Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Twenty-Second Edition, October 18, 2014

Featured Alumna: Laura Heida '07

Hey all! I was an ambassador back in 2007, HOBY’s last year at Ft. Oglethorpe, and I had a heck of an experience. I’ll be honest, though, as much as my seminar rocked, my strongest, best, and most vivid HOBY memories are from my years on staff. Junior Staff was an incredibly rewarding experience, as it gave me an entirely new perspective on the seminar: behind the scenes! Preparation! Being a PART of keeping the energy up! Starting cheers! On the same line, directing operations for the 2012 seminar was an interesting experience. Learning what REALLY goes into making the seminar work is something that is overwhelming and wonderful. It let me appreciate all the work that so many people put into ensuring that HOBY is a success for the ambassadors and a beacon of light for our volunteers. It’s hard! It was a wonderful experience, it just wasn’t for me. Being a facilitator is my passion and my favorite experience to date. It was what I looked forward to as a junior staffer, and it’s the biggest reason I’ve come back year after year. That interpersonal relationship that you create with your group of students is unbelievable (yep, I’m a peacock). Being able to watch how this group of strangers grows, personally as leaders and as friends, is an irreplaceable experience. It is my favorite part of HOBY. I love seeing the lights on the faces of my kids when they realize that HOBY is a safe zone, somewhere that they can discuss anything and everything without being judged or ridiculed. It’s great afterwards, too, seeing the Facebook page blow up, hearing about alumni connecting after the seminar, and seeing pictures labeled “HOBY reunion!” There is so much to say for having people in your life who let you truly be who you are, and that is what HOBY is. It’s a family in and of itself, a support system that rolls 350+ deep, it’s a forum for discussion and exchanging ideas, and it’s a resource: a source of strength, inspiration, and encouragement. That’s why, this year, I’ve detoured from my beloved facilitator role to be one of your directors of recruitment. Every student deserves a shot at being part of this amazing family. HOBY has been one of the highlights of my life, and it is ALL in thanks to you, my lovely HOBY fam. So, thank you for being who you are, for doing what you do, and for all that you continue to be. I’ll close out with a mandatory recruitment plug: please reach out to your schools and make sure they have an ambassador this year! If anyone needs help or would like to help further, feel free to contact me (I’m on Facebook)! Again, thanks so much for everything, y’all. Continue being outstanding!

HOBY Info:

Kroger Community Rewards Program

• If you have a Kroger Plus Card, send some dollars to HOBY through this program!
• Keep it up, all the funds ensure the best seminars possible!

Social Networking!!!

• Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
• Follow us on Twitter: @HOBY_GEORGIA  
• Feel free to send quotes to lutzofun@gmail.com to be put onto the Twitter page
• Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers

Hours

• Keep logging them! Can you accomplish the 100 Hour Challenge? Georgia HOBY knows that you can. Here is the place to do so: https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYL4S/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fHOBYL4S%2fdefault.aspx
• Need ideas for Volunteering projects? Email lutzofun@gmail.com, check the HOBY website: hoby.org, and/or research into what your community needs!
•  How is far has your Chain Reaction of Kindness reached?

This Blog

• If you would like a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" Blog Post to be posted in the future on this blog then, email lutzofun@gmail.com also with your response!
• Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Twenty-First Edition, September 26, 2014

Featured Alumna: Lizbeth Peña '11

My name is Lizbeth Pena. It’s been a while since I attended HOBY, and yet, I can say with confidence that attending HOBY was one of my most memorable high school experiences. Now that I am college bound, I still look back at that three day weekend and remember the chants, songs, and overall environment that made HOBY so magical. Overall, the presentations were uplifting and wonderful. But the memory that resonates with me the most was one of the last events. As all the ambassadors gathered one last time to share what we had learned, I sat cross-legged on the floor listening to all their stories. I was always one of those students to just sit and listen, afraid that someone would judge me for my opinion or defy what I had to say. But that day, I stood up. I don’t remember what I said or the context behind why I said it, but I remember letting my tears run with a feeling of empowerment as my words weakly escaped my mouth. I think that was one of the catalysts that made me realize the strength of my individuality and my voice. If being surrounded by individuals who were willing to accept me as I was without even knowing me was not enough to push me to find confidence in myself to speak, and then I would never be able to break out of my shell. HOBY was that catalyst that made understand that having a voice holds no power without confidence. I can think and feel any way that I want, but if I bottle it up and never share it with anyone, what difference does it make? A leader is not just one who can stand in front of a crowd and speak. A leader is also one who can sit back and listen. And one can be just as hard as the other. I will forever cherish my fruitful experience in HOBY and appreciate the little things that made a huge difference.

HOBY Info:

Kroger Community Rewards Program

• If you have a Kroger Plus Card, send some dollars to HOBY through this program!
• Keep it up, all the funds ensure the best seminars possible!

Social Networking!!!

• Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
• Follow us on Twitter: @HOBY_GEORGIA  
• Feel free to send quotes to lutzofun@gmail.com to be put onto the Twitter page
• Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers

Hours

• Keep logging them! Can you accomplish the 100 Hour Challenge? Georgia HOBY knows that you can. Here is the place to do so: https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYL4S/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fHOBYL4S%2fdefault.aspx
• Need ideas for Volunteering projects? Email lutzofun@gmail.com, check the HOBY website: hoby.org, and/or research into what your community needs!
•  How is far has your Chain Reaction of Kindness reached?

This Blog

• If you would like a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" Blog Post to be posted in the future on this blog then, email lutzofun@gmail.com also with your response!
• Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Twentieth Edition, September 2, 2014

Featured Alumnus: Kyle Stapleton '03

My name is Kyle Stapleton, and I attended Georgia HOBY …  a while ago. I’ll just say that 50 Cent’s “21 Questions” was the #1 song in the country at that time. I had a great experience on the Oglethorpe campus that weekend, carrying the lessons and the great conversations forward with me. Fast forward many years, and my good friend Cameron “Daddy Cam” Bridges posts something on Facebook about leading the HOBY conference, to which I casually replied something about my having been a HOBY ambassador, that I couldn’t believe what a small world it was, etc. I didn’t think much of it … but fortunately, Cam did. Ever the schemer, he encouraged me to apply to be a Senior Facilitator. And what a great stroke of luck that was! I had a fantastic group that I watched grow from strangers, reluctant to share or be open, to a group of friends, on the same wavelength with their commitment to be OUTSTANDING servant leaders for their friends, families, and communities. We even managed to sneak in a laugh or two. Since I managed not to get run off last year, this past year I had the tremendous honor of speaking to the group about Leadership for Society. We had a lively conversation about finding your passion, and I gained a new perspective yet again on what intelligent, engaged, empathetic, and (most of all) fun folks take part in the HOBY experience. HOBY’s benefitted me in more ways than I can count, but what I really value about HOBY is the people. Any organization that gives people a home in which to be themselves – and brings them together to grow alongside supportive, life-loving peers and mentors – is all right by me. I’m so proud to be a thread in the fabric of this wonderful organization.

HOBY Info:

Kroger Community Rewards Program

• If you have a Kroger Plus Card, send some dollars to HOBY through this program!
• Keep it up, all the funds ensure the best seminars possible!

Social Networking!!!

• Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
• Follow us on Twitter: @HOBY_GEORGIA  
• Feel free to send quotes to lutzofun@gmail.com to be put onto the Twitter page
• Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers

Hours

• Keep logging them! Can you accomplish the 100 Hour Challenge? Georgia HOBY knows that you can. Here is the place to do so: https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYL4S/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fHOBYL4S%2fdefault.aspx
• Need ideas for Volunteering projects? Email lutzofun@gmail.com, check the HOBY website: hoby.org, and/or research into what your community needs!
•  How is far has your Chain Reaction of Kindness reached?

This Blog

• If you would like a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" Blog Post to be posted in the future on this blog then, email lutzofun@gmail.com also with your response!
• Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Nineteenth Edition, August 17, 2014

Featured Alumni: 

Jeremy Lutz and Joey Mitchell

(The GAHOBY Ambassadors at WLC 2014)

Jeremy Lutz
Pope High School

 AHHHHHHHHHHH! Well that’s the enthusiasm one receives at HOBY. I know that singing “I’m wide awake alert enthusiastic” at 6:30 in the morning with only 4 hours of sleep wakes me up! I got the chance to go to WLC at Chicago, Illinois July 19^th – July 26^th, 2014. WLC 2014’s HOBY Daddy, Russ Tanguay, said on our first night the time and date "July 19, 2014. 8:34 pm central" and that in a week we would be wishing to be right back where we were at that very moment with all other 426 of us.  This was the most impactful experience of my life. What I realized from this experience is... (HOBY hugs are amazing!) and that there are people just like me to strive for the same goals. I am going to quote myself (How cool is that??) because it truly highlights what HOBY friendships mean to me, “At my high school, I really don’t have any true friends; however when I came to HOBY, these were the people I’ve been looking for my entire life!” This experience taught me to help the community and world through my leadership! I have since started a movement called Positive Charge that works on raising positivity and influencing your own leadership skills. I was lucky enough to present my idea at the conference and be in the top 35 ideas out of 426 ideas. I will work with teens around my community, city, state, country, and world to help create positive change in this world! This was and will be THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE! Words do not express the joy of finding my inner leader with 426 teens from around the WORLD. I got to learn the culture from other 16 other countries! How cool is that??? ! Hey everyone who is reading this,” What do you think of what HOBY has done for your life? OUTSTANDING! O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G OUT-OUT-OUTSTANDING! O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G OUT-OUT-OUTSTANDING! OHHH YEAA! (that was the WLC cheer)! The two quotes below I now follow every day of my life: “What are you going to do with this” ~ Albert Schweitzer. “It starts here” ~ WLC 2014!

Joey Mitchell
Robert Toombs Christian Academy

This July, I was given the great pleasure of attending the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Chicago, Illinois. Words cannot portray the amazing experience that the WLC truly is. From insightful and enlightening panels of key figures in modern to society to simply maintaining the large Humboldt Park in Chicago, I experienced thought-provoking and life-changing events, making memories all the way. I made friends that I will cherish for years, people that have inspired me to become a better individual. I was given opportunities to change the world through massive service projects, along with the means to start my own projects locally. Doors have opened not just for me but for the world, all tracing back to the WLC. I first attended the GA HOBY in May at Berry College. After that short weekend which gave me the bait, I was hooked and ready to pursue the WLC. To anyone who is skeptical or indecisive as to whether or not the WLC is for you, I say one thing: go for it. I did, and it was one of my most cherished decisions. Like most who attend HOBY, I had the feeling of ‘Why am I here? I don’t think I’ll fit in. This is silly and I don’t really want to go,’ but my mind was quickly changed. Just in the airport, I met people from Massachusetts, Arkansas, Montana, New York, Taiwan, and even South Korea. I was blown away simply by how welcoming my peers were, simply because we were brothers and sisters in HOBY. That week, the people I met were ones I will remember forever. In my group alone, we had people anywhere form the United Kingdom to Hong Kong! It was a culture shock, and we shared many laughs at each individual’s mannerisms and nuances. I remain in-touch with my fellow group mates to this day, sometimes even waiting until three in the morning to message my friend Evelyn from Taiwan. I will cherish my experience for many years, thanking HOBY for bettering me both now and in the future! Go, enjoy your own personal, life-changing HOBY World Leadership Congress! Also, I sincerely apologize to Ben Lutz for this reflection being late. He kept with me and I delivered! I’m sure all of his efforts and services to the GA HOBY community help sevenfold, and everyone is thankful for him.

All of the WLC 2014 attendees (ambassadors and staff) 

 

Jeremy and Joey having a blast and representing Georgia!

HOBY Info:

Kroger Community Rewards Program

• If you have a Kroger Plus Card, send some dollars to HOBY through this program!
• Keep it up, all the funds ensure the best seminars possible!

Social Networking!!!

• Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
• Follow us on Twitter: @HOBY_GEORGIA  
• Feel free to send quotes to lutzofun@gmail.com to be put onto the Twitter page
• Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers

Hours

• Keep logging them! Can you accomplish the 100 Hour Challenge? Georgia HOBY knows that you can. Here is the place to do so: https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYL4S/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fHOBYL4S%2fdefault.aspx
• Need ideas for Volunteering projects? Email lutzofun@gmail.com, check the HOBY website: hoby.org, and/or research into what your community needs!

This Blog

• If you would like a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" Blog Post to be posted in the future on this blog then, email lutzofun@gmail.com also with your response!
• Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post