By Avra Sullivan
Passion, obsession, fervor…call it what you will. Terry Ober is dedicated to helping protect and promote our future by investing in the area’s youth. As the Drug Awareness Chairman for the Kent Island Elks Lodge, he helps organize and present fun, drug-free events for kids and teens.
Since 1996 Terry has been on the Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties MADD Victim Impact Panel. He is the instructor for the Alive at 25 Program, educating drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 on how to be safe and responsible motor vehicle operators. He also helps with the local TIPS program, which educates bartenders and other servers of alcohol on how to assess and handle intoxication issues with customers. Knowing when to “cut someone off” could save a life. The list goes on, but all of the organizations in which Terry is involved revolve around shaping our youth into mature, responsible citizens.
In particular, Terry’s involvement with MADD and TIPS comes from his “passion for helping those who have become victims of someone’s bad choices.” He hopes to one day see the elimination of drunk driving altogether. He also does countless public speaking engagements on the dangers of underage drinking and bullying and for the promotion of seat belts. One program he offers to youth uses a Ford Explorer and a competitive game to help young drivers understand the benefits of seat belts.
Terry is the President and Administrator of the RESET Program. The program is geared towards intervention of at-risk juveniles, aiming to prevent or “reset” their behaviors, attitudes and actions regarding drug use before it is too late. A structured program, students visit local hospitals, detention centers and even a courtroom to learn firsthand about the real life effects of drug use from those who deal with it on a daily basis.
While students hear the cold facts about the medical, personal and social implications of drug use, RESET is not a scare tactic program. Kids learn that their choices can have severe and permanent consequences in order to help them make better decisions about their lives. This can be used as a condition for probation or court- or parent-appointed as a way to prevent teens from developing criminal records.
RESET currently is preparing for sessions in February and April. Full information on RESET and the other programs in which Terry is involved can be found on his website www.terryober.com, by calling him at 443-995-5367, or sending an email to terrober22@gmail.com.