Welcome to another issue of The SADDvocate! We hope everyone enjoyed the winter break, and your chapter returns re-energized and ready, as we move into 2014.
Have you registered your chapter this school year? ALL chapters are asked to register once each school year so that we know your chapter is active and we have the current advisor's contact information. Registration takes just two minutes, can be done online, is completely free - there are no dues or membership fees - and you'll receive a chapter certificate and a free poster. So what are you waiting for? Click here to register now. All chapters that registered before December 17 should have received their certificates.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. |
| SADD Shines Day - Get Ready! |
We're excited to hear about your chapter's plans for SADD Shines Day, Wednesday, February 5. Chapters are working with local officials to request proclamations to enhance their events; coming up with creative ways to craft colorful lanterns, such as involving younger children in the community; and more - we've even heard of a planned Hawaiian-themed SADD Shines Day activity in a cold northern state!
Make your celebration as simple or elaborate as you like, but plan to wear SADD gear (or buy some of the new SADD Shines Day t-shirts or buttons described in the SADD Store article below), take some pictures, and share them with us! Our Resource Kit is full of activity ideas, including a script for a memorable lantern ceremony, and make sure to take advantage of our customizable media tools such as social media posts and in-school announcement scripts.
Most importantly, register your event with us. Here's a special bonus: be one of the first 100 chapters to register a SADD Shines Day event, and we'll send you a free set of five SADD Shines Day 11" x 17" full-color posters. The posters have space at the bottom to include your event details and should be a great help in calling attention to your event. Registration is simple and takes just a minute to complete online. You have to hurry, though - more than 25 chapters have already registered, and only the first 100 will receive posters!
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| Programs & Resources |
January 27 - February 2 is National Drug Facts Week, an event for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse through factual information from scientific experts. SADD chapters across the country are taking the National Drug IQ Challenge, participating in Drug Facts Chat Day, or hosting an NDFW event with a scientific expert speaker. What is your chapter planning? It's not too late to get involved - check the NDFW site for activity ideas and make sure to register your event on the map!
The annual Big Bowl Vote is sponsored by the Drug Free Action Alliance. Each year, thousands of high schools and middle schools participate, administering a simple three-question student quiz the day after the Super Bowl - this year, Monday, February 3. The idea is to measure the impact of alcohol advertising during the game, and by participating, your chapter will not only help with research but potentially garner local media attention as well. For more information, click here. Our friends at Do Something are holding their annual Teens for Jeans drive - collecting gently-worn jeans and giving them to teens in homeless shelters. Through February 16, those used jeans can be dropped at Aeropostale stores, and you'll receive a 25% discount on a new pair! To learn more, visit dosomething.org/teensforjeans. Many SADD chapters have participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring. Chapters collect food or monetary donations in the days leading up to the Super Bowl and donate the items collected to local food banks or other charities. If you participate, be sure to register your chapter on the souperbowl.org website. |
| Contests, Grants, & Awards | A reminder that applications for the 2014-15 SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC) are due Monday, January 27. Students in their junior or senior year of high school are eligible. A SADD chapter may nominate only one student, and only one student will be selected from a particular state. In states with a SADD State Coordinator, applications are available only from the coordinator. In states without a coordinator, contact Nicole Cheschi at [email protected] for an application.
Each year, SADD raises funds at our national conference, which help support college scholarships for SADD students. This year, we're pleased to offer seven $500 college scholarships. Applicants must be entering their freshman year in the fall at a two- or four-year college or university and be part of a registered SADD chapter. To see the full terms and conditions and download the application and related forms, click here. The deadline for applications is April 18.
It's not too late to enter the annual Act Out Loud contest, but time is running out. Just commit to holding a safe driving event in April or May, and your chapter can earn $600, just for participating - plus, you'll receive a free toolkit stuffed with promotional items for your event. All that, and you'll have a chance at the grand prize of $10,000, too! Only the first 220 teams registered receive the cash and toolkit, and nearly 190 are registered right now! So hurry - visit actoutloud.org for all the details. Make sure to select "SADD" in the "National Organization Your Team Represents" field!
Every two years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) organizes community Town Hall Meetings on underage drinking. For more information about these meetings, click here. Is your chapter planning to host a Town Hall Meeting this spring, either alone or with others? We have the chance to nominate up to 100 SADD chapters to receive a $500 stipend to help put on the meeting. There's no guarantee your chapter will be selected, but if you're committed to hold an event, please let us add you to our nomination list. To be added, simply contact Chris Egan at SADD National, at [email protected]. But hurry - our list needs to be submitted by January 31!
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| Spotlight on SADD Chapters - Holidays |
This monthly column highlights the extraordinary work chapters are doing across the country. Want to see your chapter in the Spotlight? Send news and a good group photo to [email protected].
During the holidays, many SADD chapters look for a way to give back to the community. There are literally thousands of great stories out there, but here's just a sampling of the wonderful things chapters did to help others.
Shakopee High School SADD in Shakopee, Minnesota, decided to focus on the homeless, showing a video to students about the issue and then collecting cereal for their local shelter. Students collected and delivered more than 250 boxes!
Marietta High School SADD in Marietta, Ohio, also collected food for their local food pantry. Mobilizing students, they were able to donate two full truckloads of food - as much as three months' worth for the pantry. They went further, holding a dodgeball tournament with teams from each class competing for the coveted "Golden Wrench" trophy and charging admission, raising nearly $400 for the pantry on top of their food donations.
Gowanda High School SADD from Gowanda, New York, collected loose change and raised a remarkable $1,500 which went for gift cards for a local charity to distribute to those in need. Those pennies can really add up!
Deer Park High School SADD in Deer Park, New York, has a special dedication to helping veterans, holding many events over the last four years. This year, they collected hats, gloves, and scarves for homeless veterans housed at a nearby shelter. They wrapped the gifts, placed them in decorated gift bags and added a U.S. flag as well, to show their appreciation to those who served our country.
Metro-East Lutheran High School SADD in Edwardsville, Illinois, took an unusual approach. Instead of merely collecting items, the students actually made fleece blankets by hand to donate to a local shelter. Working since late October, students were able to make 43 blankets and sent along other items as well.
Shepherd Middle School SADD from Ottawa, Illinois, found a non-monetary way to give back. Students assembled at a local nursing home and brought the holiday spirit to elderly residents by entertaining them with carols.
Finally, Mount Sinai High School SADD in Mount Sinai, New York, raised funds to buy presents for local children in need in partnership with Holiday Magic, a local charity. They didn't just donate the more than $5,000 they raised, though - they did the shopping for gifts and enjoyed a holiday meal with the families they helped. Click here to check out the television news clip about their efforts.
Congratulations to these chapters and to all those who helped others in need this holiday season.
Material from local newspapers and television stations was used to prepare a portion of this report. Click photos to go to original articles, if applicable. |
| SADD National Conference |
Registration is open for the 2014 SADD National Conference, Life is a Jungle: Join the Expedition. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner just outside Washington, DC, June 22-25.
Don't forget - there's an early bird discount of $50 if you register by March 15! Click here to learn more. |
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