Officer Descriptions and Responsibilities

The following is a suggested, traditional model in which the officers of the SADD chapter have individual responsibilities.

President
The president must attend all meetings. These are the president’s responsibilities.

  • Report directly to the advisor, who must confirm/approve plans.
  • Work with fellow officers to plan meetings and set agendas and notify those who may be required to attend the meetings.
  • Lead officer meetings.
  • Delegate responsibilities for projects to officers, subcommittees, and participants.
  • Maintain responsibility for the committees’ meetings and establish deadlines.
  • Facilitate general SADD chapter meetings.
  • Serve as spokesperson and role model for the SADD chapter.
  • Approve financial expenditures.

Vice President
The vice president must attend all meetings. The vice president’s responsibilities are listed here.

  • Report to the advisor, as requested by the president.
  • Assume leadership for the president in any role he/she cannot fulfill or in any role that is requested.
  • Attend all meetings and actively participate in planning, assisting with delegation of responsibilities, and implementing activities and programs.
  • Serve as spokesperson and role model for the SADD chapter.
  • Serve as public relations contact.
  • Act as liaison to the SADD State Coordinator.

Secretary
The secretary must attend all meetings and fulfill these responsibilities.

  • Keep accurate records of each meeting and provide a copy to all officers and attendees as well as to the advisor.
  • Keep track of names and attendance.
  • Maintain committee lists.
  • Maintain chapter correspondences and other contacts in the community.
  • Assume the duties of the vice president when requested.
  • Work with other officers to plan meetings.
  • Post meeting and activity times and places.
  • Actively participate in planning and implementing chapter activities and programs.

Treasurer
The treasurer must attend all meetings. These are the treasurer’s responsibilities.

  • Keep account of all chapter income and expenses.
  • Maintain bank accounts and pay bills as necessary.
  • Provide an up-to-date report of chapter finances at each meeting.
  • Work with other officers to plan meetings.
  • Actively participate in planning and implementing chapter activities and programs.

Class Representatives
The class representatives must attend all meetings and fulfill the following responsibilities.

  • Represent his/her grade level and serve as primary SADD role model for that class.
  • Recruit classmates to help with projects.
  • Provide information about SADD to classmates.
  • Attend various officer meetings and other meetings as requested.

Sample SADD Officer Contract

As a SADD Officer, I promise to take the following actions.

  • Abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and any other illicit drug, including over-the-counter stimulants.
  • Promote and uphold SADD’s "No Use" message.
  • Wear a safety belt at all times and encourage others to do the same.
  • Encourage friends to make positive decisions.
  • Be a positive role model for my peers and younger students by demonstrating sound decision-making skills, avoiding enabling behaviors, and engaging in positive activities that do not involve alcohol and other drugs.
  • Work hard to assist those who are in need, rather than turning my back on those who have made a destructive choice.
  • Attend meetings and participate in as many chapter activities as possible.
  • Learn as much as I can about prevention and being an effective leader.

I realize that failure to comply with these rules may result in disciplinary action or removal from office.


Print Name


Signature


Date

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Process for Removal of an Officer

Removal of a SADD officer from his/her position is a serious step and should be taken only after certifying the accusations and having an in-depth discussion among all concerned. Remember that the individual may be removed from office but not from the SADD chapter. Also, make sure to work with your advisor as you go through the process.

Above all, the primary concern is for the young person involved – to help the student, not to alienate him or her. Under all conditions, be sure to provide plenty of help and support to the individual involved.

Each situation should be handled individually and as a separate issue. Although the advisor is the only person who can remove an officer, a mutual agreement on a recommended course of action with the involved student might be preferable. A probationary period, instead of removal, may be recommended. If an informal agreement cannot be reached, then the situation should be discussed and a course of action chosen.

To prevent such situations from arising, have a workshop at the beginning of the school year to address responsibilities of officers and other SADD students when they are representing the chapter and consequences for inappropriate behavior. By doing so, everyone involved will know what is expected and what to expect. The potential for success is much greater when all chapter participants and representatives know what is expected of them.

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How to Run Meetings

Make sure that your first meeting is fun, informative, and enticing so that everyone will want to return and bring their friends with them. Don’t be surprised if not everyone is ready to immediately embrace the "No Use" policy and the Contract for Life.
A good meeting takes planning. Set an agenda and follow it. It’s easy to get off course and chat with friends. You can factor in time in each meeting for socializing and for bringing up unexpected issues – but you want to accomplish the items on your agenda, too.

First Meeting
At your first meeting, review SADD’s philosophy and mission statement. Generate a list of issues that your chapter thinks are the most pressing in your school. You may want to design a survey of student concerns and behaviors. Consider what kind of decisions students in your community have to make on a daily basis and define the pressures that they regularly face. Discuss what an appropriate response to these pressures would be and what activities your SADD chapter can sponsor to empower your schoolmates to make positive choices.

First Meeting Sample Agenda

  1. Student spokesperson should welcome attendees, thank everyone for attending, and introduce the advisor.
  2. Give a brief overview of SADD.
  3. Play a new game.
  4. Share your ideas for SADD, why you initiated this meeting, and what you would like to see happen.
  5. Ask the attendees why they came, what they’d like to do, and what they’d like the chapter to accomplish.
  6. Explain the leadership opportunities – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Class Representatives, committees, etc.
  7. Elect the officers and announce the election results at the meeting.
  8. Explain what will take place at the next meeting.
  9. Set a date and time for the next meeting.
  10. Adjourn the meeting.

Chapter Meetings
Once your chapter is formed, hold regularly scheduled meetings. Chapter meetings should be fun and purposeful. Everybody wants to feel needed, and nobody likes to attend boring meetings that accomplish little. Prepare presentations, materials, and an agenda before the meeting. The following are some guidelines for your chapter meetings.

Purpose
Meetings must have focus. The officers and advisor should decide in advance what must be accomplished at each meeting.

Action Plan
Develop a Calendar of Activities and a timeline that will be accomplished throughout the year. You will find the SADD National calendar and activities in SADD’s newsletter, Decisions, or online at www.sadd.org.

Date
Set a regular meeting date and time. For example, officers’ meetings might be the first Tuesday of each month and the chapter meeting the second Tuesday of each month.

Agenda
Each meeting must have a written agenda that is available to everyone. Be sure the agenda is realistic in goals for the allotted time.

Sample SADD Chapter Meeting Agenda

  1. Welcome and introductions (2 minutes) – Be sure to have everyone introduce him/herself at each meeting. You may decide to have nametags.
  2. Distribution of agenda (1 minute)
  3. Approval of minutes from last meeting (1 minute)
  4. Report on action items from last meeting – Get an update on how participants have accomplished their tasks from prior meetings (10 minutes).
  5. Action items – Review issues that the chapter needs to decide today.
  6. Brainstorm and think creatively about future projects. Topics for discussion during this time might become action items at the next meeting (15 minutes).
  7. Committee reports (2 minutes each)
  8. Officers’ reports (2 minutes each)
  9. Any other matter of interest – Attendees may bring up issues or items of information for the group (5-10 minutes each).
  10. Conclusion – Compile a list of actions to be completed by the next meeting and decide upon an announcement of the next meeting date, activity, and program dates. End on a positive note.

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