Registration will open next week for the 2009 SADD National Conference, Climbing the Hill, which will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland, July 12-15, 2009! 

The SADD National Conference is a fantastic opportunity to network with more than 500 youth and adults, all committed to the prevention of destructive decisions in their schools and communities.  This year, we have the unique opportunity to return to the Washington, D.C., area to focus strongly on advocacy efforts and prevention education and explore Capitol Hill! 

Conference details, a Call for Workshops, registration forms, fund-raising tips, and more will be available next week!  Check the sadd.org homepage to download the registration packet.

The conference will be preceded by a special two-day SADD SPEAKs (Students for Policy, Education, Advocacy, and Knowledge) advocacy training for a small number of students selected from an application pool.  Applications and more information about SPEAKs will also be available online next week - and applications are due January 21, 2009.  If you're interested in the program, you should begin putting together some of the application materials now: obtain the names of your U.S. legislators (two in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives) and make a list of the major traffic safety issues facing teens today.  The application packet will have more details - be sure to check it out next week.

We hope you're able to join us in July, and we encourage you to start your fund-raising today!  Click here for tips and ideas to help get you to the conference.

Hope to see you in July 2009! 

Don't forget that applications are now being accepted for the 2009-2010 SADD National Student of the Year (SOY) and Student Leadership Council (SLC).  Applicants must be current juniors or seniors in high school.

Many states with SADD State Coordinators often have a process for nominating one student from the state to the SLC or as the SOY.  If you're in a state with a State Coordinator, you should contact that person directly to learn if a process exists.  Contact information can be found here.

If you're in a state without a State Coordinator, you can request an application by contacting Ashley Conners at 1-877-SADD-INC (723-3462) or at aconners@sadd.org.  Ashley is also available for any questions about the process.  Hurry!  Applications must be postmarked by Friday, January 23. 

Here's a reminder about the FACE "Do What You Love" competition.  SADD partners with FACE on the Take It Back! movement, and the "Life at its Best - Add Nothing" campaign is one part of that movement.  FACE wants you to tell them what you do sober - see the addnothing.org website for examples. 

FACE will pick one idea to add to the campaign, and the winner will receive recognition and Take It Back! Gear Packs.  The deadline to enter has been extended until December 19th, so there's still time for you to enter! 

Joined by Miss Washington and the mayor of Shelton, the students picked up 2,300 discarded cigarette butts in just 25 minutes at a skate park frequented by mostly teens, illustrating the scope of the issue.

Shelton High SADD advisor Gerry Apple (who also serves as Washington's SADD State Coordinator) reports that the event was a joint SADD and Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) project and involved public health and other officials.

Congratulations to Shelton High SADD and Oakland Bay Junior High SADD for their hard work on this project!

If you'd like to see YOUR chapter featured in the Spotlight, be sure to let us know what you're doing!  Send news to Chris Egan, SADD National Director of Field Services, at cegan@sadd.org or the mailing address at the bottom of this newsletter.