Well, it has been almost a week since the 2008 National SADD Conference ended, and I'm still getting caught up on work that I got behind on due to the trip. Not that I'm complaining, but there's just an absurd amount of work that needs to be done!

This is going to be an ongoing revisitation, just so you know. I'll bump this back to the top of the front page whenever I update it.

So, I did something like this for the 2004 National SADD Conference in St. Louis (with subsequent pages 2, 4, and 5; Not sure what happened to page 3). It was fun keeping a running journal of the days activities back then; sadly, I was short on time and unable to do something similar for this conference.

But, I like to think I have a fairly photographic mind, so hopefully a lot of these memories wash back over me.

Myself and coordinators Lee and Katie are both in Phoenix, AZ, right now for the 2009 National SADD Conference. We're having a great time and we're bringing back a lot of ideas and contacts from the conference.

I'm just checking in while there's a little bit of downtime, but I'll make sure to have a complete conference wrap-up posted here once the conference is completed. Until then, I'll be continuing to take photos and video for the slideshow.

Take care and I'll update soon!

From the SADDvocate Newsletter:

Don't forget that May is the second annual National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM), sponsored by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). As a member of NOYS, SADD encourages all chapters to conduct traffic safety activities during May. We've told you about various components of the month in past issues of The SADDvocate, and this month there's one more we want to share with you.

First, here's a reminder that NOYS will offer 50 $1,000 awards for the best NYTSM activities. Last year, 15 SADD chapters were recipients of a $1,000 award, and we're hoping for even more this year! All you need to do is register your activity on the NYTSM website, and you're eligible for an award.

From the SADDvocate newsletter:

Don't forget to register for the 2008 SADD National Conference, which will be held June 22-25, 2008, in Phoenix, Arizona!

We ask everyone to register by March 21, and the final payment deadline is April 15 - so please register soon! To learn more, click here. Or, if you're ready, click here to register. Don't forget your cowboy hat and boots, and come discover your Passion ... Power ... Identity!

From the SADDvocate newsletter:

May brings us the second annual National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM), sponsored by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). As a member of NOYS, SADD encourages all chapters to conduct traffic safety activities during May. Along with the new logo (pictured above), there's some exciting new information!

Just as they did last year, NOYS will offer 50 $1,000 awards for the best NYTSM activities. Last year, 15 SADD chapters were recipients of a $1,000 award, and we're hoping for even more this year! All you need to do is register your activity on the NYTSM website, and you're eligible for an award.

From the SADDvocate newsletter (click link to sign up)

At the 2008 SADD National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, SADD will recognize outstanding chapters and advisors with this year's SADD National Awards: Activity of the Year, Advisor of the Year, and Chapter of the Year.

Nominations must be related to work supporting the SADD mission between April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008. Cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100 will be awarded to first-, second-, and third-place winners, respectively, in each category. In addition, SADD National will cover the cost of a SADD National Ground Package to the conference for one student and one adult for the first-place winners of each award, to ensure that they can accept their awards in person (winners are responsible for their own travel to Phoenix).

Nominations may be submitted by a SADD student or advisor; self-nominations are accepted. Nomination forms are available on the sadd.org website now. Completed forms and supporting materials must be received at the SADD National office by Friday, April 11, 2008. For the nomination forms, click here.