First, here's a reminder that NOYS will offer 50 $1,000 awards for the best NYTSM activities.  Last year, 15 SADD chapters were recipients of a $1,000 award, and we're hoping for even more this year!  All you need to do is register your activity on the NYTSM website, and you're eligible for an award.

As promised, there is one new component to NYTSM to announce this month.  The Teen Driving Activist Awards consist of two national awards - the Teen Activist of the Year and the Parent Activist of the Year.  These awards are presented to a teen and a parent who went "above and beyond" as advocates for safe teen driving.

The Parent winner will select a nonprofit organization (SADD, we hope!) to receive a $10,000 grant.  The Teen winner receives a $10,000 cash prize and can designate a nonprofit organization, such as SADD, to receive an additional $5,000 grant.

Teens may nominate themselves or someone else.  Hurry - applications are due April 21.  The winners will be announced on May 12.  To learn more and nominate yourself or someone else, visit teendrivingactivist.com.

Your chapter should start planning your activities for NYTSM now!  Visit the NYTSM website to learn more.  You can also sign up for the weekly NOYS e-newsletter, called Notable NOYS, by clicking here.

Visit the online store at saddstore.org to order your board shorts today!  You can also reach the SADD Store by phone at 1-800-394-0090 or by e-mail at saddstore@workflowone.com.

Before you order, don't forget to ask your State Coordinator for a special code so your state SADD organization benefits from your purchase.  Don't have a State Coordinator?  No problem!  Your purchase helps SADD chapters nationwide.

SADD is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 SADD National Student of the Year and Student Leadership Council (SLC).  SLC members advise the SADD National Board on policies and programs, plan and implement the SADD National Conference, and represent SADD at national and regional conferences and events.

Stephen Winkler, from Seneca, Kansas, is the 2008-2009 SADD National Student of the Year.  Stephen served on the SLC in 2007-2008, and will attend Emmanuel College in Boston in the fall.

Stephen's duties include being SADD's primary student spokesperson, serving as a member of the SADD National Board of Directors, and serving as the chair of the SLC.

Stephen will be assisted by the members of the SLC Executive Committee: Danny Ramsey from Charlottesville, Indiana, and Franki Michelle Tackett from Oak Grove, Louisiana.

These are the other members of the SLC:

• Richard Birt from New Carlisle, Ohio
• Brittany Cobb from Orlando, Florida
• Anna Gaissert from Dover, Massachusetts
• Zackary Harrell from Cisne, Illinois
• Darian Maurice LaNeave from Walkertown, North Carolina
• Allyson Lumpkin from Bainbridge, Georgia
• Samantha Metcalf from Raymond, Washington
• Bridget Rekow from Ellendale, North Dakota
• Evelyn Silva from Kearney, New Jersey

In addition, 2007-2008 SADD National Student of the Year Sasha Willingham will serve as Student of the Year Emeritus for 2008-2009.

The new SLC's term begins at the SADD National Conference this June.  Congratulations to all the incoming SLC members!

There are plenty of great resources online that are useful for SADD chapters and community coalitions.  Here are just a few!

After a manufacturing delay, we are pleased to announce that the DVD "Smashed: Toxic Tales of Teens and Alcohol" is once again available for free!  Produced in 2004, this HBO Family/RADD production is a powerful and hard-hitting documentary on teens who suffered alcohol-related brain injuries and their struggles to recover. 

All SADD chapters were mailed a copy of this DVD in the fall of 2004.  We've received many calls since from new chapters looking for a copy.  The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) has periodically received new shipments, which have gone quickly, so don't delay!  To order "Smashed," order online at NCADI or call 1-800-729-6686 and ask for DVD190.  Once you receive it, make sure to visit the NOYS toolkit, which has a teacher's discussion guide and lesson plan.


Another free resource is the new DVD from Driver's Edge.  Driver's Edge is a national defensive-driving program that tours nationally, with professional race car drivers doing the instructing.  Now Driver's Edge has released a DVD, "Lessons From the Edge," encompassing their defensive driving curriculum for young drivers.  The Driver's Edge program is currently being evaluated for effectiveness by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Driver's Edge will send you as many copies of the "Lessons From the Edge" DVD as you'd like, free of charge.  Your chapter can give them to new drivers in your school as an educational tool.  To order, please contact Driver's Edge at 702-896-6482 or e-mail jeff@driversedge.org.  Make sure to include the number of copies desired, your shipping address (no PO Boxes), and the fact that you are a SADD chapter.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) offers customizable "Open Letters" to parents.  These letters can be customized with the name and logos of SADD chapters, community coalitions, schools, and others.  They've introduced a new Prom ad (pictured at left) with the tagline "Is It Really Fun If You Don't Remember?"  You can also visit theantidrug.com/openletter for more letters on a variety of topics.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has introduced a new guide on prevention strategies.  If you've been reading Decisions, our print newsletter, you've seen that we've featured articles about  prevention science.  Although  written for community coalitions, this guide is an excellent resource for understanding assorted prevention strategies that will help you make a difference in your community.  Click here to download a copy, or you can also order a free printed copy from NCADI online or by calling them at 1-800-729-6686 and asking for BKD544.

SADD is now offering the Drugs: True Stories DVD in a pack with a discussion guide and student booklets.  Drugs: True Stories is part of the larger True Stories series, and has been named "a prevention program with promise" by researchers at Harvard Medical School.  SADD is offering special packages featuring this useful program directly to SADD chapters.  Click here to learn more.

Channing-Bete is once again offering grants of $750 towards the purchase of their materials.  They do have a wide variety of substance abuse prevention materials that schools and SADD chapters may find helpful.  Applications are due by April 30.  For more information, click here.

Did you know May 1 is Plant a Flower Day?  Celebrate spring by purchasing ready-to-plant flowers, bulbs, or seeds at Gurney's Seed and Nursery Co. or Jackson & Perkins.  Both stores are available through the SADD eMall.

Mother's Day is also coming up and is a great opportunity to surprise your mom with flowers from FTD.  Don't have time to drive to a store and pick up a card?  Visit Hallmark at the SADD eMall and order a card that can be delivered to your house or have it personalized and sent directly to your mom.

When you order online through the SADD eMall at sadd-emall.com, a portion of your purchase will support SADD programs and activities.  Retailers automatically generate funds for SADD that average 3 percent - and up to 25 percent - of the purchase.

And don't forget, April 16 is Stress Awareness Day.  Relax by seeing a movie!  Purchase tickets at the Fandango store before heading to the theater or order a movie through Netflix.

Helping SADD while making your everyday purchases is easy.  Simply visit sadd-emall.com, click on the store of your choice and do your shopping.

Happy Spring!

In the Spotlight this month is Holliston High School SADD from Holliston, Massachusetts.  Holliston SADD recently participated in a "Sticker Shock" campaign at a local liquor store.

The Sticker Shock campaign was done in collaboration with Massachusetts MADD's Youth in Action program.  Students placed stickers on bags, cases of beer, and throughout the store reminding purchasers that providing alcohol to minors is against the law and carries serious legal consequences.

Sticker Shock is an example of an environmental strategies campaign, which means that the focus is placed on changing the environment to reduce the availability of alcohol to teens.  A successful prevention program will employ a number of different strategies - some targeted at the students themselves, others at school policies, and others at the community level to educate adults.

SADD chapters are encouraged to look beyond the school walls and perform community-level work by working with community coalitions, their local MADD chapters, or other prevention groups.

Holliston SADD Advisor Bill Wechsler reports that the event was a big success and the students are planning to work with other area liquor stores in the future.  Congrats to everyone at Holliston High School SADD for their efforts to make an impact in their community!

If you'd like to see YOUR chapter featured in The SADDvocate or in our print newsletter, Decisions, be sure to let us know what you're doing!  Include a picture or two if you can.  Send news to Chris Egan, SADD National Director of Field Services, at cegan@sadd.org or at the mailing address at the bottom of this e-mail.

SADD's Program Corner will be written each month by a member of the SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC).  The Program Corner will bring you quick and easy ideas for activities to enliven chapter meetings, brighten your school, or reach out to recruit new members.  This month we welcome SLC member Emily Smith from Clewiston, Florida.

Most of you have already celebrated prom or are about to experience this annual occasion that swarms high schools around the country with excitement.  It's a great time to get dressed up, take pictures, and dance the night away with your friends.  The guys rent their tuxes while girls set out on a mission to the find the one dress that matches their personality and style.  Something your SADD chapter can do to help those damsels in dress distress is to hold your very own SADD Prom Fashion Show.

Here's how it works: you find some girls (and guys if your fashion show calls for it) and host a night for students and parents alike to come out and see what's catching the eyes of prom-goers.  These dresses can be found in the closet of your very own SADD chapter members.  Don't forget to ask around for other girls who might be looking for someone to take a dress off their hands.  With all these dresses, owned and donated, you can put on a show to encourage teens to stay safe while at prom.  You can choose to charge a small cover at the door, have donated food and drink, and even add in facts and statistics about teens on prom night.

At the end of the show, auction off all the donated prom dresses (which should be properly tagged and identify any rips, marks, or missing beading).  The money can go towards an activity your SADD chapter may be planning in the future!  Just make sure to advertise for your fashion show well in advance, and even encourage your own friends and family to come and check it out.  Who knows - you might see one of the auctioned gowns on your high school's next prom queen!

Did you know there are lots of free activity ideas at sadd.org?  Click here to see a list of some of the great ideas for activities your chapter can do!

And don't forget about the SADD Manual, which is filled with important information and helpful activity plans.  Click here to learn more about the new SADD Manual.

Nomination forms and supporting materials for SADD's National Awards must be received at the SADD National office by April 11, 2008.  For the nomination forms, click here.