Fall Into Friendship, Leadership & Inclusion 🍃

Greetings, Team Best Buddies in Georgia Schools!

Happy fall, folks! 🍁 Whether you're kicking off your first chapter meeting, a spooky social, or planning a pumpkin-spiced match party, know this: The work you’re doing is meaningful, impactful, and deeply appreciated. You are building more than programs, you’re building belonging and communities of connection. We see you, we appreciate you, and we are beyond grateful for you!

As we approach the October 31 (November 1) BB360 deadline, I want to pause and thank each of you: Faculty Advisors, Student Leaders, Host Site Coordinators, and supporters, for your heart, follow-through, and hope. I see the effort you're pouring into this movement, and it’s nothing short of inspiring.

Let’s push through BB360 season together for Team Georgia, not just to meet the standards, but so we can get back to what really matters: The joy of friendships, the pride of inclusive leadership, and the power of connection. 🚀

You are never alone in this! I’m just a phone call, text, email, or car ride (more than likely with a Red Bull in hand 😅) every step of the way. Let’s make this our most connected and joy-filled fall yet. Thanks for all you do, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Happy October,

Doug Peters
Deputy Director, Programs
Best Buddies Georgia

🎓 Leadership Training Days: What a Month!

This fall, we hosted TWO unforgettable Leadership Training Days across the state, and the energy was absolutely electric. ⚡

💥 Metro Atlanta Leadership Training Day

Held at the Carl E. Sanders YMCA in Buckhead, we welcomed over 40 student and faculty leaders from 14 schools across Georgia. From BB360 system training and inclusive leadership workshops to creative event planning and school pride, these changemakers came ready to GROW. 🌱

🌟 Huge thanks to:

• Our Student Advisory Board Event Planning Committee for co-leading with heart

• Our partners at the Metro Atlanta YMCA for graciously hosting us

• Volunteers from NCL Roswell-Alpharetta for your support

• Desiree Cabrices and Akoya Shakir (Best Buddies Decatur High) for stepping up to host Back to Best Buddies Atlanta this February!

🌾 Effingham County Leadership Training Day

Effingham County brought the heart and soul! Over 40 student and faculty leaders from 12 chapters gathered to build momentum for the year ahead.

🙌 Special shoutouts to:

• Ivory Brown (Best Buddies Ebenezer Middle) for co-facilitating with confidence

• Stefanie Ankrom and Best Buddies Guyton Elementary for hosting with warmth

• Pauline Shaw (The Navigators) for continued partnership

• Tricia Kerr (Best Buddies Sand Hill Elementary) for stepping up to host Back to Best Buddies Effingham County this February!

Together, these trainings set the tone for what’s possible when inclusion, collaboration, and purpose collide.

📸 Photos and recap materials available in our resource hub — scroll down for the link!

💻 Virtual Training Catch-Up

Couldn’t make it to an in-person Leadership Training Day? We’ve got you covered!

📂 All-in-One Resource Hub
👉 Access training slides, recordings, event planning templates, and more
📥 View the full materials here

✅ To receive credit for completing your chapter’s leadership training requirement:

1. Watch the virtual training

2. Review the presentation

3. Submit the Confirmation Form

Let's make sure everyone is set up for success!

💡October is BB360 Season – Let’s Get Everything In!

All chapter info must be submitted in BB360 by Friday, October 31st. The final deadline is Saturday, November 1st. Don’t wait until the last minute (or get my patent-pending, trademarked telemarketing voice at 8:00 a.m. that day 😅)!

Here’s what needs to be submitted:

• ✅ Chapter Meetings - At least five executive board meetings and general body meetings, including your initial recruitment meeting.

• 🎉 Events - At least four events for the school year, including a friendship match party reveal event if you are in a middle, high school, or college chapter.

• 👥 Friendship Matches - Matching students with and without disabilities in one-to-one friendships (N/A for elementary and promoter chapters)

• 📝 Member Applications - General members register by visiting www.bestbuddies.org/join

• 🧑‍🏫 Faculty and Student Leader Applications - Faculty Advisors, Student Leaders, and Host Site Coordinators register by visiting www.bestbuddies.org/lead 

Enter as much information as you can; it’s perfectly fine if some details are still tentative!

📌 Member Applications must be completed at:
👉 www.bestbuddies.org/join

📌 Faculty and Student Leader Applications must be submitted at:
👉 www.bestbuddies.org/lead

🧭 Chapter Leadership Requirements (Middle, High School, and College Chapters):
Each chapter is required to have the following two student leaders:

• Chapter President – Oversees chapter operations, leads the officer team, and helps plan inclusive activities and events.

• Buddy Director – Typically a student with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), who represents the voice of the chapter, shares ideas, and supports program success.

If you need assistance with reaching this deadline or if your chapter is experiencing challenges with this deadline, do not struggle in silence. Let’s chat! Please schedule a meeting with me at www.calendly.com/bbgaprograms.

📅 October is BB360 and Match Party Season!

Let’s kick off the year with energy, purpose, and inclusion! From now through October, we’re asking every chapter to complete the key steps to set your team up for success:

🧩 Start with the Basics
✅ Meet with your officer team to plan goals, events, and responsibilities
✅ Host a mixer to see what potential friendship pairs can form
✅ Make matches in BB360 to make the friendships official
✅ Celebrate with a match party so our friends can see who they are matched with for the 2025-2026 school year
(Note: Friendship pairs and reveal parties are not required for Elementary & Promoter Chapters)

📥 Stay Connected with Your BBGA Staff
✅ Check in with your Best Buddies staff member regularly; I am here to support you!
✅ Fill out your Monthly Chapter Check-In to keep us in the loop
🔗 Check-In Form 

2025-2026 Best Buddies in Georgia Calendar

💫Buddy Spotlight - Ozzie and Ella

Our October Buddy Spotlight shines on Ozzie and Ella Holzer, a very special match from Riverwood International Charter School, shared by Chapter President Mila Snyder:

That’s what legacy, friendship, and inclusion look like! 🤩 A HUGE Best Buddies thank you to Mila, Ozzie, Ella, and Team Best Buddies at Riverwood for all they do to foster inclusive friendships at their school.

Does your chapter want to be featured in the next Buddy Spotlight? Reach out to our SAB Mission Moments Chair, Elena Sladkus, at [email protected].

🎤 Ambassador Academy: A New Era of Leadership

This September, we launched the 2025–2026 Best Buddies in Georgia Ambassador Academy, a 9-month leadership experience for individuals with and without IDD to:

✅ Strengthen their voices
✅ Build advocacy skills
✅ Earn their Inclusive Leadership Certification

We’re proud to have 16 participants from 10 cities across 8 counties, with the support of 4 incredible facilitators. From Atlanta to Blue Ridge, these leaders are already showing up with heart, insight, and determination.

Our kickoff session, “Unlock Your Potential,” was just the beginning of what’s to come. The future of inclusion in Georgia is BRIGHT, and we look forward to working with these group of leaders this year!

If any of these Ambassador Academy participants are at your school, please tell them congratulations! ✨

🎈 Everyday Activities for Buddy Pairs

Not sure what to do once your buddy pairs are matched? Try these easy, fun, and meaningful activities to build connection all year long:

💬 Simple Everyday Connections

• Grab lunch together

• Walk and talk after school

• Cheer each other on after tests or games

• Exchange notes or “buddy mail”

• Start a “Photo of the Month” challenge

🎨 Creative & Hands-On Fun

• Paint kindness rocks or make bracelets

• Bake cupcakes or mix trail bars

• Create a “Buddy Playlist”

• Host a vision board party

• Invent a custom board game

🎮 Fun & Games

• Karaoke/lip-sync battles

• Movie night or trivia games

• Mini Olympics: balloon toss, trivia, cornhole

• Buddy Bingo

• Scavenger hunt around the school

💖 Inclusion & Community

• Volunteer together

• Make cards for local hospitals or virtually - St. Jude’s has a website where you can Send a free card to hospitalized kids. Check it out here!

• Attend a school concert or game

• Nominate a “Buddy of the Month”

• Rock matching gear at Friendship Walk

🌍 Virtual / Low-Barrier Options

• Zoom snack hangs

• Netflix Party

• Youtube Karaoke

• Shared memes or video messages

• Create a shared scrapbook

• “Buddy Bucket List” — 10 things to do together before summer!

🎂 October Birthday Shoutouts 🎉

Let’s celebrate the amazing members of our BBGA family this month!

🎈October 3 – Tonya Bush (Cedar Grove HS)
🎈October 4 – Tricia Kerr (Sand Hill Elem), Crystal Austin (Springfield Elem)
🎈October 5 – Crystal Hall (Marietta HS)
🎈October 7 – Gabi Boatright (South Effingham Elem)
🎈October 8 – Brooke Dozier (North Atlanta HS), Libby Holloway (Mary Persons HS)
🎈October 9 – Sheryl Folsom (GCSU)
🎈October 11 – Erin Mauldin (South Effingham Elem)
🎈October 12 – Kellie Lee (South Effingham Elem)
🎈October 13 – Georgette Morgan (UGA), Jheel Dhruv (UGA)
🎈October 16 – Riley Pollack (Chattahoochee HS)
🎈October 21 – Talia Rubel (Chamblee HS)
🎈October 22 – Amanda Rogers (Talley Street Upper Elementary)
🎈October 24 – Sydney Conrad (Lakeside HS)
🎈October 26 – Ginger Collins (Riverwood International Charter School)
🎈October 28 – Kimberly Castillo (West Chatham MS)
🎈October 30 – Tara Lamb (Effingham County HS)

We’re so lucky to have you in our BBGA family! 🥳

🔗 Helpful Links & Tools for Your Chapter

Running a successful chapter just got easier! Whether you’re leading an elementary, middle, high school, or college chapter, these links offer everything you need to recruit members, host events, fundraise, and train your officers

🎥 BB360 Video
Need assistance with BB360? Please check out this video that walks you through how to use the system start to finish.
👉 YouTube Video

📁 Best Buddies University Resources
Access national materials for recruitment, officer training, and more.
👉 bestbuddies.org/bbu/resources

🍑 Best Buddies in Georgia Toolkit
This all-in-one resource folder has event guides, fundraising tips, former training slides, and more!
✅ Organized by school level: Elementary, Middle, High School, and College
✅ Perfect for recruitment, orientation, and program planning
👉 BBGA Toolkit – Click Here

🗓 2025–2026 BBGA Calendar
All major deadlines, events, and action items in one convenient view.
👉 View Calendar

📘 New Schools Chapter Guide
New to Best Buddies? This guide walks you through the setup process.
👉 Download Guide (PDF)

🎒 Harmony Curriculum for Elementary & Middle
This SEL curriculum helps promote inclusion and friendship at a young age.
👉 Explore Harmony Curriculum

📬 BBGA Monthly Newsletter Archive
Catch up on past issues of our monthly newsletter anytime.
👉 Read BBGA Newsletter

🛣 Chapter Roadmap
A helpful yearlong planner to keep your chapter on track.
👉 Friendship Chapter Roadmap

🎈Upcoming Events

 🌐Stay Connected with BBGA!

We want to make sure you always feel supported, in the loop, and part of something bigger. Here’s how to stay plugged in:

💬 Communication Channels

📲 Remind Text Groups
Get friendly reminders, deadline alerts, and updates sent straight to your phone!
Faculty Advisors: Join Here
Chapter Presidents: Join Here

💬 GroupMe Chats
Network with other leaders, ask questions, and share ideas in real time!
Faculty Advisors GroupMe: Join the Chat
Chapter Presidents GroupMe: Join the Chat

📅 Schedule a Meeting
Need one-on-one support, ideas for chapter growth, or a friendly brainstorming session?
📍 Book time with Doug → Calendly.com/bbgaprograms

📣 Follow Us on Social Media

Join the fun, get inspired, and see what other chapters are up to!
📸 Instagram: @bestbuddiesga
📘 Facebook: BestBuddiesGA
💻LinkedIn: Best Buddies Georgia

Be sure to tag us in your posts and use #BestBuddiesGeorgia to be featured!