Six Insights For SADD Nation: Part 5

In the age of high technology, most of which is at our fingertips, do you ever feel like you may be the only person keeping Post-It Notes in business? Do you still print off your calendar and tack it to the corkboard you still have from college?

Don't feel bad if you answered 'yes' to those, as I am right there with you. It's okay.

Examples like those are often viewed as "old school" or "not keeping up with the times." It's not a bad thing, but the argument is that we should adapt and become more professional in today's world. It sometimes helps in certain areas, and it could be a clear requirement to achieve specific results, depending on the needs of the person, organization, program, client, etc.

SADD is a little like that in some areas. A little "old school," perhaps.

The organization was formed as a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground business. Its peer-to-peer programming was founded on the simple philosophy that young people, empowered to help each other, are the most effective force in prevention. Students and chapters across 50 states (and then some) are empowered to move themselves, their peers, and their chapters forward in a unique way that best suits them and their community. It is not uncommon to have 20 different implementation versions of a single program or a way to track a certain item here versus over there. It can be a lot, for sure, but it can be needed depending on the circumstances. That said, being grassroots does not justify a disorganized or lesser-prioritization approach to planning and professional implementation. That goes for both "in front of the house" and "in the back of the house." Therefore...

• MY FIFTH INSIGHT: SADD must continue to professionalize itself in the business of doing business.

To be clear, I am not saying SADD is disorganized or doesn't prioritize planning and professional implementation. On the contrary, SADD's success is rooted in how we plan and implement across multiple states, thousands of chapters, and hundreds of thousands of youth every year. However, doing a little self-assessment on organizational communications strategy, targeted fundraising outreach planning, partnership and programming MOUs and their collective deliverables, financial tracking and projections, and consistent training and stewardship of organizational constituents are all things that any business - for-profit or non-profit - should review, professionalize, and organize regularly to further the mission and achieve its goals.

As a fundraiser, for example, I always said that if I did my job well enough, I might not even have to ask for money; it would just come. Basically, if I did my research, created and worked the plan, and allowed the process to evolve, learned from other implementations, etc., the outcome would likely be successful. If I just jumped into a conversation and asked for money, I likely wouldn't be as successful, perhaps even fail. As a fundraiser, I needed to review, professionalize, and organize regularly to achieve my fundraising results. SADD needs to elevate a similar philosophy to an organizational level.

Some of this is happening! I am excited for the future and the impact we can have together.

You should come join us...