Best Buddies Georgia Buddy Beat! - September 2025

We’re off to a fantastic start — and the fun is just getting started! From leadership trainings to fall festivals and chapter growth, here’s what’s happening across the state this month 👇

📋 Leadership Training Day – Mandatory for ALL School Chapters

Leadership Training Day (LTD) is your chapter’s required opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with other leaders across Georgia! If you haven’t already, register now using the appropriate link below.

🏙️ In-Person – ATLANTA

📍 YMCA Buckhead – 1160 Moores Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
🗓️ Saturday, September 13 | ⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
🔗 Register Here
🌱 Submit Allergy Form

🌾 In-Person – EFFINGHAM COUNTY

📍 Guyton Elementary – 719 Central Blvd, Guyton, GA 31312
🗓️ Saturday, September 20 | ⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
🔗 Register Here
🌱 Submit Allergy Form

💻 Virtual Option – For Those Who Can’t Attend In Person

🗓️ Tuesday, September 23 | ⏰ 5:00 PM EST
🔗 Register Here
🎥 Recording will be sent out on Wednesday, September 24

✨ Fall is for Friendship… and Recruitment!

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
✅ Attend Leadership Training Day (virtual, in-person, or recorded!)
✅ Meet with your officer team to plan goals, events, and responsibilities

📣 Recruit and Onboard New Members
✅ Host a recruitment/interest meeting at your school
✅ Collect membership applications from students
🔗 Students can join at: www.bestbuddies.org/join
🔗 Student & Faculty leaders apply at: www.bestbuddies.org/lead

🤝 Build Friendships That Last
✅ Start your friendship match process (once applications are in!)
✅ Plan your friendship match reveal party 🎉
(Note: Reveal parties are encouraged but not required for Elementary & Promoter Chapters)

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

🗂 BB360 Deadline – 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!

Here’s what needs to be submitted:

• ✅ Chapter Meetings

• 🎉 Events & Match Parties

• 👥 Friendship Matches

• 📝 Member Applications

• 🧑‍🏫 Faculty and Student Leader Applications

📌 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.

🎡 Fun Spot Fall Fest – You’re Invited!

🎪 Fun Spot Fall Fest – Saturday, October 18!

🎡 Come celebrate friendship and inclusion at the Fun Spot Fall Fest, hosted by our Student Advisory Board!
🗓 Saturday, October 13 | ⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Fun Spot America (Atlanta, GA)
🔗 Register Here

✨ First 18 people to register get FREE admission & unlimited rides!
Get ready for games, treats, and tons of fall fun!

🎓 Ambassador Academy – Join the 2025–2026 Cohort!

Are you ready to unlock your voice, grow your leadership, and make a real impact?
Join our 9-month virtual Ambassador Academy and earn your Inclusive Leadership Certification!

🧠 Benefits of Joining:
✅ Develop public speaking & leadership skills
✅ Qualify to become a Global Ambassador
✅ Build confidence, connections, and personal growth
✅ Represent the Best Buddies mission across your community

📍 Who Can Join?

• Age 14+

• Current participant, leader, or volunteer

• Committed to inclusion & attending all 9 sessions

🗓️ Dates & Topics (Saturdays, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM EST):
📅 Sept 27 – Intro to Leadership & Advocacy
📅 Oct 25 – Best Buddies Mission & Representation
📅 Nov 22 – Understanding Inclusion
📅 Dec 13 – Navigating Social & Professional Environments
📅 Jan 31 – Conflict Resolution & Teamwork
📅 Feb 28 – Public Speaking & Storytelling
📅 Mar 28 – Media & Digital Advocacy
📅 Apr 25 – Developing Your Personal Brand
📅 May 30 – Implementation & Graduation

📌 How to Join:
1️⃣ Interest Form
2️⃣ Participant Agreement Form
3️⃣ Attend all 9 sessions
4️⃣ Receive your Leadership Certification!

📩 Questions? Email [email protected] or [email protected]

📥 Monthly Chapter Check-In – Quick & Easy

Need support? Want to share wins? Your monthly check-in is how we stay connected with YOU.
✅ Takes just 5 minutes
✅ One form per chapter each month

🔗 Submit Your Chapter Check-In

🔗 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:

📁 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

🥇 Join the Champion of the Year Celebration!

🏆 Champion of the Year – Get Involved!

The 2025 Champion of the Year Gala is happening Friday, November 7 in Atlanta, and we’d love for YOU to be part of the celebration!

Whether you're looking to volunteer, get your chapter involved, or contribute creatively, there are exciting ways to support this unforgettable night of inclusion and impact. ✨

📣 Calling All Artists: Gala Artwork Submissions Wanted! 🎨

We’re collecting student- and chapter-created artwork for our silent auction, and your creativity could be on display! Submit pieces that reflect what friendship means to you, aligning with this year’s gala theme: “Inclusion on My Mind.”

What to Submit:
🎨 Paintings, drawings, digital art, photography, crafts—any original art

🗓 Deadline: October 15
📍 Gala Date: Friday, November 7, Buckhead Theatre 3110 Roswell Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305

We’ll follow up about pick-up/delivery after the submission deadline.

👉 Submit your artwork and questions to:
✉️ Catherine Justice at [email protected]

📲 Stay Connected with Our Best Buddies Community!

Never miss an update, deadline, or opportunity by staying plugged in through our communication channels! Whether you're a Faculty Advisor or Chapter President, we've got dedicated spaces just for you:

👩‍🏫 Faculty Advisors
🔔 Remind Group: Click here to join
💬 GroupMe Chat: Join here

🎓 Chapter Presidents
🔔 Remind Group: Click here to join
💬 GroupMe Chat: Join here

📱 Follow Us on Social Media
Stay inspired and get the latest on events, success stories, and features!
📸 Instagram | 📘 Facebook | 🔗 LinkedIn — Just search Best Buddies Georgia

🌟 Buddy Spotlight: Ebenezer Middle School

We’re excited to launch our very first Buddy Spotlight—and it’s a sweet one! 🍦

This month’s spotlight shines brightly on Ebenezer Middle School, where Faculty Advisor Mrs. Ivory Brown and her incredible Best Buddies chapter found creative ways to stay connected over the summer.

Here’s what Mrs. Brown shared:

We especially loved this quote from one of their students:

These kinds of experiences show how friendship, community, and service go hand-in-hand. Amazing job, Ebenezer Middle School! 👏🍦📚

🎈Upcoming Events