HOBY TRAINING, SIR!

Those who remember the classic movie STRIPES may remember the scene where an officer asks Bill Murray "What kind of training are you doing?" to which he replies "AAARRRRMMYYY TRAINING, SIR!"  Well today if you ask a HOBY alum/volunteer what they are doing, you may get a similar answer.  Our final HOBY staff training is today at the University of Texas @ Arlington.

Think about it for a minute.  In order to come back as a volunteer, either as a junior facilitator or on junior staff, a person has to fulfill several requirements.  First, they have to go through an application and recommendation process.  They have to have completed or are about to complete their 100 volunteer service hour commitment (these are called Leadership 4 Service hours and are hours logged volunteering for local community non profits).  Then they have to attend at least one if not both training sessions and give up their Saturday doing so.  What makes it more impressive is that some of these volunteers are several hours away and need to be at UTA by 9:00am.  Their reward?  Being able to participate at the seminar and positively impacted the high school sophomores who come to the seminar this year.  When you see this dedication to leadership and service, that is when you feel better about what this generation can and will accomplish.

For those wondering what happens at training. . .

The LSC, Director of Staff (both volunteers) and the core volunteers set up various training modules and discussion points.  Today the team will be talking about how to make each small group inclusive, how to ensure that everyone's views are welcome and expected and that everyone feels part of the process.  They will review the calendar and go through the various leadership exercises that take place in between speakers and panel discussions.  They will go through the mock trial information, where our Ambassadors (the seminar attendees) will discuss a presented issue both from an ethical and a legal perspective.  And most importantly, they will be assigning teams today which means that our 2013 Attendees / Ambassadors should be getting phone calls this week letting them know what team they are on and what to expect at seminar.

When all is said and done. . .it is pretty OUTSTANDING, don't you think?