DADA (Dads Against Dirty Air) - Parents join forces to stop idling school buses and cars.

Most people see someone idling their vehicle but do nothing about it. It could be a neighbour idling in their driveway for 20 minutes, someone talking on the phone in a parking lot, or a row of parents or school buses idling in front of a group of kids every day at school parking lots.

But the NO-IDLING ADVOCATE doesnt have to feel alone any longer! They can simply join with other frustrated citizens who want to do 'something' to stop the hours of unnecessary idling at schools and in their neighbourhoods each day.

DADA hopes to pull together like-minded citizens in Communities across Canada to carry a common voice and message to idling school bus drivers, parents and transit drivers...PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR ENGINES WHEN PARKED. The other message is to spread the word and ask other neighbours, co-workers, friends and family to join in the pledge to not idle - since without a committment being made, no habits will change. The reason is simple - "Please don't idle for our environment and for our kid's sake!"

Many school council groups or environmental groups spend countless hours and several months talking and planning on their own idle-free campaigns only to get limited results from a single 'passive' campaign. A 'campaign in a box' will be available for someone to start their own personal or school campaign within hours. Countless hours will be saved and shared experiences and tips will allow everyone to improve the programs over time.

DADA, a newly formed parent-led organization hopes to take a more strategic approach to the problem by giving individuals, community groups and schools a FREE one-stop website that will contain all the downloadable resources needed to run an idle-free campaign right away.  In fact, if you have a colour printer, you can print off cards, signs, brochures and letters to give to 'different types of idlers' and can even read tips and scripts what to say as well as success stories and tips from other 'DADA's.

For instance, DADA has business card PLEDGE cards that individuals can carry in their pocket or wallets and give to people when they see them idling and simply asking them to join in the pledge not to idle, then to recylce the card by passing the card on to someone else. DADA tries to take away the anxiety of asking others to stop idling by doing it 'for our kids' in the community and for the environment.

The more people involved, the more successful the program will be. The hope is that if enough people get involved at a school or in the community, then the momentum and peer involvement can get the most 'die-hard idler' to succomb. To volunteer as little as 30 minutes at a local school drop off zone is all that is needed in some cases.

DADA is able to offer schools in Halton Region free idling program materials, banners and coaching as part of a pilot program that is funded by The Ontario Trillium Foundation is providing funding in Ontario to provide materials for an 'idling program in a box'  to schools in Halton Region as part of a pilot. DADA will also assist other provinces and school boards by supporting idle-free campaigns at their schools and communities.

To learn more about DADA, visit www.dadacanada.com and start an idle-free program in your neighbourhood, school or workplace.