We've extended the deadline to apply for SADD SPEAKs!  SPEAKs (Students for Policy, Education, Advocacy, and Knowledge) is SADD's special advocacy training program.  Current sophomores and juniors in high school can apply, and the deadline has now been extended until 11:59 PM on Monday, April 20.  The program consists of online advocacy training in May and June, a four-day on-site advocacy training in Washington, DC, and then follow-up projects at home in the fall.  Best of all, this program is entirely FREE - including flights, hotel, and meals.  Don't miss your second chance to apply.  For more information, click here.

On Thursday, April 23 at 2:00 PM Eastern time, SADD National will be hosting a webinar entitled "Best Practices in Teen Traffic Safety."  Intended for state highway safety offices, this webinar might also be of interest to you.  To learn more and register, click here.

Are you looking for FREE resources for traffic safety education?  Our partners at The National Road Safety Foundation are giving away kits that contain their many traffic safety programs - for free!  You'll find a manual and numerous short films appropriate for classroom use with accompanying discussion guides and even pre-made PowerPoint presentations.  Request a kit online by clicking here. 

April 17-19 is Global Youth Service Day, and there's still time for your chapter to get involved in this massive service-learning event!  Find service ideas, register your event, and learn more at gysd.org.

Wednesday, May 6 is the National Day To Prevent Teen Pregnancy.  On this day, encourage your classmates to take the National Day Quiz on StayTeen.org, which educates students through an interactive challenge.  For more information, click here.

May is Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, organized by our friends at NOYS (National Organizations for Youth Safety).  You can download the Global Youth Traffic Safety Month Action Guide, which contains statistics and data, program ideas, media and proclamation templates, and more by clicking here.

Hurry!  The deadline is quickly approaching for SADD's College Scholarship program.  Ten $500 scholarships are available to current seniors in high school committed to attend a 2- or 4-year college in the fall who are active members of their SADD chapter.  Applications are due April 17.  For more information, click here. 

Every day, we see news clips of great things SADD students are doing across the country.  There are creative activities, incredible advisors, and outstanding chapters.  Now it's time for YOUR chapter to get some recognition, by applying for one or more of the Best of SADD National Awards.  We'll be handing out cash prizes for Activity of the Year, Advisor of the Year, and Chapter of the Year.  Nomination forms are due May 1.  To learn more and access the forms, click here.

Friday, April 17 is the last day to register for the spring Seat Belts Save challenge from our partners at NOYS.  Conduct a seat belt survey, run a seat belt education program, and then re-check to see how much you increased usage.  You can win cash prizes and a trip to a national conference - we're pleased to welcome the winners of the fall Seat Belts Save challenge to the SADD National Conference in June.  You can run your challenge in May as part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, finishing up by May 25.  But you need to register by this Friday - so don't wait!  Visit seatbeltssave.org to learn more and register.

April is a popular month for contest deadlines.  Visit our Contests page - available on the right side of our homepage at sadd.org - so you don't miss out on some great opportunities!

The 2015 SADD National Conference: Blast Off To Your Future will be held June 28 - July 1 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.  Registration is well underway, and space is filling fast, so don't miss your chance to attend!

At conference, you'll experience dynamic keynote speakers, skill-building workshops, great networking opportunities, and lots of fun!  Add the optional off-site trip to the famous Wildhorse Saloon, and you'll enjoy dinner and line-dancing lessons on a private, alcohol-free floor.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity, which attendees have described as critical to their chapter's success.  Need help fundraising for conference?  Use our Conference Fundraising Toolkit for ideas and step-by-step instructions!

This monthly column highlights the impressive work SADD chapters are doing all across the country.  Want to see YOUR chapter in the Spotlight?  Send news and a good group photo to fieldservices@sadd.org. 

Robert C. Byrd High School SADD from Clarksburg, West Virginia, was one of many SADD chapters to participate in Kick Butts Day, sponsored by our friends at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  Students used the #NotAReplacement theme for Kick Butts Day, making signs saying they're not a replacement for a smoker who's died, but instead are artists, athletes, and more.  They posted these pictures on social media and worked to get the message out to the media as well.  Click here to see coverage on their local television news.  Robert C. Byrd SADD has been very busy this year, handing out material at a town Halloween event, focusing on impaired and distracted driving during the holiday season, and using creative activities like their "Born to Be Drug Free" contest, where students identify staff members' baby pictures.

South Charleston High School Strive Club, a SADD chapter from South Charleston, West Virginia, worked with law enforcement and Kanawha Communities that Care, a local coalition, on compliance checks of local bars, restaurants, and stores selling alcohol.  They returned to the establishments that passed with certificates of appreciation for their careful checking of IDs that kept teens from obtaining alcohol.  Above, members of the chapter are pictured at their local Buffalo Wild Wings, one of the honorees.

Sayreville War Memorial High School SADD from Parlin, New Jersey, recently held a Unity Night with their basketball team.  SADD members wore orange and held activities during pre-game and halftime with the crowd at the varsity basketball game.  These included awareness activities like shooting a free throw while wearing Fatal Vision goggles to simulate intoxication.  The event was designed not only to educate students and the community, but to unite the SADD chapter with some of its most popular athletes to strengthen the power of SADD messaging within the school.

Battery Creek High School SADD from Beaufort, South Carolina, recently held an environmental scan for alcohol and tobacco.  Along with representatives of the Beaufort County Drug and Alcohol Department, they visited 32 retail locations selling alcohol, tobacco, or both, and filled out a three-page survey on placement of products, advertisements, and signage about checking IDs.  This information will be analyzed to see if changes need to be made to local regulations, and will also be shared with state agencies.

Congratulations to these chapters for their hard work, and to all SADD chapters everywhere making a difference in their communities!

Proms are happening across the country, and that means it will soon be time for graduation.  SADD can be a part of your graduation, too - with special SADD stoles, cords, or tassels.  You can find all these items for sale in the SADD Store, ready to be shipped in time for you to proudly display them as you accept your diploma.

To order, visit saddstore.org, email sadd@apisource.com, or call 1-888-608-6988.  Don't forget to like the SADD Store Facebook page for all the latest deals and specials!

Each month, the SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC) Healthy Relationships Committee will present an article in The SADDvocate.

This month, we're talking about friendship.  We believe that healthy, positive friendship is a critically important part of our lives.  We all need someone to vent to, experience new things with, and stand with us when we face challenges.  Communication is one of the most important pieces in a healthy friendship.

Being a good listener is the first step.  A few tips: keep eye contact, avoid distracting gestures, show genuine attention, and give feedback.  On the other side of the coin, if you're the one communicating, be honest and open about your personal feelings to build trust.  If there are concerns or problems, share them early to prevent the situation from getting worse.

Look to another friend or a trusted adult to act as a mediator if you're encountering difficulties you can't resolve on your own.  Your school counselor might be able to help - or point you in the direction of someone who can.  A mediator might ask about the cause of the conflict, reasons for anger or disappointment, and areas where compromise is possible.

No matter what type of relationship you are looking to improve, remember that communication is key!  For more information about healthy communication in relationships, click here.