Attendees sign in at the front, pick up one handout and a paint swatch for an opening activity
Write a goal on the paint swatch for the Best Buddies chapter this year or your role
Pen available; Zoom participants should post a goal in the chat
Welcome and introductions
This is the largest training ever; appreciation for participants traveling and joining on Zoom
Meet the Michigan Best Buddies team: Lydia Goff, Lead Program Manager; John Gansey, supervisor and support; Natalie D’Angelo, Lead Employment Consultant
Growth recap shared to illustrate scale and impact (see numbers below)
Growth snapshot and impact (statewide growth)
End of last school year: over 1000 participants in the friendship program, impacting over 10000 lives in Michigan
Chapters facilitated more than 251 one-to-one friendships
School chapters: 20
Citizens chapters: 2 (Oakland and Washtenaw County)
Total friendship chapters: 22
Target: 25 chapters by the end of this calendar year
Jobs program: 21 participants; 18 employed, 3 in job development
Ambassadors (leadership development): 19 completed last year
Bingo activity setup and prizes
Bingo board on the agenda; cups of candy placed around the room as markers
Zoom participants track electronically
Win by getting five in a row or one of the yellow squares at the bottom
Grand prize drawing for all: Best Buddies swag bag, gift cards for chapter events, Crumble Cookies for your chapter
Participant intros and goal cards
Intro order prioritized by in-person front-row participants; Zoom attendees share in chat
Goal cards collected and later posted on a board
Quick logistical notes
Back of agenda contains note-taking sheet
If late, onboarding on the back end
Bingo reminder throughout the session; contact for chips or Starbursts as needed
Zoom and in-person introductions (sample of attendees)
In-person: Ben (Buddy Director), Mira, Kaitlyn, Gwyneth (new events chapter), Kursa (adviser for PSEP), Maggie (chapter president at Oakland University), Stacy (parent advisor at Ypsilanti High School)
Zoom: Jade (chapter president Central Michigan), Amber (advisor at Dakota High School), Isabella (event coordinator Grand Valley), Shannon (chapter advisor Andrews University), Lydia (vice president Andrews University), Haley (chapter president Andrews University), Luke (President MSU), Linda (Chapter President Interlochen Arts Academy)
Purpose and scope of the training
Provide a snapshot of organizational growth and training opportunities
Outline basics of chapter operation, leadership roles, and annual cycle
Basic Best Buddies chapter guidelines (highlights)
Every chapter must be an approved and registered student organization on campus
College: Office of Student Organizations; K-12: principal approval
Every participant must submit a BB360 membership application
If matching chapter (IDD population at HS or college), mandatory one-to-one matching; input into BB360; demo later
End-of-year report due in BB360 by June
Leadership breakdown handout provided to guide roles and responsibilities
People with IDD can be leaders (e.g., buddy director) with other appropriate titles
Today’s event counts toward LLTD (Local Leadership Training Day)
Engagement expectation: monthly chapter events on campus involving all members
For matching chapters, aim for at least 10 one-to-one matches per year (adjustments possible for small schools)
Chapter leadership team (roles and best practices)
Every chapter must have an advisor (currently all chapters have an advisor – a milestone)
High school and college: must have a chapter president; colleges use host sites to source buddies
Buddy directors: engage IDD populations in leadership roles
“Should haves” / “Could haves”: multiple officers recommended for delegation (VP, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Media Coordinator, Events Coordinator)
Parent involvement: Stacy cited as a strong model (parent advisor role)
Additional roles suggested by participants: fundraising coordinator, operations chair, buddy communication position (matches maintenance)
Chapter roadmap and school-year structure
Regular officer meetings: at least once a month to plan, reflect, and stay aligned
Early school-year focus: raise awareness with interest meetings, flyers, and social media; LLTD completion
BB360 membership applications: deadline of November~1; bulk submissions encouraged; late joiners allowed but aim for most by the deadline
For HS/college matching chapters: November 1 also deadline for inputting matches into BB360; celebrate matches with a kickoff party
Monthly events: each month must host a campus-wide event engaging all members
February: emphasis on Friendship Walk communications; Back to Best Buddies (BTBB) training date (tentative: Feb 1; alternate in Washtenaw or Oakland County)
Regular check-ins on buddy pairs for support and issue resolution
End-of-year routine: end-of-year BB360 report due by June~30; BBLC (annual leadership conference) in summer with registration deadline June~15
Fall semester timeline (overview focused on practical milestones)
August: back-to-school planning and outreach; engaging faculty and advisors
September: Local Leadership Training Day; form officer teams; start regular officer meetings; host interest meeting; begin BB360 applications; onboarding new members; maintain ongoing communication with Lydia and the staff
November: primary BB360 membership and matches deadline; ensure all officers and advisors are in BB360; continue monthly events
December: final fall event; plan spring semester; potentially a post-holiday lull; strategize a spring rebound
Spring semester overview (communication and events emphasis)
January: return from break; energizing events; prepare for Back to Best Buddies training in February
February: Back to Best Buddies training; chapter events; begin friendship walk communications; plan a school kickoff or walk-related activity
March: Best Buddies Month; emphasis on spreading inclusion; activities to replace or complement the old “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign with “Spread the Word Inclusion”
April: Friendship Block; date around April 26; for HS/college: chapter president applications due by April~1; formal interview process for leadership selection; BB staff will select by June~1
May: final spring events; senior recognitions or transitions (elementary to middle school); Teacher Appreciation Week; highlight advisors
June: chapter leaders selected by June~1; BBLC registration deadline June~15; if still in session, final end-of-year event; end-of-year BB360 report due June~30
Training opportunities and core mission (why we lead in color)
Local Leadership Training Day and Back to Best Buddies (BTBB) training; BBLC dates announced (next year in July; BBLC 2026 highlighted)
Best Buddies University (BBU): central hub for resources; bookmark: https://bestbuddies.org/bbu
Ambassador Academy: new leadership curriculum for ages 14+; Michigan currently has 11 participants in the orientation cohort starting in September; future cohorts planned
Best Buddies Living: new pillar in select universities; inclusive living communities with weekly dinners and events; potential expansion to Michigan
Uni’s Buddies: family-support pillar (parents of people with disabilities connected with new/expecting parents); currently not in Michigan but potential expansion
Global Cultural Exchange: US chapters paired with international chapters; monthly virtual connections; application due October~15; not guaranteed but encouraged
Mission, pillars, and statistics-based emphasis (why we lead)
Core mission: promote inclusion for individuals with IDD; one-to-one friendship as a pillar; also employment, leadership development, inclusive living, family support
Michigan-specific context: Ambassadors; Ambassador Academy; employment program led by Natalie; global cultural exchange initiative
Global reach: Best Buddies operates in all 50 states and about 50 other countries; intent to connect domestic and international chapters
Data-driven rationale: statistics highlighted to show gaps in training and inclusion; volunteers read specific statistics to illustrate impact (e.g., training gaps among primary care physicians; others relate to inclusion outcomes and friendship impact)
Recruitment and messaging: emphasize strengths of one-to-one friendships; leadership opportunities for people with IDD; inclusive leadership roles; avoid “buddy families” in favor of genuine matched pairs
Recruitment strategies and messaging (how to grow chapters)
Multi-pronged recruitment tailored to school level (college fairs, social media, announcements, parent communications)
Examples shared: Lincoln High School cafeteria tabling; professor offering extra credit for involvement; school announcements; campus videos; club fairs; YouTube videos; informational flyers with QR codes
Student-led pitches: practice elevator pitches about why to join Best Buddies at their school; activity to pair with someone new and practice concise, compelling messaging
Suggestions from participants: bake sales and other fundraisers as recruitment opportunities; class/club fair presentations; social media presence
Communications best practices (how to reach members and parents)
In-person officer meetings for planning and alignment; regular chapter-wide announcements
Multi-channel communications to ensure inclusion for participants with limited access to social media
Channels discussed: GroupMe, Remind, emails/listservs, newsletters, social media posts, Schoology/Canvas/School platforms (as applicable); parents/guardians engaged as well
BB social media tips: avoid using the Best Buddies logo as your chapter profile picture to prevent impersonation flags; include a link to bestbuddies.org in the bio; tag Best Buddies International or Michigan in posts
If accounts get flagged or shut down, contact the state team to resolve via internal channels
Best Buddies University (BBU) and BB360 demonstrations
BBU as a centralized resource hub with printable/downloadable materials; bookmark: https://bestbuddies.org/bbu
BBU resources organized for school chapters: leadership roles, events, recruitment, member resources
Live BB360 demo example (Western Michigan as the case):
Main BB360 dashboard shows three large numbers (membership, matches, events) and chapter name
Membership tab (roster) and membership link; QR code generator for flyers
Leadership tab: list of officers and access permissions; login access management
Roster tab: real-time roster for the current school year; export to Excel; view/edit contacts and accommodations
Events tab: log and describe events; create registrations for attendees
Matching tool: view peer buddy and buddy, create matches, and maintain them
Emphasize that BB360 is essential for November 1 deadlines and ongoing event tracking
Next steps after the demo: reach out for BB360 access next steps; staff can enable access for officers/advisors
BB360 deadlines and key dates recap (high-level timeline)
November 1: membership applications and matches due for most chapters
February 1: Back to Best Buddies (BTBB) training; required for each chapter to have representation
April 1: chapter president applications due for HS/college chapters; staff selects by June 1
June 30: end-of-year BB360 report due for all chapters
June 15: BBLC registration deadline (annual Leadership Conference) for next summer
Growing friendships in full bloom (one-to-one friendship rationale and practices)
For elementary and promoter chapters, one-to-one friendships are not required, but understanding the path to future participation is helpful
Culture of kindness essential; break the ice activities to facilitate initial connections
Recipe for friendship: two people with open hearts and minds, compatible interests and schedules; regular weekly communication; monthly chapter events; buddy pairs spend time together at least twice a month; match lasts at least one school year
Buddy matching integrity: prioritize genuine one-to-one friendships; avoid buddy families or buddy bunches (illustrative demo shown by John and Nicole to demonstrate information overload and complexity with more than two people)
If matches encounter issues, regular check-ins and a clear escalation path with advisers
Scenario-based discussion and problem-solving (interactive activity)
Scenario: a member reports that their match has not been meeting commitments and is unresponsive
Suggested responses: initiate a conversation; remind of expectations; acknowledge that dissolving a match is acceptable if needed; check for external issues and show concern (e.g., “are you okay?”)
Use of forms or surveys (weekly updates) to monitor engagement and catch issues early
If there is a mismatch in numbers (more peer buddies than buddies), keep unmatched members engaged via leadership roles, event helpers, or “Buddy for the Day” roles
Rematching considerations: keep a strong friendship if both parties wish to continue; otherwise rematch if appropriate; capture preferences via the matching survey
Events, fundraisers, and leadership opportunities
Monthly events are required; plan with the entire officer team; budget for events; secure accessibility and promote in multiple channels; track attendance via BB360
Event ideas: arts/crafts, seasonal activities, service projects, collaboration with existing campus events (e.g., sports games, science clubs), promotions at club fairs, etc.
Fundraising and finance: anticipate expenses; plan budgets; use 501(c)(3) options via BB360 resources; budgeting for leadership conference costs (approx. 400 per attendee) and possible scholarship opportunities; emphasize donor gratitude and public acknowledgment (atticitude of gratitude)
The Friendship Walk (annual fundraising and community event): date April~26, at the Detroit Zoo; registration is free and includes a zoo ticket; chapters must participate in some capacity; satellite walks encouraged (e.g., MSU, Andrews); large-scale community involvement with ambassadors speaking; photo ops, vendors, and family-friendly activities
Boundaries, safety, and communication plans
Emphasize boundary setting for buddy pairs (physical boundaries, scheduling, privacy, communication); encourage BBU buddy pair communication plans to clearly define contact preferences and consent; each member signs off on the plan
All members have a right to feel safe and respected; proactive checks and early intervention by chapter leaders/advisors
Support network and contacts
Core support network includes officer team, advisor, Lydia (staff), John (supervisor), and Best Buddies Michigan community; exchange contact information with peers from other chapters for ongoing collaboration
Chapter parents are a valuable resource (e.g., Stacy as a model); engage a parent liaison where possible
Closing and next steps
Group photo opportunity to conclude the day
Bingo-based raffle details to be announced at the end of the day
For questions or resource requests, contact Lydia, John, or regional staff; offer of continued support and invitations to attend events
Reminder to bookmark Best Buddies University and to stay engaged with BB360 and the mission
Key QR codes and links mentioned
Best Buddies University: https://bestbuddies.org/bbu
Global Cultural Exchange program: QR code shown for applications (deadline October~15)
BB360 access and member join link: https://www.bestbuddies.org/join (chapter-specific pages via BB360)
Final notes
The day emphasized leadership development, collaboration, and scalable growth across Michigan
Encouraged ongoing communication with the Michigan team for planning, potential funding, and program enhancements
Appreciation extended to all participants for contributing to a growing, inclusive, and impactful Best Buddies Michigan community