Big Picture Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501

Big Picture Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501 (C)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is comprised of eight programs, which positively impact more than 700, 000 participants around the world. Our programs today reach all 50 of the United States, and Best Buddies has active international programs in 50 countries on six continents. Best Buddies 8 Programs: - Best Buddies High School Friendship Programs (this is us) Best Buddies Middle School Friendship Programs Best Buddies College Friendship Programs Best Buddies Promoters: Advocacy programs in private schools where there are no special ed programs Best Buddies Citizen Programs: Friendship program for post-college adults in the community Best Buddies Jobs Programs: employment for people with disabilities Best Buddies Ambassadors : Trains individuals with disabilities in public speaking E-buddies: Online, email exchange friendship program

Roles & Terms All students sign up to be a Buddy, Peer Buddy, or Associate Member! Buddy A student with disabilities who is matched in a one-to-one friendship with a Peer Buddy for at least one academic year. A Buddy must see his/her Peer Buddy twice a month and make contact once a week. Peer Buddy A student who is matched in a one-to-one friendship with a Buddy for at least one academic year. A Peer Buddy must see his/her Buddy twice a month and make contact once a week. Peers can also be a part of Buddy Families. Associate Member A student who is not matched in a one-to-one friendship due to personal reasons or due to the lack of membership availability in the chapter, but s/he is required to attend group activities and to participate in fundraisers.

Leadership Roles Chapter President: Interviewed and selected by Best Buddies staff and Advisors, s/he organizes, leads, and maintains the chapter. S/he works to fulfill the mission of Best Buddies on his/her campus and is a matched Peer Buddy Director: A student with a disability who serves as the leader and representative of the Buddies. S/he works with the Chapter President and Advisors to ensure full participation of the Buddies. Vice President: Plans, supervises, and evaluates all chapter activities. Helps the Chapter President, as necessary, with various tasks. Treasurer: Oversees all the planning and implementation of fundraising activities for the chapter. Ensures the chapter raises enough money to pay the $300 Chapter Dues in March/April and the airfare for the CP to attend the annual Leadership Conference in July. Secretary: Completes the chapter paperwork required by the school and Best Buddies International. Walk Coordinator: Plans and organizes fundraising and details for the Friendship Walk Social Media: Communicates with members and hypes up the club Events Coordinator: Works on planning the details of large club events

The Best Buddies Commitment • All buddy pairs/families must: • Communicate weekly – Phone, text, e-mail, Social Media, etc. • Hang out twice a month – Chapter activities, movies, dinner, lunch, school sporting events, etc. • Attend all chapter meetings and activities • Be an advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities • In order to ensure commitment, we will have members sign contracts

Friendship Programs Other principles of the school friendship programs include: – Chapters utilize the Best Buddies Online (BBO) system to manage and organize their chapter structure, including membership applications, for all members. All participants must sign up/register on our online system. –All peer buddies must submit monthly friendship updates on the status of their friendship (using our online system) – The chapter president (CP) of all high school chapters is required to attend the annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference. –The Chapter President and officers must attend Local Leadership Training Day or other training provided by Best Buddies staff. – High School pay $350 in chapter dues which are due annually on March 15 th. This does not apply to middle school chapters.

Chapter Expectations One-To-One Friendships It is the mission of Best Buddies to match students in one-to-one friendships that are meaningful and mutually enriching. Double or triple matching is not allowed. Each of the Buddy Pairs is committed to making weekly contact (a phone call, note, etc. ) and spending time together twice a month (lunch, movies, etc. ). The time that the Buddy Pairs spend together can be inside of school or outside of school. Chapter Meetings Each chapter of Best Buddies is required to have a minimum of one chapter meeting a month. Each chapter has different needs and therefore your chapter may have meetings more frequently. The activities can be socials, arts & crafts, movie nights, pizza parties, bowling, fundraisers or community service projects. Officer Meetings Each chapter of Best Buddies is required to have a minimum of one officer meeting a month. Each chapter has different needs and therefore your chapter may have meetings more frequently (Chapter president, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Buddy Director) Fundraising It is the responsibility of each chapter to raise funds for their own chapter including $300 chapter dues and the airfare to send the Chapter President to Leadership Conference (High Schools and Colleges only). Special Events Best Buddies in New York has several events throughout the year. It is highly encouraged for all Best Buddies chapters to participate in as many events as possible. The events are a great way to create more community awareness about Best Buddies, fundraise in order to expand Best Buddies programs and they are a great way for volunteers to see the “Big Picture” of Best Buddies and meet other volunteers from around the community.

Meeting Times • We plan to hold meetings on the 3 rd Thursday of the month. This is not carved in stone, so please check the schedule sent home with students in this packet, the e-mails, and make sure students are listening to the announcements. Most meetings run from 2: 40 -3: 10 and are held in the cafeteria.

Events The Night of Inclusion: 12/12 - This is our BIG event here at SSHS. We use this is as a huge fundraiser and a way to share our club and SSHS with the community! More details to come

Events Friendship Ball: 2/1/19 Best Buddies hosts a Friendship Ball which is open to middle school, high school and college participants. Those with intellectual and developmental disabilities are given the chance to be a part of a significant night in a safe environment where they know they are accepted for who they are and embraced for their abilities. This is a favorite event of participants which is evident from the nonstop dancing and smiles from ear to ear throughout the night. Last year approximately 300 students danced the night away. Friendship Walk: 4/14/19 The Friendship Walk, held at Crossgates Mall, is a fun-filled community fundraiser to support Best Buddies programs of inclusion. It brings together hundreds of students, community groups, and corporate teams to walk together to change lives – one step at a time. Awards are given to Heroes who support Best Buddies and have a positive effect on the lives of those with disabilities.

Other ways our kids get involved • MOVE Dance– inclusive dance program (info and permission slip in packet) • Unified Sports – a program of Special Olympics that allows people with and without intellectual disabilities compete on equal and competitive sports teams (SSHS offers Bowling, Basketball, and Cheerleading)

Next steps… • If you can answer “yes” to these questions, its time to get signed up! – Can I commit to communicate with my buddy 1 time per week? – Can I commit to come to each monthly activity? – Can I commit to spend time with my buddy outside of the monthly activity? (lunch, outside of school, etc. ) – Can I commit to filling out a monthly friendship update on the status of our friendship? • Take following the steps below: – Visit www. bestbuddiesonline. org – Scroll over “membership application” – Select “high school” – Find “Saratoga High School” – Fill out your information!

Contact Information • Website: http: //www. saratogaschools. org/webpages/sza netti/best_buddies. cfm and http: //www. togabestbuddies. weebly. com • Remind App: Text @togabe to 81010 • Mr. Zanetti: s_Zanetti@saratogaschools. org • Mrs. Jones: n_jones@saratogaschools. org

Social Media Handles/Officers • Twitter: @togabestbuddies • Instagram: @togabestbuddies • • • President: Abby Getz Vice President: Trinity Hogben Treasurer: Izzy Burke Events Coordinators: Aidan Byrnes and Erin Berls Walk Officers: Ella Ouimet and Cole Flynn Secretary: Izzy Pecora Buddy Officers: Sheadan Smith and Jackson Cox Social Media: Sylvie Waters and Zoey Goodness Community Relations Coordinator: Anna Lansford

We are Best Buddies “Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend. ” – Albert Camus