Greetings!
Welcome to our final issue of The SADDvocate for the 2011-12 school year. We hope this year was a great one for your chapter, and you'll return in the fall charged up and ready to go! 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 cegan@sadd.org. 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. |
 | We're Taking a Break! Enjoy the Summer!
|  Schools are closed or closing soon for the summer, and so we're taking a summer break. We hope you'll tune in for the next issue of The SADDvocate in September!
From all of us - the SADD National staff and Student Leadership Council - have a safe and enjoyable summer!
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| SADD National Conference News
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 We're looking forward to seeing many of you at the 2012 SADD National Conference, The Prevention League: Discover Your Power, to be held June 24-27, 2012, at the Torrance Marriott South Bay hotel in Torrance, California (just south of Los Angeles). We're just days away now - but there's still time to register for conference if you want to attend! For those of you attending the conference, we're pleased to announce that a number of nationally-known speakers have generously donated a speaking engagement to our silent auction. Bid on these speakers, and it's possible to bring them to your school for a big savings over their usual fees! If you are the high bidder, you'll arrange a date with the speaker and, other than your bid amount, pay only their travel expenses. We'll accept checks, credit cards, and purchase orders - so come prepared to bid! Check out this fantastic list of speakers: All proceeds from the silent auction go to fund SADD College Scholarships, so please bid generously! |
| Programs and Resources
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 Everyone knows you shouldn't text and drive, but sometimes it's easy to forget. A quick text to your best friend letting them know you'll be a little late to lunch seems harmless - but it can actually take your eyes off the road for the length of a football field. Our friends at DoSomething.org want you to use the power of your thumbs to educate your friends about the dangers of texting and driving. It's simple: sign up at thumbwars.org to receive two pairs of super-powered thumb socks in the mail! Take pictures of yourself and your friends wearing the thumb socks (and maybe SADD t-shirts!) and spread the knowledge. What's in it for you? The best submitted pictures will be featured at thumbwars.org, and you and your friends will have an awesome way to remember to keep your eyes on the road, instead of on your phone! Sign up to get your thumb socks today!  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has launched a new website, Easy-to-Read Drug Facts. This website is super-simple and, as promised, easy to read. There's some great information on the site, videos, and more. Check it out!
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| CARE/SADD College Visit Research Released
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High school seniors have graduated and made their decisions on college for the fall. Part of this process is often a spring overnight visit to the colleges they are considering. These visits can be a great way to get a closer look at a particular college's student life. According to recent research by the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) at Susquehanna University and SADD, some teens may be at risk on these visits. In a survey of more than 1,000 teens about overnight college visits, 17 percent of those who had been on a visit reported that they had sex or engaged in intimate sexual behavior during their trip, 16 percent reported drinking alcohol, and 5 percent said they used drugs other than alcohol. The research report advised parents to discuss expectations of behavior with their teen prior to the visit, and maintain contact with phone calls and make sure to be reachable throughout the night. To read the full press release, click here. |
| Contests, Grants, and Awards
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 We're pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 SADD National Awards. Thanks to all those who sent in nomination forms. The SADD National Chapter of the Year is Chaparral High School SADD in Temecula, California. Second place went to Stuarts Draft High School SADD/YOVASO in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, and third place to Century High School SADD in Bismarck, North Dakota. The SADD National Advisor of the Year is Christopher Payne from Dothan High School SADD in Dothan, Alabama. Second place went to Kelly Prichard from Allen East High School SADD in Harrod, Ohio, and Laurie Foerderer from Century High School SADD in Bismarck, North Dakota finished third. Finally, the SADD National Activity of the Year is "Issues and Answers Day" by Allen East High School SADD in Harrod, Ohio. Second place went to "Parent Party Awareness Night" by Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School SADD in Sudbury, Massachusetts. "Power to the Passenger" by Old Bridge High School SADD in Matawan, New Jersey, took third. Congratulations to these outstanding chapters and advisors, and all those who were nominated. We hope YOUR chapter will consider filling out a nomination form for the SADD National Awards next year, and be eligible for cash prizes!  SADD had the most chapters enter the annual Act Out Loud contest compared to any other youth organization! Thanks to all of you who entered and completed the various challenges. We especially want to recognize the prize winners. Two SADD chapters won $2,000 as runners-up: Fatima R-3 High School SADD in Westphalia, Missouri, and Stafford Technical Center SADD in Rutland, Vermont. Stuarts Draft High School SADD/YOVASO from Stuarts Draft, Virginia, also won $2,000 as one of five "Judges' Choice" award recipients. Congratulations to these chapters for their terrific efforts!  Want to make a difference? Take action? Solve a tough community problem? Our friends at YSA can help! Whether you're a teen, educator, nonprofit leader, or adult mentor, YSA Grants power youth-led service and service-learning projects with funding, training, and resource support. Through YSA Grants, you can harness the creativity, energy, and unique perspective of young people to grow stronger communities, foster student achievement, and build workplace readiness skills. Each year, YSA supports youth-led service with over $1 million in YSA Grants. Five grant programs worth more than $450,000 for community organizations and K-12 schools are available now for 2012-13. For more information, check out ysa.org/grants! When you apply for a grant, make sure to enter "SADD" in the "Partner Code" field, and you'll receive a priority review of your application!
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| Chapter Toolbox - Have a Safe Summer!
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 Each month, a member of the SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC) writes a column designed to help chapters with activity ideas, meeting suggestions, and more. Hey there, SADD Nation! I'm Deanna Boucher, and I'm finishing up my term as your SADD National Student of the Year.
It's that time of year - warm sun, ice cream, cookouts, and no school! That's right ... it's summer! The best thing about summer for me is having time to relax and hang out with friends. It's definitely a time to be careful, though - according to AAA, Memorial Day to Labor Day are the "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers. It's great if your SADD chapter is active during the summer hosting events like movie nights or sports to keep teens safe. You can find ideas, including a cool media campaign, in our Think About It ... The Power of Communication: Summer Waves campaign, which you can download here. But even if you're not holding organized activities, no worries - you can still make a difference! If you hear your friends come up with an idea that doesn't sound too smart, suggest something else. When it comes down to it, if you're worried that a friend is going to get into real trouble, don't be afraid to speak up! Your friends will listen, and your action could cause a surf-worthy wave of safer choices. So go ahead - grab your sunblock, put on your sunglasses, and make a splash into a super safe summer! |
| SADD Speaker Series - Plan for Fall Now! |  Are you planning ahead for next year's special events? Are you looking for a speaker who can bring real life answers to real life questions about bullying, underage drinking, or risky, impaired, or drugged driving?
Consider booking Stephen Wallace for a SADD Speaker Series presentation! Stephen is a nationally-recognized youth advocate and author. He serves as SADD's senior advisor for research, policy, and education. In his one-hour motivational program, Stephen addresses critical issues facing students, teachers, faculty, and parents and their teens - and allows time for questions and answers.
The Speaker Series has been a hit at middle and high schools, colleges, religious institutions, medical centers, and corporations. Perhaps your chapter has a collaborative relationship with a local business or organization that might also benefit from this prevention education program. For more information about booking an event, email saddspeaker@sadd.org.
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| SADD Store - Don't Text Baseball T-shirt!
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The SADD Store now stocks this classic Champion raglan baseball shirt with color-contrasting three-quarter sleeves in red, blue, or black. This shirt is a great way to spread your anti-texting while driving message in a fun way. They cost just $20 each, and are available now. To order, visit saddstore.org, call 1-888-608-6988, or email sadd@apisource.com. Remember to "like" the SADD Store Facebook page to receive all the latest deals and new items in your News Feed! |
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