Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association

1956
The Southwestern Michigan Driver Education Association met at St. Mary's Lake, and formed the Michigan Driver Safety Education Association (MDSEA).

1957
The Association began 0publishing a newsletter entitled MDSEA News. Homer Earl was the editor.

1958
The Association hosted the 3rd annual conference of the American Driver and Safety Education Association (Later became the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association) in E. Lansing.

1959
Lawton Smith, one of the founders of the Southwestern Michigan Driver Education Association, and the first president of the MDSEA, was elected as the 3rd President of the American Driver and Safety Education Association.

The Association began holding its Spring Meeting in conjunction with the University of Michigan's (UofM) Annual Meeting for Teachers of Driver Education.

1962
The Association began publishing the MDSEA Missive four times a year. Ken Licht was the editor.

The Association changed its name to the Michigan Driver Education Association (MDEA).

1967
Les Silvernale retired as Secretariat, and as editor of the newsletter. Bob Nolan took over those responsibilities.

1968
This was the last year that the Association held its Spring Meeting in conjunction with the UofM's Annual Conference for Teachers of Driver Education.

1969
The Association hosted the 13th annual American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) conference in Ypsilanti.

1970
Bill Covert took over as Secretariat, and Marty Dolan became the interim newsletter editor.

1971
The Association hosted ADTSEA's North Central Regional Meeting in Ann Arbor.

The first Silvernale Award was awarded to Milburn Stone for his role in The Case of Officer Hallibrand traffic safety film.

Phil O'Leary, an Association Executive Board member, was elected as the 15th President of ADTSEA.

1972
The Association's treasury had a $0.00 balance and owed $600.00 in its account with Michigan State University (MSU).

1973
The MSU Highway Traffic Safety Center reaffirmed its commitment to the Association by continuing to serve as Secretariat. With the departure of Bill Covert, Jane Jensen was assigned that responsibility.

The Association changed its name to the Michigan Driver and Traffic and Safety Education Association (MDTSEA).

The Association President established the President's Award. The first recipient was Jane Jensen, the Association's Secretariat.

1975
The Association began a membership contest to increase Association membership.

At the UofM's request, the Association took over responsibility for awarding the A.A. Vezzani Memorial Award.

1976
The Association held 15 regional workshops to distribute four publications published by the National Commission on Safety Education.

Sandy Overall, then Deborah Mayhew, took over the Secretariat's responsibilities.

The first recipient of the A.A. Vezzani Memorial Award, after being taken over by the Association, was Don Hensen of the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

The Association adopted the design of the Michigan centennial license plate as its logo.

1978
The Association began selling a filmstrip entitled, Seat Belts--How Effective Are They?

The Association established four new awards to complement the three they had already been awarding. The Distinguished Achievement Award, The New Driver Educator of the Year Award, the MDTSEA District Representative of the Year Award, and the Outstanding Auto Dealer Award.

1979
The Association began accepting advertisements for its conference issue of the MDTSEA Newsletter.

Dr. Donald Smith, an Association Executive Board member, was elected as the 23rd President of ADTSEA.

1980
The Association developed a speaker's program to sell driver education to the public.

1989
Several Association Executive Board members participated on the State Board of Education's Driver Education Task Force.

1991
The Association's Executive Board approved purchasing clothing, and other items (with the MDTSEA logo on them) to be sold at the conference.

Secretary of State, Richard H. Austin, presented Dr. Donald Smith and Dr. Robert Gustafson with the award for “Long Term Service to Traffic Safety.”

1994
With the retirements of Bob Gustafson and Don Smith from MSU, the university severed all ties to the Association. The Association now became a completely independent organization.

The Association's Constitution was amended so that Associate members, as well as Active members, could be Association officers.

The Association's Constitution was amended to add a dissolution article to specify that in the event the Association dissolved, all assets of the Association would go to ADTSEA's Bishop Fund.

The Internal Revenue Service approved the Association's application for non-profit status pending changes of the dissolution article in the Constitution.

The U.S. Postal Service approved the Association's application for a bulk mailing permit.

1995
Bob Gustafson stepped down as editor of the MDTSEA Newsletter. Dale Litten volunteered to take over this position.

The Association established a scholarship that would allow two students to attend the National Student Safety Program conference.

1997
The Association contracted with Propulsion International to purchase 20,000 copies of Michigan Traffic Safety Education Student Manual that were written specifically for Michigan laws and regulations.

1998
The Association began holding a series of Driver Education Segment II workshops.

1999
The Association began selling a Teachers Resource Guide developed by Propulsion International to accompany the Michigan Traffic Safety Education Student Manual.

Bob Gustafson, a MDTSEA Executive Board member, wrote for Propulsion International, a Student Workbook to accompany the Michigan Traffic Safety Education Student Manual.

At the Association's request, the Michigan Department of Education approved ADTSEA's National Credentialing Courses as meeting Michigan driver education teacher requirements.

Robin Bordner, an Association Executive Board member, was the first recipient of ADTSEA's National Driver Education Teacher of the Year Award.

2000
Robin Bordner was trained by ADTSEA to teach the National Credentialing Courses and began teaching the courses in Michigan and out-of-state.

The Association's Executive Board entered into a contract with the Traffic Safety Association of Michigan (TSAM) to provide Secretariat services, distribute the textbook material, and be editor of the MDTSEA Newsletter. Norene Lind was hired for this position.

A new amendment to the Asssociation's By-Laws was approved, which required all board members to meet prescribed moral standards.

2001
Lists of all Association officers, all Association award winners, and all honorary membership were developed.

Bob Gustafson, an Executive Board member, was awarded ADTSEA's Richard Kaywood Memorial Award, its highest award.

John Stimac, a MDTSEA Executive Board member, was the recipient of the Richard H. Austin Long-Term Traffic Safety Award by the Michigan State Safety Commission.

At mid-year, the balance in the Association's accounts, for the first time, totaled over $100,000.00 ($132,923.50).

The Executive Board revised advertisement rates for advertising in the newsletter, and began accepting ads for all issues.

The Attorney General's office approved the Association as a Registered Charitable Trust.

Bob Gustafson wrote a History of the Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and developed a listing of MDTSEA Milestones.

2003
Newly elected Secretary of State Terry Lynn Land was a presenter at the conference. She vowed to return in subsequent years in validation of our organization.

MDTSEA adopted an advertising policy that allows the board to deny requests for advertising in the newsletter, as well as exhibiting materials/products at the conference.

Although textbook sales for the year were down approximately 10.5% as compared to 2002, MDTSEA not only paid off its entire inventory of textbook, workbook, teacher resource guide, and videotape inventory in 2003; it has set aside $50,000 in a higher yield interest bearing account.

The MDTSEA website was updated to include seven (7) award nomination forms, and a link to the list of Secretary of State Third Party Test organizations. A link to the SOS private driver schools is targeted for 2004.

2004
Public Acts 70 and 71 of 2004 transferred public driver education programs from the Michigan Department of Education to the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). For the first time, all components of Michigan’s driver education programs are now housed in one department, MDOS. The program will be separated by function, with the regulation and monitoring of schools going to MDOS’ Bureau of Regulatory Services, and the curriculum and teacher preparation functions going to MDOS’ Office of Traffic Safety.

Dr. Thomas Reel, Director of the Traffic Safety Association of Michigan (TSAM) retired, and the organization changed its name to the Michigan Resource Center for Health and Safety. It will be under the executive direction of Cindy Agle.

Dr. Robert “Gus” Gustafson passed away, and in his honor, MDTSEA will present an annual award in his name.

2005
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land assembled a driver education advisory committee for the purpose of determining what priorities the Department of State should pursue in the upcoming year. Discussion involved making enhancements to the teacher preparation courses, segment 1 and 2 curriculums, equitable treatment of private and public school programs and instructors, etc.

The Michigan Department of State convened a legislative workgroup to discuss amendments to the GDL licensing statutes, as the sunset date for GDL licensing occurs in 2006.

2006
The Michigan Traffic Safety Education Student Manual is upgraded to the 5th edition.

The ADTSEA annual conference is held at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Secretary of State convenes the “Driver Education Advisory Committee” for the purpose of updating the driver education laws in Michigan. Public Act 384 of 2006, the “Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act,” is enacted and accomplishes the following:

The Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act [2006 PA 384] went into effect on October 1, 2006; however, many of the provisions of the new law included delayed effective dates to allow the Michigan Department of State to develop and roll out the new provisions in stages.

Several MDTSEA board members were chosen to teach the state’s first professional development classes. The purpose of the class was to present and review the “Michiganized” ADTSEA curriculum. As of the end of the year, over 1,600 of the 2,400 Michigan instructors have attended the classes. Although MDTSEA was not allowed to directly advertise itself at the meetings, the networking in the meetings allowed us to spread the benefits of MDTSEA membership. It appears future classes will be facilitated through other groups, with MDTSEA being a prime candidate to offer training.
MDTSEA was able to advertise itself to the industry, as most of the professional development trainers were form the board; Dave Van Dyke, Robin Bordner, Jerry Ockert, Greg Brown, and Mark Kronauer. Other super trainers included Bob Boone, Steve Brieve, and Rod Martin.
MDTSEA bought a bulk supply of ADTSEA curriculum packages to provide to providers. MDTSEA will sell the packages for $195, which is cheaper than buying the packages directly from ADTSEA for $250.
MDTSEA will assist the state in reviewing a point system and requirements for a future professional development credit system.

The MDTSEA conference was held at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, April 26 and 27, 2007. Approximately 150 people were in attendance. Highlighted presenters included Terry Kline of Kentucky University and Adele Kristiansson, representing The National Road Safety Foundation. The Department of State gave very informative presentations, and a special presentation was made by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.