led into the dance arena and asked to sit down to listen to a presentation and slide show. They were then told that during the middle of the dance AmeriCorps members would have trivia questions about alcohol and the dangers of drinking. This was the first time we attempted to do this so all members were anxious about participation, but when the time came and the music cut out everyone was eager to participate and ask questions.

The eighth annual basketball tournament held by Superior AmeriCorps was very popular as we had more than 25 teams register to play. We had referee volunteers from Michigan Tech University and a local reporter volunteered to work the time clock and help out at the Victims of Drunk Driving Display in the hallway. We wanted to ensure teams understood the reason behind Superior AmeriCorps putting on the tournament. Myths and facts about alcohol were placed throughout the gym and each team received more alcohol-related information.

This is the first year our members coordinated a mock accident. Second year members had toyed with the idea last year and felt the time was right to incorporate it into Alcohol Awareness Month. It was an amazing effort by AmeriCorps members to organize local police, volunteer fire departments, the community hospital, and others for this mock accident, and it came together nicely with many schools able to benefit from the demonstration.

We are also very grateful to the Michigan State Police for allowing us to use their Drunk Driving Goggles as well as the use of their Victims of Drunk Driving Display throughout the month. The Drunk Driving Goggles simulate conditions experienced when impaired by alcohol and students at various AAM events were asked to try and walk in a straight line while wearing the goggles. Not one single participant was able to take one step without stepping outside of the line and each was given a “citation.” The display board had portraits of many children, teenagers, and adults that had lost their lives because of a drunk driver. All the victims were from the Copper Country area and that struck a chord with some of the participants.

Although AmeriCorps members work extremely hard to coordinate and have these events flourish, Alcohol Awareness Month would not be possible without the help of our local community volunteers, donors, and participants. I would like to thank all who contributed to make this a positive success. We appreciate it!