Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Thirteenth Edition, January 28, 2014 

Featured Alumnus: Javier Johnson '04

In 2004, I was nominated to be the HOBY ambassador for my high school. The choice to attend the conference truly enriched my life. Since then, I have gone on to attend 14 HOBY Georgia seminars. I am currently a senior at Georgia State University (GSU), studying Sociology. When I graduate, I hope to move on to become a nursing home administrator. It may seem like an unusual career goal, but this decision is steeped in my time at HOBY. A few years ago, a long time volunteer, Gordon Stewart, gave me some great advice. Gordon, who had worked at the career center at the University of Georgia, suggested that I talk to my campus career center to better define my goals following graduation. After taking Gordon’s advice, I took a Myers-Briggs personality test and a strengths and interests assessment through the GSU career center. The two scores were combined, and my top choice was returned: nursing home administrator. After meeting with a career counselor to interrupt the results of the self-assessment, I embarked on an interesting journey. I was able to find multiple administrators who were willing to assist me. Now, that I’ve seen what the day-to-day life of a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA) looks like, I can firmly enter the field knowing that I am making a informed decision, and how to achieve my long term career goals. Through the years, my contributions to HOBY have changed. I started on Junior Staff, became a Junior Facilitator, a Facilitator, and, now, I even serve on the corporate board as the Director of Finances. This evolution of responsibilities within the organization has shown me many aspects of HOBY through training and enrichment, but the experiences have made me a better leader. I started out with HOBY as a Peacock (shocking, I know), but I am becoming a better listener, a more effective communicator, and a more influential team player. If HOBY has taught me anything, it is that through team work, anything is possible. HOBY means so much to me and has brought many OUTSTANDING friendships, mentors, and colleagues into my life. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to represent my high school in 2004 at HOBY Georgia.

HOBY Info:

Junior Staff Application!!!!!

• It is out!!! Make sure it is postmarked before February 21st!
• https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgotigub704m9o6/2014%20JS%20App.doc?n=30688121

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

The 2014 Junior Staff Application is out! They must be postmarked by February 21, 2014! Good luck! 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgotigub704m9o6/2014%20JS%20App.doc?n=30688121

Hey guys,

I hope everyone had an OUTSTANDING holiday season and break from school.  This is Allison, Director of Fundraising and I have an incredibly easy way for you all to help GA HOBY this year!

We are participating in the Kroger Community Rewards program.  If your family shops at Kroger, all you have to do is register your Kroger Plus Card with the instructions below.  It is super easy and completely free to you.  Once your card is registered, a portion of every purchase you make will be donated directly to our program.

One thing though, please be sure to ask permission from your parents first if they are the one paying for the groceries!  I'm sure they would love to participate, I just want to be sure they are ok with it first!  If you have any questions for me, feel free to send a message on Facebook or an email at gahobyfundraising@gmail.com.

Thank you all so much!  I cannot wait to share how much we raise together!

HOBY Hugs,

Allison Santos
Dir of Fundraising

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Twelfth Edition, January 5, 2014 

Featured Alumnus: Adam Purvis '06

As an ambassador in 2006, I have been involved with GA HOBY for the past 7+ years! After graduating high school, I matriculated to Harvard University where I graduated cum laude in 2012 with a AB in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Upon graduating, I received and accepted an offer to join a quantitative consulting firm called Novantas in New York City, where I have been working for the past year and a half. One of the main reasons I joined that firm is due to the fact that they nurture young businessmen and businesswomen into leaders as well as host sponsored events to give back to the community of New York. Even now, I remember the minute I really got into the HOBY spirit. I was always outgoing, but it wasn't until two hours into my ambassador year (around the time that Rod asked us to reach as high as we could, and then higher) that I realized that I could use my zealousness for something more. Since then and throughout high school and college I have been trying to pass along what I could to those around me in order to ensure that they would be better leaders. Every year a new crop of ambassadors arrives and catches the spirit, which they then take back to their respective schools. This fire that begins to burn in their hearts and bodies then spreads to those around them, causing anyone around to strive to their fullest potential. Imparting this fire onto each new ambassador which causes a conflagration around the world is what HOBY is all about and it is the reason that I love to come back and pay it forward!

HOBY Info:

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

Here are some pictures of all the GAHOBY Memories from 2013! Enjoy

 

The 2013 GAHOBY Picture!

Caleb and Adetinpo at a Alumni Volunteerism Event 

Chalk drawing by the Junior Staff for GAHOBY 2013

 

A rainbow seen the last day of GAHOBY 2013

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Eleventh Edition, December 7, 2013

Featured Alumnus: Joey Paris '12

I knew that if I were going to miss final exams for some leadership conference, and then have to come to school over the summer to make them up, the program better as heck be worth it. HOBY exceeded my expectations and then some. After spending a weekend at the 2012 HOBY seminar as an ambassador for Marist School, I couldn’t have thought of a better way to kick off an incredible summer. In the span of three short days, I discovered that I was a born peacock (loud & proud), enjoyed the luxuries of the YOBAHVILLE jail (on more than one occasion), and even took a shot at riding the pony a few times. That one weekend had a remarkable effect on my leadership and is one that I will never forget. Perhaps one of the greatest takeaways I have from HOBY is that everyone’s leadership style is different. During the Tower activity, I learned that being articulate and outgoing doesn’t always constitute the best leaders. Though stressful and at times extremely painful (I, as a peacock, was obviously one of the builders and couldn’t stand being quiet for more than five seconds), the Tower challenge was by far my favorite HOBY memory because it allowed me to recognize the importance of having different types of leaders in a group and taught me that, in some instances, I need to consider alternative solutions. In the months since HOBY, I’ve learned that the dynamic but stubborn peacock mindset doesn’t always work out the best. Above all else, HOBY has helped me identify my passion for emboldening others, particularly those my age. I currently serve as my Senior Class Co-President, organizing my school’s Prom and our class’s Thanksgiving service project, among other activities. I have led peers on school retreats, befriended new Marist students as a Peer Leader for two years, and become one of the Co-Coordinators of my school’s tutoring program. On a more recent note, this past year, a friend and I founded Man2Man Boys’ Mentoring, a program designed to inspire and guide middle school boys, much in the same way that HOBY empowered me. I cannot emphasize enough just how grateful I am to the entire HOBY program and how much it has truly changed my life. I look forward to cultivating my leadership skills even more when I go off to college next year, and I’m excited to see how I can incorporate HOBY’s lessons into every situation I encounter.

HOBY Info:

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:
Tenth Edition, November 7, 2013

Featured Alumna: Caroline Sanders '10

To say that my experience at HOBY the summer of 2010 as an ambassador for Pope High School brought me out of my comfort zone is a bit of an understatement – it was more like a drop kick. I’ll admit that the screaming and banging on car windows, the enthusiastic cheering, and the consciousness of being surrounded by people I didn’t know was entirely overwhelming until I realized the amazing bond I shared with all the people around me. We all had a passion for leadership, for making changes in our schools and communities, for becoming better people through our commitment of service to others. The day we took the personality/ leadership style quiz that categorizes you as either an eagle, a peacock, a dove, or in my case, an owl (hoot, hoot!) is one that I’ll never forget because it forever changed the way I looked at myself. My time at HOBY might have only lasted three days, but the lessons learned and the experiences shared will last a lifetime. By expanding my comfort zone and showing me what specific qualities I as leader can bring to a group, HOBY empowered me to pursue leadership opportunities I might not have had the courage to otherwise. In high school that meant giving a speech before my entire National Honor Society to become an officer and interviewing with the Student Government Executive Board to become Parliamentarian. Now at Washington and Lee University, I’m actively involved with my sorority’s philanthropy committee (coincidentally our mascot is an owl), a first-year peer mentor, and the founder/co-president of our symphony’s orchestra board. I know wholeheartedly that I have HOBY to thank for the encouragement of my leadership capabilities and the challenge to be OUTSTANDING in every commitment I make.

HOBY Info:

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