September Snowball Reminders | | |
OS, Inc. is ready to start another busy month of Snowball programming! We encourage all OS Chapters to reach out to our team at OS, Inc. for any support, trainings, resources, and more that you may need. OS, Inc. is excited to hear from all of you and support OS Chapters and Leaders to create change.
Be sure to read below to see the details and registration for the 2026 OS, Inc. Fall Showcase, the OS, Inc. printable posters, and the launch of the new Generation Lead materials. If your OS Chapter needs brainstorming, to schedule a training, or wants to check in with the OS, Inc. team today!
| | What's New for This School Year? | | The 2026 OS Fall Showcase | | |
OS, Inc. is excited to invite you and your OS Chapter to the 2026 OS, Inc. Fall Showcase. The day holds keynotes from Leanne Foell, Justine Larsen, and Nicolle Gonzalez, workshops of your choosing, lunch, networking stations, and plenty of opportunities to grow and share your prevention programming. Register at the link below to secure your spot for the event, all spots are first come-first serve. If you have any questions, need to be sent an invoice, or need help reach out to our team today!
Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
Location: NIU Conference Center (1120 E. Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL. 60563)
Time: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM CST (Registration will begin at 8:20 AM CST)
Price: $30/person (includes admission, lunch, networking time, a t-shirt, and more)
Deadline to register: Monday, September 21st, at noon
| | OS, Inc. Member's Only Portal On Website | | |
Head over to the OS, Inc. Member's Only Portal today to utilize all of our new and updated resources! These resources are available to ANY & ALL accredited Chapters, student leaders, and/or adult mentors through June 30th, 2027. While none of the resources are mandatory for your OS Chapter to implement, we highly encourage each Chapter to review each option available and use the ones that make most sense for your group. Use the password below to log into the Member's Only Portal and let our team know if you have any questions or need any help.
Portal Password: OperationSnow2026!
| | Offered Trainings for Your Students | | |
OS, Inc., the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH) and its our three other youth-based programs – the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute, Focus Youth Gambling Prevention, & Generation Lead – offer a comprehensive list of trainings, workshops, and/or keynotes designs to strengthen prevention efforts, enhance youth leadership, and support the well-being of communities across Illinois.
These trainings, workshops, and/or keynotes equip youth and adults with skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build healthier schools, families, and communities. From substance use prevention, youth mental health, gambling awareness and prevention, leadership development, policy advocacy, and project implementation, our workshops portfolio provides flexible, research-based content that can be tailored to the needs of organizations, coalitions, school districts, and youth-serving chapters.
| | Generation Lead's New Campaign Material | | |
As you start the new school year, Generation Lead is here to support your OS Chapter by promoting mental wellness, healthy choices, and substance-free futures with resources provided at no cost to you.
Generation Lead has NEW material ready to be distributed straight to your Chapter. We offer various posters, bookmarks, resource cards, conversation cards, stickers, and more to support your prevention efforts within your community. If you are interested in bringing Generation Lead to your community and do not know where to start, please reach out to Rachel at rachel@ilabh.org.
| | OS, Inc. Recruitment Posters | | |
OS, Inc. has created a variety of printable posters for your OS Chapter to utilize in advertising your events, recruiting new leaders, and anything in between. These posters have been designed for your Chapter and Leaders to add your details for meetings, include testimonials, and showcase why more people should join your Chapter.
DISCLAIMER - these posters are not required for your Chapter to use but are recommended to make your recruitment process easier and more effective! If your Chapter has any questions or needs help implementing any of these posters into your recruiting process, reach out to our team for support!
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We have created a new toolkit for your OS Leaders to utilize in planning their next event or meeting. This toolkit was created by Youth Leaders for Youth Leaders. The OS, Inc. Youth Advocate Approved Activities Toolkit was designed to provide student leaders with activities that were selected and/or created by other student leaders. This toolkit and numerous others are now available on the OS, Inc. Member's Portal.
If your Chapter has any questions or needs help implementing any sections of these toolkits into your programming, reach out to Michaela Price (michaela@ilabh.org) for support!
| | Project Oz OS, Inc. Trainings | | Project Oz OS hosted OS, Inc. for their Adult Implementation and Student Facilitation trainings in August. The group spent the day learning more about Operation Snowball and what it means to be an OS Leader. The group went through the newly updated OS, Inc. Facilitation training that helped them practice their public speaking skills, leading activities with their peers, and reflecting on the year ahead of them. If your OS Chapter is looking to schedule your group's facilitation training, let us know today! | | OS Board of Director's Featured Article | | Brandon Pantoja, Youth Advocate | | |
Full Circle
As I begin this 2026-2027 school year, I step into my senior year. My final year of high school. With that comes a lot of emotions as it is the beginning of many goodbyes. One of the hardest goodbyes will of course be Operation Snowball and everyone involved in the Schaumburg chapter. It will be a tough goodbye, but it must mean that I have done something right along the way.
Last year, I served as a leader in my Operation Snowball, as what we call a newbie. I was a junior and couldn’t wait to lead my own group for the first time. I got paired with two amazing co-facilitators and the three of us worked as a team to put together one of the most memorable days of my life. The energy and excitement that day held is something that I will never forget. We spent many months preparing for this special day and it couldn’t have gone better. Seeing the joy and transformation amongst the participants is what really made the day for me.
However that is not what I am here to talk about. Stepping into my first Operation Snowball training this year, I saw some familiar faces, and some brand new. I recognize them by face, but this isn’t the same group of leaders that I knew from last year. As I began to look around at some of the juniors, I recognized them as participants in my group. This is when it hit me. A full circle moment.
Seeing these newbies walk into training reminded me a lot about myself. The experience of Snowball changes you in so many positive ways. I was so proud to see these new faces walk into training with the same excitement I once had. It was so amazing to watch how the Snowball event that we held had such an impact that forced people to step into positions of leadership themselves.
It suddenly came to me that this is what snowball is all about. We provide this judgement-free community for all walks of life to join. We facilitate discussions to really reach into their emotional side. We run fun activities to create these bonds that students will hold on to way beyond snowball. But why? As a leader, Operation Snowball this year was so fulfilling as I got to see my participants have a good time and really catch the Snowball spirit. That’s my why. To ensure that the next generation of Snowballers carry on the legacy of those before us.
As you step into this school year with Snowball, I challenge you all to find your why. I challenge you all to inspire others and be a part of something bigger than yourself. I challenge you to keep striving to make a difference in your community. No matter what your role is in Operation Snowball, you matter, you belong, and you are making a difference.
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MISSION STATEMENT: Operation Snowball is an international youth program that empowers student leaders through prevention education, community advocacy, and leadership development to a create positive impact.
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937 South Second Street | Springfield, IL 62704
217.528.7335 ext. 27
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