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The SADDvocate 
 
OCTOBER 2011
In This Issue
Programs and Resources
Chapter Toolbox
SADD Store
SADD and WorldStrides
SADD National Conference
Chapter Spotlight
SADD Speaker Series
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It's Time to Update!

Each fall, we have new advisors call us and ask whether or not their chapter is registered in our database.  The correct answer is - it doesn't matter!  We ask ALL advisors to update their information every school year so we know your chapter is running this year and we have the most up-to-date contact information.

SADD charges no dues or membership fees to our chapters - we only ask you to take two minutes each year to fill out our simple registration form.

You can quickly and easily fill out the form online, or, if you prefer, print the form and fax or mail it to us.  We edited the registration form last year, so please don't fax in a form from years ago - we're collecting different information now!

All chapters who registered by September 7 have received 2011-2012 chapter certificates.  Chapters whose registrations are received by October 14 will have certificates mailed next week. 

If you haven't yet updated this school year, please take two minutes and do so now by clicking the link below.

Click here to update now.
State SADD Websites
  
Northern Lights SADD (MN, ND, and SD)
National Insurance Partner

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Regional Vehicle
Dealer Partner

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Quick Links
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Stop Impaired Driving

Stop Drugged Driving

Governors Highway Safety Association

National Road Safety Foundation

Speak Up Or Else

Make Roads Safe

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

National Sleep Foundation


Alcohol/Drugs
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Above the Influence

Parents.  The Anti-Drug.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIDA for Teens

NIDA Goes Back to School

Just Think Twice

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Stop Underage Drinking

Talk Early.  Talk Often.  Get Others Involved.

We Don't Serve Teens

FACE

TAKE IT BACK!

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

Get Smart About Drugs

Just Think Twice

Natural High Online Film Series


Community Service
YSA

Global Youth Service Day

Do Something


Bullying/School Climate
StopBullying.gov

Teens Against Bullying


Stop Bullying Now!

Think B4 You Speak

Mix It Up at Lunch Day


Suicide Prevention
We Can Help Us

aevidum

Suicidology

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

The Trevor Project


Internet Safety
i-SAFE

Think Before You Post


Teen Pregnancy
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy


Violence Prevention
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE)

Ignitus


Eating Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)


Steroids
Taylor Hooton Foundation


Have a suggestion for a link to appear here?  Email [email protected].
Greetings!

Welcome to another issue of The SADDvocate!  This month brings us Red Ribbon Week, a time when many SADD chapters are conducting activities.  What do you have planned this month?

Our goal is to ensure that every SADD chapter has the latest news, so we're counting on you to help spread the word about The SADDvocate.  Please encourage all of your SADD chapter members to sign up on sadd.org, or send a list (spreadsheets preferred, with columns for first name, last name, and email address) to Chris Egan, SADD's Director of Field Services, at [email protected]

Sometimes school computer filters prevent students and advisors from seeing The SADDvocate properly, in full color with graphics.  You can view every issue in our online archive.  This issue will be posted to the archive later today.

A good source of regular SADD news is our Facebook page.  Please "like" our page today, and encourage your friends to do so as well!  Links to all our social networking pages are on the bar at left.
Programs and Resources
Camerena pic October 23-31, 2011 is Red Ribbon Week, a time when many SADD chapters conduct activities around drug prevention.  Red Ribbon Week began as a tribute to DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was murdered in Mexico by drug cartel members in 1985.  His family and friends wore red ribbons in his memory, and the National Family Partnership sponsored the first Red Ribbon Celebration in 1988.  Their redribbon.org website is a good place to find resources.  You can also download SADD's Think About It ... Homecoming & Red Ribbon Season campaign or purchase SADD-branded Red Ribbon items from the SADD Store.  We hope your chapter will conduct activities this Red Ribbon Week!

2011-2012 represents SADD's 30th Anniversary of empowering youth to keep their peers safe, and we're celebrating for the whole year!  Click here for a year-long calendar that offers ideas and fun activities we hope your chapter will implement - pick just one or do them all! 

We've designated November 30, 2011 as SADD's official birthday.  We're encouraging chapters to obtain proclamations from your city, town, or county officials declaring November 30 as "SADD Day."  You can find a customizable template and detailed instructions by clicking here.  Don't wait!  It can take weeks to get an official proclamation, so you should submit your request as soon as possible.

On the 30th, you can celebrate with an event you design yourself, or pick from some suggestions, such as a Lantern Ceremony or Chain of Life.  For more, see SADD's Campaigns and Activities page.

NDFW logo October 31 - November 6 is National Drug Facts Week, sponsored by our partners at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  We encourage all chapters to run an event this week, in which teen questions about drugs are answered by scientists and researchers working on drug abuse prevention.  NIDA has an event toolkit and materials available, including free copies of the "Shatter the Myths" booklet for your use.  Check it out by clicking here, and don't forget to register your event to receive additional support and resources.

Take Back Day  

Last September and this past April, many SADD chapters helped promote 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 third National Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 29 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 police chief or sheriff 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.
Chapter Toolbox - Bullying Prevention
toolboxEach month, a member of the SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC) will write a column designed to help chapters with activity ideas, meeting suggestions, and more.

AnesiaHola, SADD family and friends!  I'm Anesia Estrada, member of the SLC Executive Committee.  I attend Mission Heights Preparatory High School in my home state of Arizona.  I'm a senior planning to attend college next fall to major in film production with a minor in acting.

 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  There are lots of great resources for activities this month - you should definitely check out stopbullying.gov and SADD's Bullying. Not cool. Bullying Prevention Resource Kit.

One other cool activity that can break down barriers and reduce bullying is Mix It Up at Lunch Day, which is held this year on Tuesday, October 18.  Cafeterias can be the most divided place in school, so Mix It Up Day asks students to step outside their comfort zones and connect over lunch with a new student they normally wouldn't eat with.  This helps students relate to one another so biases and misconceptions can be reduced.

At my school, we have a bullying prevention program that helps create a safe environment.  What is your school doing to reduce bullying?  Your SADD chapter can examine school policies to see if they need work.

I hope your chapter is making bullying prevention a focus this month in some way - you can make a difference!
Spread the Word, Green the World!
Seeded Red Ribbon
The SADD Store is now carrying some unique, fun, and environmentally-friendly items that you might use in your Red Ribbon Week activities: Red Ribbon "seeded" necklaces, ribbons, and even journals with a seeded cover.  After your Red Ribbon event, you can plant the items and grow flowers!  These make an unusual giveaway to engage students and adults in your school's Red Ribbon program.

 

The SADD Store carries plenty of other Red Ribbon supplies as well - ribbon, banners, table tents, pencils, and more - or just order the full Red Ribbon kit.  And don't forget to download SADD's free Think About It ... Homecoming and Red Ribbon Season campaign kit full of activity ideas, planning guides, press release templates, and more.

To order, visit saddstore.org, call 1-888-608-6988, or email [email protected]
SADD and WorldStrides Partnership
WorldStrides logo
For the past 15 years, SADD has partnered with WorldStrides to organize the annual SADD National Conference, and WorldStrides is busy right now finalizing our Los Angeles-area hotel for the 2012 conference (see conference article below).

WorldStrides is the nation's oldest and most trusted provider of student education travel, and SADD and WorldStrides are teaming up for some exciting domestic and international trips for high school students to places such as Washington, DC, Costa Rica, Europe, and China.

Students have the chance to earn college credit through the renowned University of Virginia, while teachers travel free of charge with a minimum number of participants and are eligible for free professional development credits - just for traveling on a WorldStrides trip!

If all that wasn't enough, if your school arranges a new travel program through WorldStrides, a portion of your trip price will support SADD National!  Is there someone at your school that plans trips like this?  Make sure they know about this opportunity!  You can learn more, view sample itineraries for a variety of trips, and begin the booking process by clicking here.
SADD National Conference - California!
CA postcard logoWe're thrilled to announce that the 2012 SADD National Conference will be held in Southern California in the Los Angeles area.  Mark your calendars for June 24-27, 2012!  Stay tuned for further details on exact location and pricing, which will be coming next month.
Chapter Spotlight - Mohave/Fox Creek

Bullhead SADD 

In the Spotlight this month are Mohave High School SADD and Fox Creek Junior High School SADD from Bullhead City, Arizona. 

 

These SADD chapters teamed up with local law enforcement and emergency services, as well as other community groups and nonprofits on their annual "Walk Away From Drugs."

 

This event brought hundreds of residents from across the county together for a 5K road race and a 1.5 mile walk to call attention to the issue of drug abuse.  Before the event, drug prevention educational activities were held at a local Boys & Girls Club.

 

School Resource Officer Andy Sevillano, who serves as SADD Advisor to both schools, reports that the SADD chapters (pictured above) were out in force spreading their message.  These chapters are very active, both in the community (for example, they worked hard to ban "spice" - a synthetic marijuana - in Arizona) and in their schools with more traditional SADD chapter activities.

Congratulations to Mohave and Fox Creek SADD for their efforts!

If you'd like to see your chapter featured in the Spotlight, send news and a good group photo to Chris Egan at [email protected].
SADD Speaker Series
http://www.sadd.org/speaker.htm "Stephen Wallace provided me with the guidance necessary to face difficult decisions, and he can relate to both students and parents alike.  He has a genuine interest in helping teenagers get through difficult times."      - Jamie Blangiardo, Teen

This teen has experienced the passion and caring of national youth advocate Stephen Wallace, SADD's Senior Advisor for Policy, Research, and Education and author of Reality Gap: Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex--What Parents Don't Know and Teens Aren't Telling.  Stephen has three decades of experience working with teens and served as SADD's board chairman for the past 15 years.

As the featured speaker in the SADD Speaker Series' Family Focus program, Stephen explores the "reality gap" that often divides parents and teens and offers practical advice to help families improve their communication skills and strengthen family bonds.  This unique assembly brings parents and teens together for a motivational and informational presentation with the opportunity for audience questions.

Bring the SADD Speaker Series to your school, and you'll receive a free copy of Reality Gap and an Event Organizer Checklist!  For more information, visit saddspeaker.org.
Remember that the SADD National Field Services department is here to provide help and support to chapters, especially those in states without state coordinators.  Just call 1-877-SADD-INC, ext. 223 or email [email protected] for help!

Thanks for reading this issue of The SADDvocate, and thanks for all the work you do in your SADD chapters!

 

Sincerely,

 


Christopher Egan, Director of Field Services
SADD National