August 2009 Calendar Resources

National Kids Day (August 2)

Website: www.kidspeace.org/nationalkidsday.aspx

According to a survey done by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, U.S. parents and children agree they want to spend meaningful time together, but tend to disagree about what it takes to make family interaction meaningful. One-in-five children say that they have "too little" or "hardly any" meaningful time with parents. Your club can help promote awareness that kids do want to spend time with parents by promoting this worthwhile day. Spending time with your children can help influence them to make good choices. By talking to them, parents can create an opportunity to talk about alcohol & drug use, buckling up, and what to do if they are faced with riding with someone whose driving is impaired.

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National Night Out Day (August 4)

Website: www.natw.org/nno

National Night Out Day is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, and US Department of Justice. The program is designed to:

Registration is free, and registrants will receive a how-to kit complete with ideas, tips, guidelines and promotional materials. Go to http://www.natw.org/nno/reg.html and register your club. You will also be placed on their email list and will receive updates and additional information.

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"Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." National Crackdown (August 21-September 7)

Website: www.stopimpaireddriving.org

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) has designated August 21 – September 7, 2009 as the "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." National Crackdown. The crackdown will be a combined DUI enforcement and public awareness campaign.

NHTSA has asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states to conduct high visibility DUI operations during the crackdown period. NHTSA will be buying advertising time prior to and during the crackdown to make the public aware of the increased DUI enforcement effort. The agency is targeting the campaign at males in the 18-34 demographic, which account for the majority of alcohol-related crashes.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Safety Office is coordinating the campaign in Florida.

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National Stop on Red Week (August 2-8)

Website: www.stopredlightrunning.com

National Stop on Red Week - a week dedicated to educating Americans about the dangers of running red lights – will now take place starting last Saturday of August every year, going from Saturday to Friday.

Activities to promote National Stop on Red Week: Hang posters at schools, local businesses and other high-visibility areas promoting stopping on red. Work with other clubs & organizations to promote wearing red during the week. Motivate drivers to sign a pledge to stop running red lights and hang those pledges in a visible place at your school. Work with your school newspaper and/or school television station to include information on red light running. Sponsor an information booth or campaign that week educating others about the dangers of running a red light.

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Chapter Planning

At the start of the new school year there is a scramble of activities, each requiring your undivided attention. As you start planning for your SADD club, you might want to consider doing the following things:

  1. Activity Box
    • Find a large box.
    • Have one (or more) of your SADD club officers/members decorate it specifically for SADD.
    • Put the box within easy reach of your desk.
    • Whenever you get an e-mail or mailing from FL SADD, put it in the box.
    • At your first meeting, form a committee to be responsible for following through with whatever you put in that box.
  2. Club Announcement Board
    • Have a group of SADD club students create an Announcement Board for your classroom.
    • At your first meeting, form a committee to be responsible for updating and maintaining the Announcement Board.
  3. Club Calendar
    • At your first meeting, get a volunteer to take responsibility for the Club Calendar for August through December.
    • Use the enclosed Calendar and have that volunteer personalize it for your club/school.
    • They could include birthdays, school events, town events, etc.
    • Have them decorate it for your club.
    • Make sure that the calendar is posted on the Announcement Board at all times.
    • Share the calendar with other school clubs, teachers, parents, and administration.
  4. Slicks
    Included in your back to school package are slicks. If you don’t already know what these are, they’re high gloss, photo-ready sheets that can be saved and used over and over again. Here’s how you use them:
    1. Copy on to white paper (do not write on the original).
    2. Insert your meeting information, school name, club name, etc to personalize them specifically for your club.
    3. Copy on to colored paper.
    4. Distribute as needed (in mailbox of each teacher, as flyers for parents, as flyers to hang on walls, etc.).
  5. Delegate
    Some of our most successful clubs are those that are student run. Good news for you teachers who already have so much to do! But, in order for your students to run the club successfully, you will need to delegate jobs and to keep an eye out that the jobs are being completed.
    • Form committees for each project.
    • Give each member of the club something to be responsible for.
    • Keep each job small, do-able, and with specific deadline dates.
    • Reward completed jobs (student of the month, most improved, etc.).
    • Have everyone report to your club officers, and have your officers report to you.
    • Involve parents, other teachers, clubs, and administration.
    • Advertise your success!
    • Meet regularly (same day, time, location).
    • Post meeting signs at least one week prior to each meeting.
    • Announce meeting times over morning PA.
  6. SADD Club Manual
    The FL SADD Club Manual was created to help you with your club. It includes forms, club activities, descriptions of SADD ideals and philosophy, sample by-laws, officer job descriptions, and suggestions on running successful club meetings.
    • Make a copy of the manual for each club officer and have them present the contents at a club meeting. The manual is also available at our website (www.floridasadd.org).
    • Use the sample by-laws to create by-laws for your own club as well as for your club officers.
    • Create a SADD club manual for your own club by using the state one as a model.
  7. SRO
    Almost every school has a SRO – School Resource Officer. S/he may already be the club advisor, but if not, then s/he is an extremely valuable resource for your club. This person can get you contact information to use for club activities, may be able to provide you with literature and/or give-away items, and can help you plan your Mock Crash/Prom. Invite him/her to be on your club planning committee and include them at every meeting.
  8. Safe and Drug Free School Contact
    Every county has a Safe and Drug Free School Coordinator. To find out who yours is, go to their website at: http://www.firn.edu/doe/besss/sddfs_coordinators.htm. Like your school SRO, this person can be an invaluable asset to you. S/he has access to information, contacts, promotional items, and sometimes money! Invite him/her to be on your planning committee, and include them at every meeting.
  9. Have fun!
    Fun, and a sense of pride, accomplishment, and inclusion are the things that SADD club members report back to me as the most important aspects of their club. Include social and fun activities as part of your regular meetings.
    • Donut sales – ask your local donut shop to sell your club donuts at a discount price, and then sell them to students on their way out of school. It’s a way to raise some money and for your club members to have some fun.
    • Coffee-Club – ask parents to sign up to chaperone a regular Friday night coffee-club at the local Border’s or Barnes and Nobles bookstore. Your club members could meet there for a social activity without worrying about dates.

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