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Hi everyone! 

The end of this 2021-2022 school year marked Designated Dawgs twenty-first year of operations. We are also happy to announce that this year we gave over 1,000 rides! 

This spring semester we were also awarded a grant to fund next year’s operations by the UGA Parents Leadership Council and cannot thank them enough for their support! 

We also grew our Executive Board these past couple months and streamlined multiple positions in preparation for next year after four of our amazing senior Exec Board members graduated this month. We’re sad to lose these four incredible seniors but wish them all the best in their post-grad plans! 

Lastly, our program would not be possible without all the support we had this year and we want to thank every UGA student, parent, and faculty and staff member who helped support us as we began our return to normal operations. 

We cannot wait to resume our operations later this fall and as always, Go Dawgs! 

Sincerely, 

Kate Whitley 

Vice President of Communications 

Hello everyone! 

On February 18th and 19th, six of our executive team members had the incredible opportunity to attend the Safe Ride Programs United Conference at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Our team is so grateful for this experience and cannot thank the UGA Parents Grant enough for their financial support and dedication to having us attend the conference. We would also like to thank Brett Jackson at UGA Transportation Services enough for her guidance while planning the trip. 

While at the SRPU Conference, we got to learn and collaborate with dozens of other students and staff from universities all across the country. We learned about how different schools conduct operations, support their students, and give back to their communities. We even got to hear from a representative from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and how safe-ride programs help spread their message. 

One big takeaway our executive team had after attending this conference was our continued dedication to advocating for full support from the University of Georgia. Almost every university that attended the SRPU Conference talked about the funding and support they receive from their universities or how they completely operate inside of their university system. With this support and funding, they are able to have their own fleets of vehicles, pay their drivers and navigators a livable wage, and provide safe-rides to under-supported populations like students with families and students living with disabilities. 

All of these are things Designated Dawgs is committed to one day having. After this year’s conference, we are hopeful for the future of our organization and can’t wait to continue serving our UGA community through our amazing volunteers for the rest of the Spring 2022 semester! 

Sincerely, 

Kate Whitley 

Vice President of Communications

 
At the end of last month, three of our Exec board members, Charlotte, Ali, and Catherine, had the privilege of attending the Safe Ride Programs United (SRPU) Conference at the University of Arizona in Tuscon. They got to meet and collaborate with over a dozen other safe ride programs from colleges across the nation, and learned a lot about how to improve our organization. Their new knowledge and ideas will help us have our best semester of operations yet. 

Despite some crazy weather, we had a great start to the school year this month with 317 rides. Thank you to Alpha Phi Omega for sponsoring an entire weekend of operations; we appreciate your dedication to our organization. However, we are just getting started: we still need volunteers for the rest of the semester!! If you’re interested, sign up here: goo.gl/Vk9tFl

We thank all of our volunteers and riders for making Designated Dawgs possible! Go Dawgs!

For those that don’t know, we have utilized Enterprise’s cars for our operations for years. Our executive board enjoyed meeting yesterday with Jacobi Dolphin of Enterprise’s corporate office and Tyler of our Athens Enterprise location.

Thank you so much to our Volunteers on Thursday, February 12th. We gave 70 rides!

Designated Dawgs Inc.

102 Tate Center | Athens, GA | 30602

 

2013 – 2014 Executive Board Applications

 

Who we are:

Designated Dawgs is an incorporated, 501c3, licensed non-profit organization and member school of Safe Ride Program United.

 

Our Mission:

To make the city of Athens a safer place by providing University of Georgia students and others in need with a safe, free, nonjudgmental rides home.

 

Our History:

The concept of Designated Dawgs (originally Watch Dawgs) was developed by a University of Georgia student in 2000.  Designated Dawgs provided its first ride on January 11, 2001

 

Our Impact:

Since its start, Designated Dawgs has provided over 71,500 safe rides

 

When we operate:

We operate on Thursday and Friday evenings during the Fall semester and Friday and Saturday evenings during the Spring semester.  We operate about 12 weeks a semester.  Operations start each evening at 10 p.m. and run until 3 a.m.

 

Where we operate:

Designated Dawgs runs operations from our office space on the 4^th floor of The Fred Building at 220 College Avenue in Downtown Athens, GA. We typically operate four – five SUVs or mini-vans what we rent from Enterprise.

 

Our affiliation with the University of Georgia:

Designated Dawgs operates and receives all of our funding independently from the University of Georgia.  We are an official, registered student organization with the UGA Center for Student Organizations.  We are also a member organization of Volunteer UGA.

 

Funding:

We receive all of our funding through grants, donations and sponsorships from businesses and associations in the community.  We operate with a budget of $25,000 – $30,000.

 

Who we serve:

We serve both students and any other individuals in the community that need our services.

 

Volunteers:

Anyone can sign up and volunteer with Designated Dawgs.  There are volunteer opportunities for individuals ages 18+

 

 

 

 

2013 – 2014 Executive Board Positions Available:

Executive Director: The Executive Director is the leader of the organization, and therefore sets the tone for the organization.  He or she must do what is necessary to not only lead the organization, but ensure its success. He or she will be in charge of overseeing the entire organization, finance, communications and operations departments.

 

Operations Department

Vice President of Operations: The Vice President of Operations oversees the entire operational aspect of Designated Dawgs.  The Vice President of Operations coordinates all activities relating to volunteer operations including working with Enterprise Rental, facilitating volunteer training, planning/scheduling volunteer operations and working with other aspects relating to weekend operations.

 

Director of Risk Management: It is the responsibility of the Director of Risk Management to ensure that Designated Dawgs is operating at the highest level of safety possible and minimizing any changes of liability. The Director of Risk Management should be able to answer any questions concerning operational procedures, liability and insurance.

 

Director of Community Relationships and Sponsors: The Director of Sponsor Relations must work hard to ensure that we maintain healthy relationships with our current sponsors and that we continue to look for additional sponsorships in the future.  The Director of Sponsors Relations must be an effective communicator and excellent listener.  It is important that our relationships with sponsors are secure.

 

Director of Member Relations: The Director of Member Relations must pay close attention to Designated Dawgs’ members: helping with training them conscientiously, fostering their growth, encouraging morale, holding them accountable for their actions and providing them with chances to get to know each other better.

 

Finance Department

Vice President of Finance: The finance department controls and reviews all cash flows within the monetary activity of the Designated Dawgs. The department must keep up with overall budget, pay the bills, review other department budgets, and keep controls of Designated Dawgs’ spending. The Vice President of Finance will also fill the role of legal secretary, as needed.

 

Director of Fundraising: The Director of Fundraising raises money by bringing together Designated Dawgs supporters for events and other fundraising efforts.  Creativity is a key component in the duties of a Director of Fundraising.

 

Accountant: The Accountant has the responsibility of making sure all financial information is properly recorded and accurate.

 

Communications Department

Vice President of Communications: The Vice President of Communications’ duty is to craft and present the image and reputation of Designated Dawgs to the public. The Vice President of Communications will maintain all contact between the organization, the public, and the media by working with other members of the communications department. He or she must aid the Executive Board members in their efforts of communication, efficiency and planning.

 

Director of Public Relations: The Director of Public Relations is in charge of distributing Designated Dawgs information quickly and efficiently.  He or she will work with the Historian/Webmaster to maintain the presence of the organization on the internet, allowing possible sponsors and other constituencies to communicate with Designated Dawgs electronically, as well as improving abilities to communicate with Designated Dawgs’ members.

 

Webmaster and Historian: The Webmaster and Historian will maintain online presence for Designated Dawgs in addition to helping archive and save the history of the organization.  The Historian and Webmaster will assist other departments updating important information that needs to be included online.

 

Director of Outreach: The Director of Outreach is responsible for serving as the representative of Designated Dawgs in all areas of Student Life as well as serving as the Volunteer UGA Liaison.  The Director of Outreach should maintain strong relationships and rapport with other student organizations, campus departments, administration and other member schools of Safe Ride Program United.

 

Health Promotions Coordinator: The Health Promotions coordinator is responsible for working with the Health Center and other resources to make sure Designated Dawgs has accurate information concerning alcohol health and safety.

 

Applications are due Tuesday, April 23, 2013 by 11:59 a.m. Applications can be found at www.UGADesignatedDawgs.com

Congrats to Hannah Lani, Anna Carmichael, Annelise Wornat, William Gaston, Leigh Borkowski, and Travis Welch on becoming the new members of the Volunteer Leadership Council.