It was quite the busy week. My real job was hectic and frequently overwhelming this week, which seemed to be the real sign that HOBY time is almost here. As I feel the strain of mounting pressures, I know we are but weeks away from May.
In no particular order...
We reached 188 recruitment by the end of this week. That puts us just 13 away from reaching goal by the extended March 25th deadline. It's a big deal because it means we're already ahead of total recruitment last year. And, even if we don't make the "deadline," I have a feeling we'll meet goal by the seminar. All I can say is that I'm quite pleased.
As those 188 registered, we released our pre-seminar forms today. Of course, only as I personally know is typical, it didn't go off quite smoothly. A link in the email went to the wrong place. It's a small mistake, but if nothing else, frustrating. Unfortunately, despite the nature of the email being totally legitimate, it's difficult to find resources that will allow you to send such a message to almost 1000 recipients. (~200 ambassadors X 5 email addresses [student, principal, counselor, mom, dad]) Every year, no matter what I've tried, it never quite goes out smoothly. I simply do my best.
With the new forms, we also launched our new website. My sister who only began volunteering for us a few years ago is a graphic designer, and has been taking on projects like this. She did a beautiful job. On so many levels it makes me excited and proud. My sister never got to participate in HOBY -- she wasn't interested at the time, and for many years, she really didn't feel like she would have a place there. Yet, she has been embraced by my HOBY friends, and I have watched my real family and my HOBY family joyously collide and overlap. As I have watched the HOBY program help her grow into a stronger individual, it has only reinvigorated my own enjoyment of what it is we do.
For my work with National, we launched new Twitter and YouTube accounts. Of course, no sooner did we post a quote to the Twitter than did we generate at least one negative reaction. Someone didn't feel that a quote from Jesse Jackson, despite it's focus on leadership, was the most appropriate. Personally, while I don't agree with the individual, it does show what I love about our organization: the willingness to embrace other opinions.
Embrace to a point...
The other "highlight" of the week was a volunteer posting a questionable video to their site's Facebook fan page. Unfortunately, I had to in good conscience react. I knew what the content of the video was, and it was in many ways probably harmless, but it certainly didn't belong posted as being on behalf of HOBY. Such is the case when you are trying to represent the voice of the organization, 4000 volunteers, and 9000 annual participants.
Things are definitely moving. We have at least a dozen folks interested in the Career Lunch, we're setting up tours at the Mount for Friday morning, and the contract is about to go in. I've taken about four conference calls in the last 2 weeks, another one coming this week, and have a presentation pitch to likely make next week. So much to do, so little time. So begins the "March" to May...
In no particular order...
We reached 188 recruitment by the end of this week. That puts us just 13 away from reaching goal by the extended March 25th deadline. It's a big deal because it means we're already ahead of total recruitment last year. And, even if we don't make the "deadline," I have a feeling we'll meet goal by the seminar. All I can say is that I'm quite pleased.
As those 188 registered, we released our pre-seminar forms today. Of course, only as I personally know is typical, it didn't go off quite smoothly. A link in the email went to the wrong place. It's a small mistake, but if nothing else, frustrating. Unfortunately, despite the nature of the email being totally legitimate, it's difficult to find resources that will allow you to send such a message to almost 1000 recipients. (~200 ambassadors X 5 email addresses [student, principal, counselor, mom, dad]) Every year, no matter what I've tried, it never quite goes out smoothly. I simply do my best.
With the new forms, we also launched our new website. My sister who only began volunteering for us a few years ago is a graphic designer, and has been taking on projects like this. She did a beautiful job. On so many levels it makes me excited and proud. My sister never got to participate in HOBY -- she wasn't interested at the time, and for many years, she really didn't feel like she would have a place there. Yet, she has been embraced by my HOBY friends, and I have watched my real family and my HOBY family joyously collide and overlap. As I have watched the HOBY program help her grow into a stronger individual, it has only reinvigorated my own enjoyment of what it is we do.
For my work with National, we launched new Twitter and YouTube accounts. Of course, no sooner did we post a quote to the Twitter than did we generate at least one negative reaction. Someone didn't feel that a quote from Jesse Jackson, despite it's focus on leadership, was the most appropriate. Personally, while I don't agree with the individual, it does show what I love about our organization: the willingness to embrace other opinions.
Embrace to a point...
The other "highlight" of the week was a volunteer posting a questionable video to their site's Facebook fan page. Unfortunately, I had to in good conscience react. I knew what the content of the video was, and it was in many ways probably harmless, but it certainly didn't belong posted as being on behalf of HOBY. Such is the case when you are trying to represent the voice of the organization, 4000 volunteers, and 9000 annual participants.
Things are definitely moving. We have at least a dozen folks interested in the Career Lunch, we're setting up tours at the Mount for Friday morning, and the contract is about to go in. I've taken about four conference calls in the last 2 weeks, another one coming this week, and have a presentation pitch to likely make next week. So much to do, so little time. So begins the "March" to May...
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