Victims' Impact Panel

How To Be A Speaker

“It’s the faces of the children that I can’t get out of my mind.”

– Bill, retired fire fighter

“The good news was that our 19-year old daughter died instantly.”

– Mother of Cyndi.

“I do this because I’m trying to make a difference – making something negative into a positive.”

– Jeff, who killed someone drinking and driving and served a 15-year prison sentence for the crime.

What is Victims’ Impact Panel?

The Victims’ Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., (VIP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the epidemic of drunk driving. Alcohol-related crashes take innocent lives and physically injure an alarming number of people daily. They are the number one killer of our young people. But unlike other serious epidemics, drinking and driving has a cure. The answer is found in those who are forever changed because of someone’s decision to drive after drinking.

Victims’ Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., believes in aiming at the heart to reach people about the dangers of driving under the influence. This is accomplished by having a panel of three speakers share their personal and very real tragedies, thereby giving a name and a face to the pain. The three perspectives presented include:

• The Victim: This is either someone who has lost a family member to a drunk driver; someone who survived a wreck caused by a drunk driver; or someone whose loved one was permanently handicapped by a drunk driver.
• The Rescue Professional: This viewpoint can come from law enforcement, firefighters, or EMTs. These are people who are emotionally impacted by what they see and deal with, regardless of the fact it is their job.
• The DUI Offender: This is someone who has killed or injured someone while driving under the influence and has served time for the crime.

The speakers are the heart and soul of this program and are giving the ultimate gift by sharing their painful tragedies with a room full of strangers. Without these dedicated speakers, there would be no program at all. Because there is no adequate way to thank our speakers, we make sure that their service with us is positive and respectful. Many, if not all, of our speakers report that their experience with VIP is positive and that they feel they have made a difference and possibly saved lives.

Who are the audiences?

Panels are presented on a regular basis to DUI offenders who have been court-ordered to attend. Depending on the location, the program may be offered quarterly, monthly, or bi-monthly. Panels are also presented in middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities all through the school year.

VIP sees the program as being in a “win-win” situation. Everyone benefits from the program. With a mission statement of “. . . drunk driving awareness, prevention, and healing . . .” offenders are reformed through awareness; young people are prevented from making dangerous choices; and healing is promoted in the panelists who participate.

What is expected of the VIP speakers?

The speakers are asked to tell how an alcohol-related tragedy has affected their lives. It is helpful to share who else has been affected and how. Notes may be used to prevent losing their train of thought. Visual aids are helpful, such as photographs of the deceased, crash photos, death certificate, or any other mementos that help tell the story. Panelists are encouraged to speak from the heart and to expect to be emotional. Genuine emotion is a great communicator and only emphasizes the seriousness of the experience.

Speakers are not asked to sign any agreements or contracts. They will be called in advance of a program and asked to speak. If they are able, they will get a reminder call and directions on where and when to arrive. If they are not able to speak, they should not feel uneasy about saying no. Another speaker will be contacted and they will be called again when another program is available.

If you have been affected by an alcohol-related or drug-related crash and would like to share your story on a Victims’ Impact Panel, please contact us at:

(405) 216-9556 (main office)
vip-okinc@coxinet.net