D.A.R.E. AMERICA 20TH ANNUAL D.A.R.E. INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE – UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES LAUNCHES CONFERENCE AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER DURING OPENING CEREMONIES

July 17, 2007

WHAT: July 17-19, 2007, D.A.R.E. America hosts the 20th Annual D.A.R.E. International Training Conference. Several thousand chiefs of police, sheriffs, D.A.R.E. instructors and educators from throughout the nation and from around the world will attend the conference. The focus of the conference is training to enhance the skills and abilities of officers delivering the D.A.R.E. program. During the conference new D.A.R.E. curricular components addressing the topics of prescription/over-the-counter drug abuse and Internet safety/cyber bullying will be unveiled. United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales will kickoff the conference as keynote speaker during the conference Opening Ceremonies.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CDST

WHERE: Gaylord’s Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Delta Ballroom
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

WHO: United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales
Charlie Parsons, President/CEO D.A.R.E. America
Dave Mitchell, Commissioner Tennessee Department of Safety

PRESS: Video and photo opportunities will be available during Opening Ceremonies and throughout the conference. Press check-in will be from 6:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m. CDST. Check-in will take place at the D.A.R.E. America booth in the Delta Ballroom lobby. Video equipment must be pre-set by 7:30 a.m. Credentials, a news media badge with photo or a photo identification with a business card must be presented.

CONTACTS: Ralph Lochridge Mike Browning
Director of Communications Public Information Officer
D.A.R.E. America Tennessee Department of Safety
949/533-7297 Mobile 615/251-5131 Office
webmaster@dare.com 615/969-2136 Mobile
www.dare.com, mike.browning@state.tn.us

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public. The department’s general areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education and motorist services including the issuance of driver licenses. The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.