Published: November 21, 2008 10:57 pm         

MADD has no leader in Valley

TERRE HAUTE — Marilyn Peffley’s retirement from MADD earlier this year left a leadership vacuum that state MADD officials are still trying to fill.

Peffley’s death on Sunday has focused attention on the local organization, which no longer is called the Wabash Valley MADD [Mothers Against Drunk Driving] Chapter.

Because of a national restructuring several years ago, the local entity is now called MADD Indiana, Wabash Valley Community Action Site. The contact, according to the MADD Indiana Web site, is the state executive director, Kitty Greene.

Greene said that any new leader at the local level has “huge shoes to fill.”

Peffley, who organized and led the Wabash Valley MADD Chapter/site for 25 years, “was the driving force in the community,” Greene said. “She kept it going. We need another energetic, passionate, committed person that wants to take that leadership role.”

That person would become the “community action site leader” under the re-organized structure.

Greene said it’s difficult for the state office, which has a small staff, “to keep things going in that area.”

Those who live in the Wabash Valley know the community best and would be better equipped to do local programs and initiatives, Greene said.

Lila Waugh, who used to be active with Wabash Valley MADD under Peffley’s leadership, said she’s not aware of a local group that’s active anymore. The national re-organization has taken away local control, she said.

Under the restructuring, a local community action site has no board or officers and it can’t have a bank account or disburse funds. While a community action site can have a budget, disbursement of funds is done at the national level.

“The handful of us that hung on just kept getting slapped down,” Waugh said. “Anything we proposed was nixed.”

Greene said MADD reorganized nationally several years ago “to keep up with changing times.” It is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization.

Previously, “It was not that structured,” Greene said, and there were hundreds of bank accounts across the country that lacked adequate controls.

Now, she said, there is only one board for the entire organization, the MADD national board, which has fiduciary responsibility for the organization. The national office handles all funding, she said.

Money raised in Indiana benefits Indiana and its programs, she said, but actual dollars are sent to the national office and disbursed at that level, she said.

The state office has an operations council, something community action sites also can establish. The local councils can have a president, secretary and other volunteer roles.

“I think that MADD volunteer groups were used to functioning a certain way and change is difficult for anyone,” Greene said.

If those who have been involved with Wabash Valley MADD have concerns or believe their initiatives were ignored, Greene said she’d like to talk to them.

“I would not ignore their concerns. If they feel initiatives have been thwarted, I’d welcome a conversation,” she said.

Greene said she has tried, unsuccessfully to date, to recruit another community action site leader.

“I’m really interested in spreading the word and making people aware that we want to continue with the Wabash Valley Community Action Site,” Greene said.

She hopes to continue the victim impact panel, and Greene also is hoping to have a candlelight vigil in Vigo County next month.

“Some volunteers are still active,” Greene said. “I communicate with some volunteers. We need more people to help.”

She urges anyone interested in serving as site leader to contact her at the state office by calling 1-800-247-6233 toll free or e-mailing kitty.greene@madd.org.

If a local group of volunteers is interested, “I’d be glad to meet with them and do a town hall gathering and share information about MADD and various activities and programs,” Greene said.

“We’d certainly love to keep that group active, to grow it and to continue the work Marilyn Peffley started there in the Wabash Valley,” Greene said.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.