The SADD Advisor's Playbook: 4 Keys to a High-Impact Chapter

Taking on a leadership role in SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is one of the most rewarding and important jobs in a volunteer group. It takes vision, commitment, and a strong plan. I sat down with a veteran SADD advisor to learn their most essential advice, covering everything from core leadership principles to running successful campaigns. I asked them a series of questions about how to run a successful SADD chapter and the best way to engage chapter members.

Q1: What are the three most crucial pieces of advice you would give to a student leader starting a SADD chapter or taking over an existing one?

I would say that three main things are essential for your success. First, build a strong core team: don't try to do it all yourself—identify a small group of reliable, passionate people who share the vision. Second, set clear goals: vague intentions lead to vague results, so decide exactly what you want to achieve this semester, providing direction and allowing you to measure your success. Finally, you need to lead with ownership: a great leader steps up to take responsibility, but they must also work like a team member and ensure they are including all team members in the planning and execution.

Q2: What strategies have you seen work best for recruiting diverse and committed members, and for keeping them actively engaged throughout the school year?

A SADD chapter is only as strong as its members. The secret to sustained engagement lies in a combination of responsibility, recognition, and fun. The fastest way to lose a member is to give them nothing to do, so you must give everyone a role or responsibility. Next, always balance meaningful projects with fun team-building activities to keep chapter members excited about SADD and their team. Finally, the most important part is that you must celebrate successes—positive reinforcement works! Public shout-outs, recognition, and small rewards matter immensely and keep the energy high after a successful event. Recognizing and celebrating individual contributions and team milestones reinforces the impact of their efforts.

Q3: What is the most common pitfall or challenge that SADD chapters face, and what is your best advice for overcoming it?

The most common challenge for volunteer groups like SADD is inactivity. The advisor noted that the biggest hurdle is simply doing more SADD events at the school amidst the busy schedules of chapter members. The solution is straightforward: break big goals into small projects. This approach reduces stress and makes the overall mission feel achievable. The core advice here is to focus on action—just do it.

Looking back, the most helpful advisor strategies for continuous improvement are:

• Staying Informed: The advisor emphasized the importance of staying updated on current trends and all things SADD to guide students with accurate and relevant information, using the meaningful initiatives and programming resources found on the SADD website.

• Encouraging Reflection: Encouraging members to reflect on the impact of their actions and initiatives has fostered continuous growth and improvement within the chapter. SADD meetings often serve as a forum for students to discuss sensitive topics; the advisor helps facilitate these discussions in a constructive and supportive manner, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

Q4: In your opinion, what is the ideal balance between advisor guidance and student autonomy when running a chapter?

The ideal chapter is a balance between guidance and autonomy. An advisor's job is to provide structure, safety, and connections. The advisor acts as a guide rather than a director, and their job is to empower students to make change. The students’ role is to take the lead on planning and decision-making, because at the end of the day, SADD is an organization run by the students for the students.

While being an advisor is never an easy job, it is essential to keep SADD chapters running. Our advisors have very stressful and demanding jobs, but it is truly because of them that SADD is what it is today. So, I ask you to go to your advisor and say thank you for all the meaningful work that they do.