Too much is never enough

If you had asked me at the beginning of the program year would I have now found myself in the position of actually trying to show some restraint on the growth in HOBY Maryland, I'm not sure what I would have told you.  Likely, that it would be an enviable position to be in, and I would probably love to have such problems.

What can I say except we may have become a victim of our own success?

As of today, Maryland has 207 students registered, six over our goal of 201.  There are actually a few more in the cue that I know about, all of whom could, and eventually likely will register.  I've had to even go as far as tell another site that we could not immediately accept their potential transfer.

The counter-balance to this wonderful news is that I also currently find my team literally running out of beds.  One of the consequences of getting upgraded dorms from the university was that there aren't quite as many spaces available to occupy.  Throw in the larger staff that is necessary for this increased number of participants, and the challenge becomes that much more daunting.

Our staffing is coming together, although I wish I could get some of our folks to turn in their applications faster.  For the first time, we're seeing a much larger group of junior facilitators.  I look at this with pride, knowing these are the larger groups of Team Alumni we used the last few years -- many of whom were TA when I was still Director of Operations -- that have risen through the ranks and stayed with HOBY.  In the future, they will replenish our facilitator ranks as well, even though I've already seen many of my original Team Alumni rise up to that position.

I've also seen my staff pushing to support more perhaps than ever before.  Finding us speakers, tying to raise a few dollars, calling in leads on volunteers and other assistance.  Having people who can contribute in those seemingly little ways makes all the difference.

Financially, dollars are coming in from our cooperating organizations, although, we could always do better there.  It's not that I right now am confident we would come in ahead or behind, rather, I know that every dollar we raise is a dollar that can go into making our program better.   It's hard to ever say you couldn't use another donation.

So, here we find ourselves running head first towards May.  Volunteers, program, facilities, and even donations are all coming together.  It is a whirlwind of activity and in less than 2 months, it will all be put to task.   I cannot wait.

Read more »

Reborn, Renew, React

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...

Read more »

Make a Splash

All day I've been watching as my Facebook has slowly been covered in HOBY.  Status messages have been changed to snippets of why HOBY has changed lives while profile pictures have become a colorful sea of HOBY T-shirts.  Fan pages have spread the message, and the pervasiveness of HOBY in even my "virtual" life has become all too apparent.

In a move initially led by HOBY Ohio West, today through Wednesday have become HOBY Social Media Splash Days.   It's not by chance all my HOBY friends are doing this, it is a coordinated effort to get a little publicity for what may be America's best kept, positive secret.  I think about my own life, and the friends I know who I don't necessarily give the full HOBY "elevator" pitch speech to, and it makes me realize I can still do more to spread the good word.

To steal from HOBY Washington, and offer some of my own favorites:

Raadha
Through HOBY I have come across some of the most amazing people who have inspired me to do more. My HOBY friends have become my HOBY family, they've laughed with me, they've cried with me, and they've all shared the amazing HOBY journey with me and for this, I am incredibly thankful. To my HOBY family, I love you guys!

Nick
was a HOBY ambassador back in 2005 and I met incredible people who quickly became family to me. If it wasn't for my HOBY family, I wouldn't be in New Orleans helping to bring families home. HOBY changed my life, ask me about it!!

Jacquie
Even though I didn't have the opportunity to be an Ambassador at HOBY when I was a sophomore, HOBY - Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership has changed my life by allowing me the opportunity to interact with hundreds of outstanding youth and volunteers who care about making a difference in the world and becoming true agents of change. Wanna know more? Ask me!

Rich
I attended HOBY - Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership in 1984 and it continues to change my life in profound ways. I simply would not be who I am today without it. Stop me and ask me more about HOBY and also check out the website at www.hoby.org!

Dionne
If you don't know about HOBY, I don't know why we are even Facebook friends!

Justin
When I was in HS, I went to HOBY, something I knew little about. Little did I know that it would lead me to some grand adventures and to some of the best friends I've ever had! Without HOBY, I would be less enthusiastic, have less of a positive mental attitude, and know less about the world and the people in it. Also, I'd be a horrible dancer! :) Ask me about it. :)

Learn more at:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135745076490488

In the meantime, I realize my blog has been fairly quiet.  That is not to say HOBY has been quiet -- quite the contrary -- but as I find the motivation to keep a blog difficult to maintain, and the list of tasks keeps growing, finding the appropriate time can be challenging.

We completed our January seminar committee meeting to mixed results.  Good in that I believe enthusiasm to be high, and my team to be on the right track.  However, slightly disappointing in that I feel I always have an energized core of volunteers, but getting the organization to grow is a challenge.  As but one example, Team Alumni applications were not as ample as we expected them to be.  It has not created problems for us, but gives but one more challenge where we will have to reevaluate for next year.

Meeting minutes are available at:  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150128609755250

In the next two weeks, I have two important meetings.  The first will be with the board this week.   We will have important discussions about where we stand with finances, the AIP project, and overall seminar progress.  I believe things are in good shape, but their input for sure keeps me focused.  The second will be the more novel of the two for sure:  it will be my first meeting with Mount St. Mary's since we reached agreement on our new partnership.  We will be discussing programming details, and hopefully taking a look at some of the new facilities we have access to.

Recruitment is going reasonably well.  We're at 171 which places us 10 away from last year's attendance, and 30 away from goal.  I see these goals as achievable, but these last months are always the hardest.

I have also taken the project of the Career Lunch upon myself as I was not able to ever find someone to lead it; it is much too important a part of our local seminar program -- programmatically if not fiscally -- to simply abandon.  I have sent out initial emails to almost 100 people soliciting interest, including some personal friends who have never participated in HOBY before.  If even one of them were to come join me for the first time, I would consider that a win.

And lastly, in the project that perhaps I find the easiest to come back to time and again if only because of its relative novelty, progress on the Strategic Plan seems to be moving forward slowly but surely.  Our plan is composed, only the nuanced details to be worked out.  It makes for an exciting time that I find myself very pleased of which to be a contributing member.

Yes, HOBY days are certainly upon us.  My hope is like that of which we say of the HOBY message -- that I don't find myself simply making a splash, but creating a ripple that will resonate through others.

Read more »

Halfway Home

As we enter December, we're now about halfway through the HOBY calendar year:  6 months from the last seminar, 6 months to MLS 2011.   We also have just hit another halfway point:  We reached 50% of our recruitment goal of 201 students.  Team Alumni applications are out; facilitator applications will be coming soon. Program has started moving and kicking into full gear.

To think about it though, this is also in it's own way dangerous to our goals.  December is filled with a month of thoughts of holidays, giving, family, and community.  While these are things we hold dear in HOBY, it becomes easy to become "distracted" by our "real lives" and all the responsibilities we have this time of year, places to be, and things to do.  

My philosophy?  Try to make the HOBY message the holiday message and vice versa; bring the two together.  They are certainly not so mutually exclusive.  And in that sense, by doing one, we can accomplish hopefully both, for the improved fulfillment of both.  Because in my mind, it would not be wrong to say that most HOBY days are just as good as most holidays.

Read more »

The Strength in Discord

Last Thursday, Maryland's Corporate Board met for one of our quarterly meetings to discuss where we were at and where we were going.  While the major event in Maryland is the seminar, the Board functions to oversee all events, that they are meeting their responsibilities fiscally, and that they represent HOBY well.

While I don't want anyone to think that our meeting was filled with discord (it wasn't), what was perhaps most interesting to me is there were two disagreements during the evening that struck me in the same way that liberals and conservatives might argue in politics:  that there was discussion about what was in HOBY's best interest, a new approach, or a tried and true strategy.   In the simplest sense, what you know works is a good thing, but if you stick to it too long you become stagnant.  New strategies offer opportunities for even greater things, but they also come at potentially great risk or sacrifice.

In this particular case, the first issue was about our recruitment.  HOBY International has a program in place to allow potential alternate students to attend the seminar along with their primary selections.  Maryland has not typically participated in this program, but it was brought before the Board about the possibility because our participation would help increase our recruitment, outreach, and inherent financial incentives.  At the same time, it could decrease diversity in the seminar because of who could afford to participate, and it could change the seminar experience for all.  It also potentially puts greater strain to make sure there are adequate volunteers.

The second issue was about the money Team Alumni are asked to donate to participate at $180 to pay for their room and board.  There was a time where they were not asked for this money -- their place was paid for.  However, it was at great cost to the seminar.   The cost was brought on when HOBY Maryland was financially struggling.   However, now that we are not, are we potentially losing students who would be TA otherwise because they cannot afford the $180?

It wouldn't be appropriate for me in this forum to comment about the Board's decisions, and besides, that wasn't the point.  The point is that the discussion was good for all of us.  It reminded us -- reminded me -- of why things don't just happen.   Why I can't just make arbitrary decisions as LSC.  Why we have "checks and balances."  And it also reminded me that in the path we have chosen for each issue, what the other side is looking for in their concerns -- it gives us the opportunity to address those concerns as they are happening.

Leadership isn't always making everybody happy.  It's about doing something and trying to get a critical mass to follow you.  To work towards the goals you have set out.  They don't have to agree with what you're doing, or how you got there.  In fact, you may even have to push them outside of their comfort zone.  In this sense, together, only then might we achieve the true potential.

Read more »

Re: Recruitment

That title has fortunately been flooding my inbox all week.

Admittedly, it was and is a bit of a gamble to try and put our alumni on the the task of recruitment for the seminar.  It has traditionally been a task handled by a recruitment director, and doled out to a team of volunteers.  However, the reality was that with no director, we couldn't just ignore the large task of recruitment, and we needed to find a way to make it possible.

At the same time, this seminar off season we have done a very positive job of engaging our alumni.  Between a successful summer reunion, and a big opportunity to be on the radio at NPR, our alumni were wanting to be engaged, and have stayed involved as they truly want to return to the seminar to be on Team Alumni. Throw these factors together, and we are currently looking at potentially our largest ever class of applicants to Team Alumni with more than 40 applications.

The direct result of that is that if these individuals wanted a place on Team Alumni, we were going to ask them to work for it.  They were going to have to distinguish themselves.  We only have 25 spots on TA, and that means some are going to have to stay home disappointed.  Being on TA is not just a free pass.

What we have done is I have taken on the task of breaking down the recruitment list.  At 364 schools and programs in the state of Maryland, that's an awfully big challenge.  But, I asked for help from those alumni, and they have responded in force.  Each is taking on at least 5 schools to recruit, and even some alumni who are to old to be on TA still volunteered to help.  Then, throw in a few adult volunteers who have longer lists, and we have put together quite the effort.

It is now a week from when I initially created and began to implement this challenge and we are off to a wonderful start.  But, now the truly hard work of recruitment begins.  Calling and emailing schools is not easy: people at the schools often have no idea what HOBY is, or how magnificent an opportunity it can be.  They don't know if it's worth the $150 it costs them, or if they have the money even if they believe in the program.  They become increasingly difficult to get a hold of, not returning messages, and even flat out ignoring your calls and requests.  Yet, all we want to do is making the lives of their young people better.  You would think it would be an easier sell.

Now all those volunteers must put in countless hours, phone calls, and emails to try and get just a few students to sign up.  And every day, all I can do is give them assistance and wait, as I watch the recruitment tally sheet, watching as each school comes in, one by one.

Read more »

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 drive.  This year, we're asking every high school age alumnus who wants to be on Team Alumni to take on the challenge of helping us recruit.  For each person, they're only being asked five schools, but that can go a long way.  Already, about 20 have taken on the challenge, meaning that's 100 schools that will be called by alumni and encouraged to attend.  To put that in perspective, there are 364 potential schools or programs within the state of Maryland.  Our recruitment goal is 201, and last year we got 180.  Having the alumni contribute for the first time this year will be a big boost for us as I have not had any luck getting someone to take on the task of recruitment director.  It's meant the rest of us have had to split up that task.  But 100 is no small number and certainly nothing to scoff at.  It will have an enormous impact on our efforts if those alumni are successful.

My job as Seminar Chair is to direct others:  that's what the recruitment challenge is all about.   I direct the resources, push them in the right direction, and help the task get to goal.  But, it's the moments like this that I try to remember to also be a role model.  That I cannot ask my team to do what I am not willing to do myself.  That literally thousands of unpaid volunteer hours will be put in by my team and I this year towards accomplishing our task.  We will try to give everyone a "pat on the back," a thank you, and of course, a HOBY Hug.  It's a small token of thanks for all those hours.  But in the end, in order to get there, we must motivate and inspire them, so that the literal hours put in themselves feel like their own intrinsic reward.


I am frequently asked why I do HOBY.  My answer is always the same:  I'm trying to give back to HOBY what it gave to me those years ago when I was an ambassador in 1996.

I learned something a long time ago though:  I already gave that part back.  The "problem" now is that every time I give, HOBY in its intrinsic reward gives a little bit more back to me than I can give to it.  At this rate, I will never catch up.

Read more »

The First Registration

And the envelope goes to...

Georgetown Prep

First of all, I'm very excited that registration has already begun.  It means the process is working, schools are getting the information, and we are working towards our goal.  However, as LSC, the question I must ask is -- what is it that Prep gets that perhaps other schools don't?  What about the HOBY message got them to buy in that they registered so quickly?  We didn't even get a chance to give them a phone call -- that's how much they bought in.  If I could just bottle up that thought and message and distribute it to the 350 schools across the state, my job would be easy.  I know my own love and passion for HOBY, but it's not that.  It's creating that love and passion in our participants so they go back to their schools and make it happen for each new class of sophomores.  It is the challenge we face each and every year.

Read more »

Recruitment

Recruitment is arguably one of the two biggest challenges HOBY faces as an organization (next to perhaps only fundraising).  It comes with it's own incentive based goals, and in many ways can set the structure for everything else we do.

For the last two years, and in all likelihood this year, our goal for recruitment has been to get 201 sophomores to the seminar in May.  Two years ago, we met this goal "unofficially" by at least getting that many students to sign up, but were disappointed when about 10 percent of those students didn't actually show.  Last year, the number who signed up was much closer to the number who showed, however, in some ways, this is arguably no better for us.

In every element we plan from dormitories on the campus, to facilitation groups, to busses for transportation the size of the group can have a dramatic impact.  It is no wonder that this is even true in fundraising:  for every student registered, we get a small piece of their registration fee, and there are financial incentives to add to that should we meet our recruitment goal.  Unfortunately however, we do not set our goal all by ourselves. It is determined in conjunction with HOBY International and in large part is actually set for us.

The challenges of the recruitment task can be many.  First, making phone calls, and to some degree even sending emails during the day is difficult.  Most of our volunteers have serious day jobs that prevent them from participating in such a task.  How are we to get a hold of the schools if we cannot call them during their working hours?  Second, it is surprising every year as we face either new school staffs, or simply existing ones, who have not yet latched onto the HOBY message and still are not enthusiastic about sending a student.  They complain about how no student is interested in signing up or that they are unsure what they are getting for their investment.  What they fail to realize is that in all likelihood, those members of the sophomore class have never heard of HOBY, and so they have no incentive to sign up, or write an essay, or attempt to get involved.  If the school plays no role in promoting HOBY as something positive for a student's future, what student would sign up blindly?  Every year I must convince schools to do this hard work as I cannot be in the school to do it myself.  These challenges speak nothing to the students and then families who then do sign up, only for us to make sure the registered participant completes their forms and does show up in May.

This year, we are currently without an official Director of Registration, and are certainly looking.  However, as much as anything, what is needed is a  few bodies to make just a few phone calls.  If every volunteer we work with during the year took on just 5 schools to call, this would mean we'd be working on calling around 300 schools.  It doesn't take much -- just a bit of commitment.

I'd love to have a few more people to help me with recruitment.   Imagine the difference you'd be making to get that one student to attend in May and the "life-changing" experience they would encounter.

Read more »

Call for Volunteers

As we begin each seminar year, one of the first challenges that is faced is the "Call for Volunteers."  It is not that there aren't a lot of people out there who aren't willing to help HOBY, its a matter of getting them to recognize they can contribute, and helping them find the best opportunity for their skill set combined with their interest.

Often, our young, particularly first-year, alumni are the most enthusiastic about helping out the seminar.  Unfortunately, their interest is counter-balanced by their lack of understanding about just how challenging a seminar is to put together.  On the other side, our veteran staff have a deep seated love for the organization, but are often hesitant to get overly involved because of their other commitments in their lives.  I understand this, and even sympathize, but I always hope they will recognize there are many small tasks they can contribute to.

Currently, we have three significant volunteer opportunities:  Recruitment, Career Lunch, and Treasurer.  It would be great to find individuals who are willing to take these on as the "Director" role.  But, I'm realistic.  Most people don't want that title, and frankly, I'm not asking anyone to take it on -- at least yet. :)  The reality is, I'd just like to find a few more people to contribute to these areas.  You don't have to the Director of Recruitment, you just have to be willing to make a handful of phone calls.  You don't have to be the Director of the Career Lunch -- you just have to recruit a few tables.  You don't have to... oh wait; you do have to be the Treasurer or not at all. :)

I'll be posting about these opportunities in the future but in the meantime, ask yourself how you might contribute.  Taking on one small task, and believe me, there are many, helps our organization out enormously. No matter what you are good at, or interested in, I promise you, we have a place for you.

You can sign up to help volunteer at:  https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYVolunteerApplication/

Read more »