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2009 Press Release: Operation Prom Night To Be Held At Maine West
High School
For immediate release
May 12, 2009
For the tenth time in 19 years, on Friday, May 15, 2009, Des
Plaines Maine West High School juniors and seniors will experience
Operation Prom Night- a program developed by the Fire and Police
Department and supported by School District #207. The program
exposes young people to the travesties of making poor choices, often
involving drinking alcohol, and driving. Traditionally planned to be
presented prior to both class proms, Operation Prom Night is an eye
opening experience with selected speakers sharing personal accounts
of incidents involving alcohol.
Weather permitting, students will gather in the Maine West
Football Stadium, 1755 S. Wolf Road, at 8:05 am, May 15, 2009, for a
presentation depicting a car accident scene involving fatalities.
According to Des Plaines Fire Department’s Division Chief Bradley
Butler, who has been coordinating Operation Prom Night since its
inception, the presentation involving Des Plaines student actors, in
combination with the first person accounts of surviving victims, and
a final slide show featuring scenes of everyday activities at Maine
West, leave a lasting impression on observers.
"We hope that the experience of listening to the words and
accounts of those people who have undergone a tragedy involving the
affects of drinking and driving will serve as a reminder and as a
deterrent to young people. The presentation specifically depicts
young people on the way to their prom and the resulting tragedy that
occurs when the young driver makes the wrong choice – to drink and
drive. In a moment’s time his life and that of all those involved,
and those on the periphery, are changed forever. It is something you
can’t change once it happens and it destroys lives," Butler said.
This year, former Fire Chief John Heavey, Police Officer Tara
Goble, accident victim Marti Belluschi, and Reverend William Grice,
Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Des Plaines, will
address students in the Maine West Auditorium following the crash
scene.
According to Butler, Operation Prom Night 2009 will be updated
from previous presentations taking into account suggestions from
some of the new members of the Operation Prom Night Committee.
"There are many distractions that young drivers are confronted
with today that did not exist a few years ago such as cell phones,
ipods, headphones, text messaging… and cars being driven at high
speeds. We incorporated this concept into our last Operation Prom
Night which was held in 2007. This year we have listened to some
very worthwhile suggestions made by some of our new committee
members… and we’re realizing alcohol and other substances can lend
to making bad choices of many kinds and can turn positive
relationships into negatives. Our Prom Night Committee agreed that
our presentation should be updated to include such factors. In order
to communicate with today’s young people, we need to keep current
and continue to update our program," Butler said.
"The Police and Fire Departments and the schools are working very
hard on reaching out to the parents of our youth. This year we are
looking to invite parents to our Operation Prom Night Program
Rehearsal. Our Prom Night Committee understands how important a
parent’s role is in setting rules, communicating and influencing
their child’s attitude towards driving decisions," Butler said.
This year’s Operation Prom Night Committee has also chosen to
update the slideshow. While the slideshow will include more scenes
of students in everyday activities, it will also carry a message
concerning the results of making wrong choices and some of the
negative results of using alcohol.
"Not only does alcohol often lead to fatal accidents, but it
creates negative behavior that results in bad results- ruined
relationships and destructive actions. We hope to teach students
ways that they can positively support each other when difficult
decisions have to be made. It’s a mindset that we have to create
among the students… that it is OK to do the right thing. We need to
convince students that when a friend makes a mature choice, that may
or may not be popular, and is in the best interest of the group’s
overall safety, that their friends understand, respect, and support
that choice," Butler said.
Members of the Warriors Against Drunk Driving (WADA), a Maine
West student group, will also be working with students this year
doing follow-up after the Operation Prom Night presentation. Other
groups assisting the Des Plaines Fire and Police Departments and
Maine West High School with Operation Prom Night are the Des Plaines
Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the City’s 9-1-1 Communications
Division, Men’s Warehouse & Tux, Advocate Lutheran General, Schimka
Auto Wreckers, G. L. Hills Funeral Home, AV Chicago, Pesche’s Flower
Shop, Gifts and Greenhouses, Gigi’s Blossoms & Baskets, and
Mugavero’s.
According to Butler, "Operation Prom Night has gained a great
deal of popularity over the years. Our Fire Department has received
inquiries from throughout the world, from as far away as Australia,
as to how it is coordinated. The Committee has always approached the
event with the idea that if we help save one life through Operation
Prom Night, then the program is successful."
Members of the 2009 Prom Night Committee include Dr. Audrey
Haugan, Maine West High School Principal; Dave Berendt, Maine West
High School Assistant Principal; Randy Jaeger, Des Plaines Fire
Chief; Bradley Butler, Des Plaines Fire Department’s Division Chief;
Nathan Bylsma, Student Assistance Program Director; Carla Skiba,
Maine West English and Oral Communications Teacher; Jim Prandini,
Des Plaines Police Chief; Tara Goble, Des Plaines Police Department;
Gail MacDonald, Maine West English Department Faculty; Chris Addante,
Maine West Athletic Director; Richard Groelig, Maine West Fine Arts
Director; Mike Godlewski, Maine West Physical Education Department
Chairman; Candace Shelar, Secretary, Maine West; William Soderberg,
City of Des Plaines Media Specialist; Karen Kozenczak, City of Des
Plaines Director of Media Services; Representatives of the Emergency
Management Agency (EMA); Reverend William Grice, Pastor of the First
Congregational Church in Des Plaines; and Martha Belluschi, DUI
Crash Victim.
Butler commented about the program: "Our young people are our
most precious asset and truly our future. We hope that Operation
Prom Night 2009 will make them cognizant of the dangers of making
poor choices and, in doing so, help save lives. Our Department takes
pride in producing this program along with School District #207 and
many other community agencies. It’s a community wide program that we
feel is very worthwhile."
The Des Plaines City Council acknowledged Operation Prom Night by
issuing a Proclamation during the Des Plaines April 20, 2009 City
Council Meeting.
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