From "Not Working" to Networking

I've mentioned briefly that in addition to my LSC duties, this year I'm working on HOBY International's Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) looking at putting in a new strategic plan beginning in 2011.  So first, a bit of very abbreviated background. Since the late 90's I always felt like HOBY MD's own web presence was sparse.  In turn, I got involved more heavily with Maryland by working with that year's seminar chair to start creating a website.   As things have evolved, and as I have always been tech savvy, I have always felt like HOBY was behind the curve when it came to technology.  While I have not been able to necessarily influence International, I made sure I did my best to keep Maryland up with the times.  This has most recently included building a Facebook...

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Unpaid Hours

Including the recent meeting on Sunday, over the last two days I've spent between 15 and 16 hours on HOBY volunteer work.  Particularly for October, so early in the season, that's a fairly large chunk of time. These are the moments that at the end of the year I have to remind myself sometimes that people thank me for.  That when they say their thank yous, I can be humble, and be sure my team gets praised as well, but the pat on the back is not a bad thing:  I have worked hard, even when others' projects had not necessarily yet begun, and people want to make sure that you know that work doesn't go unappreciated. Most of my work these few days was meeting follow up:  writing the committee minutes, sending emails, etc.  But the largest part was organizing our new recruitment...

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The First Committee Meeting

Today was the first seminar committee meeting of the year.  I have to say, I was a bit nervous before it ever began. On the upside, I made sure we got word out early.  The invitation was sent essentially a month in advance. Reminders went out frequently.  And, I knew the alumni base was pumped for the coming year; we had engaged them frequently in the seminar off-season. However, on the flipside, I got a couple emails and texts this morning of last minute cancellations.  There were one or two on the Facebook page as well.  Not to mention, Facebook, for all its wonders is not the most reliable event tool -- it doesn't send out direct reminders like Evite does.  You can practically guarantee the "maybes" won't show.  And even some of the yes's.   But...

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United We Share

Yesterday,  I was up in Pittsburgh for Regional Training.  I drove up the 4 1/2 hour drive Friday night with fellow volunteers and friends Brandon and Elaine in tow, only to know we'd be making the twisting drive back through the Appalachians the next evening.  Such is the sacrifice of the committed volunteer. As a bit of background, our region of the country is considered "Region B."  B is one of four making up appropriately H, O, B, and Y.  B covers MD, DC, DE, PA, OH, IL, IN, and WV.  So, yes, while Pittsburgh is a bit of a schlep, it was somewhat central for the entire region.  It also happens to be in my supervisor, Vicki's backyard.  Hey -- she made the drive for my meeting with the Mount for me, and that worked out pretty well. Regional...

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Say Thank You

Something we spend a fair amount of time on at HOBY, and I think in a way that is often new to our ambassadors is thank you notes.  The importance of a well-written, thoughtful, and particularly hand-written thank you note says a lot about how you felt about someone else's actions.  Particularly in this day and age of fast-paced, electronic life, taking the time to hand write a thank you note says, "Your actions meant a lot to me -- I don't know if I can repay you -- but I at least wanted to go out of my way to let you know how much I appreciated it."  At HOBY we try and thank everyone:  sponsors, volunteers, speakers.  It doesn't matter how they helped us -- the fact that they helped at all is worth recognizing. After I had my meeting with Dr. Powell and Mount...

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From Sea to Shining Sea

As I already discussed, yesterday was a pretty big day for us in HOBY Maryland.   But, it's only what happened afterward that reminded me about how big HOBY is as a commitment, and how many individuals it impacts.   I always worry if we are making a big enough impact; if our message is getting out there.  Well, suffice it to say, it's not for lack of trying.  Yesterday was a wonderful example of just how far the message spreads.  A sampling of my HOBY day, and how much our volunteers do: In my meeting at the Mount in Emmitsburg (just south of Gettysburg), they asked where we were from:  I came from Rockville near Washington, DC.  Carol came from Baltimore.  Vicki came from as far away as the Pittsburgh area.  That's a four hour drive.  We...

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The Harder You Work, The Luckier You Get

A former teacher and mentor of mine once told me, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."  I don't know if he came up with it himself, or was quoting someone else, but it's always stuck with me:  probably because I'm used to working hard. Over the last few years, as I stepped into the LSC job, Carol, my Corporate Board President and my own former LSC when I was an ambassador, keeps telling me how much she has watched me grow as an individual.   It's a wonderful compliment, and I thank her for that.  As I've told others, she and HOBY helped give me something I still am trying to give back, and probably will never be able to repay.   But perhaps more inspiring, is I've continued to be able to see that growth in myself and my own character. Let alone the work I've...

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