May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM), and we encourage all SADD chapters to conduct traffic safety-related activities this spring.  But wait, there's more!  This year, there are MANY contests related to NYTSM with chances for your chapter to earn big money - as much as $10,000!  So don't miss out!

First off is the annual Act Out Loud contest, focused on distracted driving.  Your chapter outlines a plan for a cool project and creates a video of what you did.  Online voting from May 16-22 will determine the winner of the $10,000 grand prize.  There are TEN additional prizes of $5,000 each as well.  The first 200 teams to enter receive a free distracted driving toolkit, and the first 200 to submit a video receive $200 cash!  Don't wait - the deadline is April 11.  Visit actoutloud.org for more information, and when you enter the contest, remember to put "SADD" in the "National Non-Profit Affiliate" field.

Next up is the YOUTH-Turn It Around Awards.  These awards stem from a partnership between the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation.  They recognize organizations who respond to a traffic-safety-related tragedy in their school or community by implementing a project this May during NYTSM to prevent future tragedies.  The contest deadline is May 31, and the grand prize is $5,000!  Click here for more information.

There's still more - the United Nations has designated 2011-2020 as the "Decade of Action for Road Safety," using a wearable Decade tag (at left) as a symbol for the effort.  Traffic crashes are a huge issue across the world, with more than 1.3 million fatalities each year.  The Make Roads Safe Foundation, the coordinating body for the Decade in the U.S., will launch the Decade of Action during NYTSM, and is holding a contest for youth as a part of the kickoff.  Create a plan for events to help promote the Decade, and you have a chance to be one of 20 winners.  The prize includes $500 cash, a Flip video camera, t-shirts, Decade tags, and an electronic toolkit full of project ideas.  Click here for the application or e-mail usdecadeofaction@gmail.com with any questions.  Hurry - the application deadline is March 21.

The Office for National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is holding an Above the Influence drugged-driving poster contest as part of NYTSM.  There will be a webinar to announce contest details on March 16 - click here for more information.

Together, FocusDriven and the National Safety Council are holding an "On the Road, Off the Phone" PSA contest around the issue of cell phone use and driving.  Did you know that just talking on the phone while driving - even using a handsfree device -  can increase the risk of a crash?  Create an educational video of up to three minutes in length on this subject, and you could win $2,000!  The entry deadline is March 31.  Click here for more information.

Finally, Ford's "Belt it Out" song contest ends April 30.  Compose and perform an original song about distracted driving, and you and your band could win up to $25,000!  Click here for more information.

Phew!  That's a lot of contests.  We hope your chapter will enter at least one - often the odds of winning are way better than you think!

March 23 is "Kick Butts Day," sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  Many SADD chapters participate in this annual event.  If yours does, make sure to register your activity on the kickbuttsday.org website.  You'll also find activity ideas, a comprehensive guide, downloadable promotional materials, and more at that site.

Our friends at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy are looking for new members to join their Youth Leadership Team.  You must be between 14 and 18 to apply, and applications are due June 1.  The Youth Leadership Team usually includes at least one SADD member, so we encourage you to apply!  To learn more, click here.  Don't forget about the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, which this year will be held May 4.  Click here for more information about the Day. 

 

Last September, many SADD chapters helped promote the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, when members of the public were encouraged to safely turn in unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs.  The event was such a success that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring a second National Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.  Police departments are typically the drop-off point.  Visit the website to check if there's already a drop-off point near you.  If not, contact your local law enforcement to see if they'd be willing to participate.  Your chapter can also tie in awareness about prescription drug abuse to your promotion of this event.

Join us for the 2011 SADD National Conference, Passport to Adventure: Cleared for Takeoff, in Chicago, Illinois on June 26-29.  Planned by youth and adults committed to SADD, this is a great educational experience that promises to be full of valuable information, compelling speakers, and lots of fun activities!  You'll also connect with other SADD students and advisors, have the chance to exchange ideas, and make lasting friendships.

Keynote speakers this year include Eddie Slowikowski and Kevin Brooks.  We'll also welcome ThinkFast, a fun and fast-paced game show experience with great prizes.  And of course, you won't want to miss out on the many amazing workshops focused on youth development, traffic safety, underage drinking prevention, and the chance to check out the innovative resources showcased in our exhibit hall.

Make your plans to join us this June in Chicago!  Visit sadd.org to learn more and register for this incredible experience.

Also, a reminder that the deadline to submit workshop proposals is TODAY, March 11.  We're looking for exciting proposals from SADD chapters, advisors, and others on a wide variety of topics.  The proposal submission form can be downloaded here.

In the Spotlight this month are Great Oak High School SADD and Temecula Valley High School SADD from Temecula Valley, California.

Great Oak SADD and Temecula Valley SADD are among a number of SADD chapters sponsored by SADD's Regional Vehicle Dealer Partner, DCH Auto Group.  DCH auto dealerships in California, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut help support SADD chapters at local high schools.

Great Oak and Temecula Valley SADD teamed up to host a unique '80s "Middle School Movie Night" at the local DCH dealership.  SADD students wanted to connect with younger students in Temecula to help familiarize them with SADD encourage them to join the chapter when they reach either of the high schools.

SADD students and middle schoolers alike (pictured above) dressed in throwback '80s outfits.  The evening started off with fun icebreakers and a costume contest, followed by information about SADD and its mission.  Then it was on to the main feature - showing the '80s classic "Some Kind of Wonderful."  Our friends at DCH Auto Group Temecula report that a "totally awesome" time was had by all!

Connecting with and mentoring younger students is something all SADD chapters are encouraged to take on.  These events can help your chapter grow over time, provide increased visibility, and most importantly, offer younger students positive role-modeling when they need it most.  Congratulations to Great Oak and Temecula Valley SADD for their efforts - and special thanks to DCH Auto Group for their amazing commitment to SADD and keeping teens safe!

If you'd like to see your chapter featured in the Spotlight, send news and a good group photo to Chris Egan at cegan@sadd.org.