STRIPES celebrates changes, successes

The program hopes to continue increasing the number of volunteers.

By Anna Koeppel

Published April 29, 2008

STRIPES celebrated its 60,000th ride with an end-of-the-semester barbecue this weekend, complete with food, games and awards for standout volunteers.

Director Domingo Pacheco implemented a recognition program for the safe ride program’s volunteers and said little rewards add up and make a big difference.

“Nothing’s terribly expensive, or terribly difficult,” he said. “But it makes a world of difference.”

Pacheco said he set a goal at the beginning of his term as director to have student groups sponsor 10 STRIPES drive nights, where members from an organization fill all volunteer spots for one night.

Pacheco said he would bump up that goal to 15 nights next semester, or one night per weekend STRIPES runs.

“It eases the burden on everyone else, and we can run eight cars instead of our normal six,” Pacheco said.

Another change STRIPES has seen this year is the addition of GPS units for each car to aid drivers in finding the address they’re driving to. The GPS units were funded by a $5,000 grant from the MU Parents Association, according to a previous Maneater report

Pacheco said drivers have had to call back to the STRIPES headquarters to ask directions or use big, detailed maps of Columbia that can be difficult to read in a car.

“Calling back slows things down,” he said.

Two volunteers go on each ride: a driver and a passenger.

Pacheco said one difficulty STRIPES faces is finding drivers, who must be 21. He said he hopes to see that rule change to allow younger volunteers to drive.

“We have freshmen who volunteer and then turn 21,” he said. “They can volunteer as a driver for STRIPES or go to the bars. The majority of the student body chooses the latter.”

Pacheco requested a risk assessment from the UM system Office of Risk and Insurance Management to determine the risk associated with lowering the driving age.

Ed Knollmeyer, the director of the UM system Office of Risk and Insurance Management, could not be reached for comment.

Leaders gave both serious and lighthearted awards to volunteers, including the new “Volunteer of the Semester” and “Executive of the Year” awards, and awards such as the “Story of the Year” award, given to a volunteer who came upon a car that had driven through a building.

Pacheco announced volunteer Brad Peters the volunteer of the semester.

“He’s a super volunteer not just in terms of nights (spent volunteering) but in attitude, and helping people out,” Pacheco said. Peters could not be reached for comment.

Former STRIPES Assistant Director C.J. McDonald received the “Executive of the Year” award.

“It feels really good to get recognized by everyone, but it’s not like I was the only one,” he said.

McDonald said he volunteers with STRIPES because it’s a great way to meet new people while volunteering for a particularly great cause.

“There’s a passion behind the program that doesn’t come out every night, but it’s why people keep doing it,” he said.