Waiting on new school year schedule

On June 11, 2010 Gay and Gary Barnes, Rocky White and Luanne Wilton presented Share the Road for to 14 new drivers at the Kottemann Driving School.  Mr. Kottemann was aware of our program through his associastion with ABATE of Louisiana in Jefferson Parish Community Education.

 On Tues Jun 8, 2010, Tom Lay, Gay and Gary Barnes, Harry Delaune and Martha and Charlie Toth conducted a session at Bonnabel HS for 97 students.  On Wed Jun 2, 2010, Tom Lay, Sharon Gonzalez and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 76 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On Tues Mar 9, 2010, Jane Braendl and Charlie Toth conducted a session at Bonnabel HS for 84 students.  On Wed Mar 10, 2010, Tom Lay and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 76 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On Tues Dec 8, 2009, Jane Braendl and Charlie Toth conducted a session at Bonnabel HS for 91 students.  On Wed Dec 9, 2009, Tom Lay and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 74 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On Wednesday October 14, 2009, ABATE of Louisiana, Inc members Gary (Sarge) and Gay Barnes presented our Motorcycle Awareness Program "Share the Road" at the St. Tammany School Board's Teen Focus on Safe Driving Day.  !4 high schools, both public and private, were in attendance.  The theme was "The Amazing Race" were teams of students and faculty visited presenters (countries) to gather information for safety programs at their individual schools.  This event may lead to opportunities to share our program at many of these schools as well as contacts made with observers from other school districts and driving academies.  Since a number of students are now opting to utilize urban scooters for basic transportation, there was considerable interest in our program.  We have been asked to be available for next year's program. Let's thank Sarge and Gay for a job well done. 

In recent years, the St. Tammany Parish School System and our community have been saddened by a loss of and injury to our young people in automobile accidents.  The safety of our youth is a top priority not only in our schools but throughout the community.  We are committed to finding ways as a community to help prevent automobile deaths and injuries among our teens.  On October 14^th, our District will hold its Teen Focus on Safe Driving forum.  This event has been a tremendous success with over 300 people in attendance each time, including teams from fourteen high schools (including public, parochial, and private), law enforcement representatives, school and community leaders, and various community organizations. 

Each of the fourteen high schools in our parish (including public, parochial, and private) will be sending a team representing their school that consists of one school administrator, two teachers and/or counselors, one parent, and ten students.  The schools that I was able to list are Mandeville HS, St. Paul's - Covington, Covington HS, Fontainebleau HS, Pearl River HS, Pope John Paul - Slidell and Salmen HS.   Local law enforcement officials will also participate as team members for each school.  At the forum, participants will learn more facts about the issue of safe teen driving, hear from those with first-hand experiences, have the opportunity to provide their thoughts, brainstorm ways to help reduce teen accidents, and devise school-based plans that can be implemented at every high school in the parish. 

On Tues Sep 15, 2009, Jane Braendl, Sarge and Gay Barnes and Charlie Toth conducted a sessions at Bonnabel HS for 97 students.  On Wed Sep 16, 2009, Tom Lay, Kinky Kathy, Jane Braendland Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 55 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On July 30, 2009 Gary (Sarge) and Gaydell Barnes presented Share the Road to a private Driving School.  They presented to 13 new drivers at the Kottemann Driving School.  Congratulations to Sarge and Ms Gay on their first solo and thanks for being there for the youths and ABATE.

On June 11, 2009 Martha and Charlie Toth presented Share the Road for the first time in a private Driving School.  We presented to 22 new drivers at the Kottemann Driving School.  Mr. Kottemann was aware of our program through his associastion with ABATE of Louisiana in Jefferson Parish Community Education.

On Tues May 26, 2009, Jane Braendl, Kinky Kathy, Tom Lay, Sarge and Gay Barnes, David Key and Charlie Toth conducted a sessions at Bonnabel HS for 81 students.  On Wed May 27, 2009, Tom Lay, Kinky Kathy, Jane Braendl, Martha Toth and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 82 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

We  conducted "Share the Road" for the first time in St. Charles Parish Community Education Program.  Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:00am at Lakewood Elementary School, Tues Mar 17, 2009 6:30pm at Destrehan HS, Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:30pm at Hahnville HS.  Attendance was light but we are working with the staff to incerease attendance in the fall.

On Tues Mar 10, 2009, Jane Braendl, Kinky Kathy, Tom Lay, Sarge and Gay Barnes, Terry Key, Uncle Jerry Forstater and Charlie Toth conducted a sessions at Bonnabel HS for 82 students.  On Wed Mar 11, 2009, Tom Lay, Kinky Kathy, Cindy Leone, Martha Toth and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 123 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On Friday Jan 30, 2009 I was invited by MGySgt Michael L. Wilson, Maintenance Chief, Resources and Requirements, G-6, Marine Forces Reserve to present Share the Road at the command's weekly safety briefing.  The Marine Corps has a very aggressive program to reduce the number of troops injured on motorcycles.  I was honord to spend an hour and a half with 30 Marines.  The Lt Colonel expressed his appreciation and wanted us to  return for the other commands at the Naval Support Activity, New Orleans.  Thanks and Semper Fi to all my new Marine friends.

On Sat Jan 24, 2009 Lady Amazon and Crazy Jack hosted a New Instructor Workshop and Program Update day at their house, Thanks for your hospitality.  New instructors from the Northshore Animals Sarge and Gay Barnes, Luanne Wilton, Mel Stoltz, Rhonda  Bowling, Carl Hursky and Carol and Jack and from GNO/RP David and Terry Key, John Lala, Pam Donaldson and Cindy Leone.  Program Alumni/instructors Tom Lay, Jane Braendl, Kinky Kathy and Gregg and Vicki Miller worked on revising and updating the program.  Carol served an excellent spaghetti dinner and we accomplished a lot in 5 hours.  Thanks to all the new instructors.  Keep your eye on upcoming presentations below to participate in your practice teach. 

On Tues Dec 2, 2008, Jane Braendl, Tom Lay and Charlie Toth conducted 2 sessions at Bonnabel HS for 155 students.  On Wed Dec 3, 2008, Tom Lay, Kinky Kathy and Jane Braendl conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 107 students.  We experienced a couple of computer glitches, but completed the programs successfully.

On Oct 18, 19,  2008, we displayed the Share the Road Program at the New Orleans Bikefest.  Many thanks to Tom Lay, Jane Braendel, Kinky Kathy, Roxanne Barnes, Pam Donaldson, John Lala, Randy Barnes and Martha Toth  for spending time to meet and greet visitors to the tent.

On Sep 9, 2008, Jane Braendl, Kinky Kathy, Tom Lay, ET and Pat Malbrough, David and Terry Key and myself conducted 2 sessions at Bonnabel HS for 109 students.  On Wed Sep 10, 2008, Tom Lay, Kinky Kathy, David and Terry Key, and Charlie Toth conducted a session at John Ehret HS for 98 students.  Good positive reviews were received from the Drivers' Ed instructors.

On August 5, 2008, Tom Lay, Martha and Charlie Toth presented an abridged version of "Share the Road" at the Westwego Night Out Against Crime.  Program was well received and Chief Munch (a member of the LA Highway Safety Commission) invited us back for next year. 

July 14, 2008 Tom Lay, Martha and Charlie Toth attended the Westwego city council meeting and offered to conduct the Share the Road program for civic organizations in Westwego, Tom's hometown.  We will have a tent at the Night out Against Crime on Aug 5, 2008 and have been invited to set up a booth at the Farmer's market any Wed or Sat.  I ask all members of ABATE to help spread the news about the Share the Road program to everyone they can.  It literally could save your life. 

June 26, 2008, we presented the Share the Road MAP at Naval Air Station Belle Chasse for 100 sailors.  It was very well received and Kinky Kathy, Martha Toth and Charlie Toth were honored for the opportunity to speak to some real heroes.  We've been invited back Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 9:00am to speak to the Marine detachment and on Sat Sept 6, 2008 at 1:00pm to speak to a few hundred Army reservists.  As always, I'm looking for some help on these days.  Send me your driver's license name and whether you'll be cagin' or ridin' by 7/20/08 for the program on 7/23/08.

We conducted 2 sessions at Bonnabel HS on 5/27/08 for 151 students and 1 session for 125 students at John Ehret HS on 5/28/08.  Thanks to Tom Lay 2x, Jane Braendl 2x, Kinky Kathy Gonzales 2x, Martha Toth, and Uncle Jerry for their help in conducting these sessions. We had a guest at Bonnabel, Mike Jastrom, from the Baton Rouge GoldWingers observe as well.

The GNO/RP chapter presented a demonstration of the MAP "Share the Road" program at the New Orleans HOG chapter meeting on Sat April 5, 2008.  Feedback was good, made a contact to get an introduction into Lafourche and South Lafourche High Schools and may have recruited 3 more instructors.

We conducted 2 sessions at Bonnabel HS on 3/4/08 for 128 students and 1 session for 158 students at John Ehret HS on 3/5/08.  Thanks to Jane Braendel(2x), Kinky Kathy(2x), Grant Miller, Tom Lay(2x), Linda Erickson(2x), and Martha Toth for their help. 

I conducted a GNO/RP MAP committee meeting and presenters workshop on Feb 9. 2008 at 11:00AM to 5:00PM at my house.  We walked through equipment setup and reviewed the instructor guide and practiced portions of the presentation and critiqued one another.   Tom Lay, Sharon "Kinky Kathy" Gonzalez, Pat Nerney , Lynda Williams, Grant Miller, Jane Braendel, Gregg Miller, Vicki Miller, "Uncle " Jerry Forstater, Linda Erickson, Jack Mills, ET Malbrough, Pat Malbrough and Peter Mustaiche attended and we have some ready to be lead presenters.  Thank you for your attendence and dedication.  Spread the word around, we can always use more volunteers.

 We conducted 2 sessions at Bonnabel HS on 12/11/07 for 124 students and 1 session for 125 students at John Ehret HS on 12/12/07.  Thanks to Jane Braendel, Kinky Kathy(2), Rhonda Christen, Pat Nerney, Uncle Jerry(2), Martha Toth(2) and Peter Mustaiche(2) for their help.  Comments from Cliff Kottemann (Bonnabel) "Putting the presentation on POWERPOINT as well as video of actual collisions worked wonders in holding the students attention.  Comments from Dr. Harper (Ehret) "Mr. Toth was well organized and the message to our students was extremely well received.  There was a significant improvementt in the use of AV materials and handouts.  We look forward to ABATE's presentation this spring.

Grant Miller, Gregg Miller, Jane Braendel, Pat Nerney and Charlie Toth conducted an abbreviated version of the MAP program at the NASA Safety Fair on November 6, 2007.  It was very well received, attended by approx 300 people and the NASA Michoud Safety Director invited us for the 2008 Fair.  Thanks to the volunteers.

For more information on the Share the Road program contact me @ 1-800-393-5966