HEY HOBY!!! Did attending HOBY NYE change your life? Would you like the opportunity to make the lives of this year's ambassadors TOTALLY OUTSTANDING?!?! Or maybe you just want the chance to do the Chester cheer again!! Well here's your chance to come back as an OUTSTANDING seminar volunteer!

Download the HOBY NYE 2012 J-Staff Application or the HOBY NYE PA Staff Application, complete it to the BEST of your ability, and turn it in by February 10th and you could be selected to volunteer at this year's seminar for a completely OUTSTANDING, life-changing weekend! The J-Staff selection process is always highly competitive, so do your best and good luck!

Applicants must be able to:

• Commit to being at seminar from Thursday night (May 31st) through Sunday afternoon (June 3rd)
• Show progress toward your 100 hour L4S pledge
• Attend a staff training on a date TBD
• Speak to people at your school or at a service organization about HOBY
• Fundraise your sponsorship for seminar ($200)

See the J-Staff Application for full details! Good luck!

Out Now! The OUTSTANDING Winter 2012 Issue of The Thunderclap - the official quarterly newsletter of the HOBY NYE Alumni Association!

Check out The Thunderclap to stay updated on everything that's going on with HOBY NYE's Alumni Association! It's packed with OUTSTANDING features, including:

• A Message from your E-Board Empress Shilpa Taneja!
• A Message from Alumni Advisors TJ and Geoff!
• L4S Hours Leaderboards! Check out those OUTSTANDING hours!
• J-STAFF APP INFO!
• Information about CLeWs!
• Service Project Spotlight Articles!
• Articles From OUTSTANDING Alumni Who Are Staying Involved!
• The 2011 HOBY Halloween Hangout!
• Cans for the Community II!
• Meet Your Area Boards!
• OUTSTANDING Bracelets for a Cause!
• Mark Your Calendars! NEW VOLUNTEER DATES!
• How to Stay Connected with HOBY NYE!
• HOBY Flair!

If you want to know what's going on with HOBY NYE, The Thunderclap is a great way to stay up-to-date! Remember: your HOBY experience doesn't end after seminar - HOBY STILL EXISTS, and your Life with HOBY is just beginning!

Out Now! The OUTSTANDING Fall 2011 Issue of The Thunderclap - the official quarterly newsletter of the HOBY NYE Alumni Association!

Check out The Thunderclap to stay updated on everything that's going on with HOBY NYE's Alumni Association! It's packed with OUTSTANDING features, including:

• A Message from your E-Board Empress Shilpa Taneja!
• A Message from Alumni Advisors TJ and Geoff!
• L4S Hours Leaderboards
• Interview with an Alumni Advisor, TJ McNally!
• Service Project Spotlight Articles!
• The 2011 HOBY Halloween Hangout!
• Cans for the Community II!
• Meet Your E-Board and Area Board Information!
• OUTSTANDING Bracelets for a Cause!
• Mark Your Calendars! NEW VOLUNTEER DATES!
• HOBY International Tour Information!
• How to Stay Connected with HOBY NYE!
• HOBY Flair!

Hey HOBY, how’s life? What’s that you say? You feel that something is missing? Do you have this incredible urge to yell about burritos with total strangers? Do you have a strange affinity for people named Chester? Or maybe you find yourself shaking yo thang without a valid reason. Have no fear, for the 2011 HOBY Hangout *REUNION ADDITION*, is here to provide you with all of the outstanding that you could possibly handle.

The 2011 HOBY Hangout/Reunion will be held at the Albany Elks Lodge on August 7th, from 1:30 - 7:30 pm. A measly $10 will cover PIZZA (which hopefully no one will drop), soda, video games (will reigning champion Cara Tromans be able to defend her Super Smash Bros. Tournament Crown? Signs point to an angry Premier making a comeback.), cheers, hugs of the sassy variety, epic music and dancing, and most importantly, time to reconnect with your HOBY friends and make some new ones!! We will also be taking toiletry donations for the Ronald McDonald house!! So come on down and hangout with us, we’d all love to see you there!

See our HOBY Family Picnic Hangout Facebook Event Page for more information.

Hey HOBY! We have rescheduled a new build day! Here is another OUTSTANDING opportunity to help build a home for a family in need! If you are 16 or older, you can come work on a Habitat for Humanity build site with HOBY. No construction experience needed! We can have a maximum of 8 volunteers - so if you want to come help out, RSVP ASAP (but be sure you really are available).

In order to offset the cost of the materials we use during the day, we will need to fundraise. Our goal is for each volunteer to raise $50. Ask family members and friends, hold a fundraiser - whatever you can do to help us cover their cost of materials for us! Checks can be made payable to "Capital District Habitat for Humanity". Of course, if you have already fundraised for the last build day, that money will count towards this one.

Don't miss your chance to come help out! Sign up today! See our Habitat For Humanity Build Day Take 2 Facebook Event for more information!

Hey HOBY! Here's a quick reminder about two OUTSTANDING HOBY NYE Alumni volunteer opportunities happening THIS WEEKEND, 7/30 and 7/31!

The 2nd Annual Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk is happening SATURDAY, 7/30! Team HOBY NYE will be there running AND volunteering at the event, and we've already raised $600!! (The vast majority of this coming from OUTSTANDING HOBY NYE volunteer and fundraising superbeast Ken Wei!) We're trying to make this event as OUTSTANDING as possible to support this important cause, so join us or donate to our team if you can!

You can register and/or donate at our Team HOBY NYE Page and check out our Team HOBY NYE at the Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk Facebook Event Page for more information!

On SUNDAY, 7/31 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm we'll be back at the Regional Food Bank for another OUTSTANDING afternoon of volunteering! We don't know what we'll be doing, but you KNOW it'll be a fun time! Check out our HOBY July Regional Food Bank Facebook Event Page for more information!

The results are in! Thanks to everyone who voted - this was the most competitive E-Board election in recent memory, and a couple of the races were too close to call right up to the last couple of votes! A big congratulations to the winners, and we're looking forward to an OUTSTANDING year!

President: Shilpa Taneja
Vice President: Mary-Elisabeth Moore
Secretary: Amanda Gnirrep
Public Relations: Laurel Abowd

Area 1 President: Alexa Rivera
Area 2 President: Vacant
Area 3 President: Lindsay Lee
Area 4 President: Alex Hollister
Area 5 President: Stephen Mastereson
Area 6 President: Vacant

Area 2 and Area 6 Presidents will be appointed by the incoming Executive Board.

To those of you who did not win positions, WE STILL WANT YOU INVOLVED! Be active in your area, participate in HOBY events, work with your Area President on an Area Board, become a member of our E-Board Cabinet, plan events of your own - stay involved, log your hours, apply for J-Staff this winter, and run again next year! We look forward to working with ALL of you!

Hey HOBY! There's a lot going on this summer! E-Board elections are going on NOW, Team HOBY NYE will be participating in the Second Annual Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk on JULY 30th (info below,) there is a Regional Food Bank volunteer date set for JULY 31st (info below,) the Habitat for Humanity build date has been RESCHEDULED for AUGUST 6th, and the HOBY Family Picnic Hangout will be held on AUGUST 7th! Also our Macy's Shop For A Cause fundraiser is August 27th! Watch this site and our HOBY NYE Facebook Page and HOBY NYE Twitter Feed for more information about ALL of these OUTSTANDING events! Hope to see you at one soon!

WE NEED YOUR VOTE! The nominations are in, and it's time to vote! Please read the NOMINATING STATEMENTS and submit your vote by e-mail to ALUMNI@HOBYNYE.ORG BY FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2011. There is some OUTSTANDING competition going on for some of these positions, and we need YOUR vote to determine E-Board Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations officer, and Area 1 and Area 3 Presidents!!! Remember - ALL HOBY NYE ALUMNI CAN VOTE!

Vote Format
In your e-mail, include:

Name:
Alumni Year:
Area:

Vice President:
Secretary:
Public Relations:

Area 1 President:
Area 3 President:

Area 4 and Area 5 Presidencies are uncontested and the nominees will be appointed by the outgoing Executive Board.

Any spots left vacant (Area 2 and Area 6 Presidencies) will be appointed by the incoming Executive Board.

Hey HOBY! There's a lot going on this summer! E-Board elections are going on NOW, Team HOBY NYE will be participating in the Second Annual Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk on JULY 30th (info below,) there is a Regional Food Bank volunteer date set for JULY 31st (info below,) the Habitat for Humanity build date has been RESCHEDULED for AUGUST 6th, and the HOBY Family Picnic Hangout will be held on AUGUST 7th! Also our Macy's Shop For A Cause fundraiser is August 27th! Watch this site and our HOBY NYE Facebook Page and HOBY NYE Twitter Feed for more information about ALL of these OUTSTANDING events! Hope to see you at one soon!

Last year two OUTSTANDING HOBY NYE alumni, Kristen Balschunat and Aileen Daley, helped to plan the first ever Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk. It was a totally OUTSTANDING event, with a HUGE amount of people turning out and raising over $8,000 for the AFSP. This year we want HOBY NYE to have a bigger presence, so we've created Team HOBY NYE to participate! You can register to run/walk the course, or get in touch with TJ (Terrance McNally) if you're interested in volunteering to work the event.

We want to help make this year's Miles With A Message as OUTSTANDING as possible!

REGISTER AT OUR TEAM PAGE HERE:
Team HOBY NYE's Fundraising Page

Once you've registered, start fundraising! All money collected will go to support the AFSP!

The event is to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to spread awareness for the cause. Register to participate on our team website, volunteer to work the event, or just donate to the cause! It is going to be an OUTSTANDING event- hope to see you there!

Facebook Group - Second Annual Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk

AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walks - Event Page

Team HOBY NYE Fundraising Page

Hey HOBY! Our monthly volunteer date at the Regional Food Bank is coming up on July 31st! We need some OUTSTANDING alumni and staff to join us for 3 OUTSTANDING hours of service! This is always a lot of fun, and it's a great way to complete L4S hours! Don't miss out!

• HOBY NYE Volunteers at the Regional Food Bank
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
• 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY
• Sunday, June 31, 2011
• 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Facebook Event: HOBY July Regional Food Bank!

Official Site: Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Come And Support HOBY NYE by purchasing meals (and having a great time) at Five Guys! A percentage of any purchase you make between 5pm and 8:00pm will go to the HOBY NYE fund. You MUST bring the fundraising FLYER with you in order to donate to HOBY, or tell them that you were invited on Facebook by HOBY NYE. We'll be at the Five Guys location in Southside Plaza at 7 SOUTHSIDE DRIVE, CLIFTON PARK, NY, 12065. Hope to see you there!

Hey HOBY! HOBY NYE will be at the Rensselaer (Area 3) Relay For Life June 11-12 and the Fishkill (Area 1) and Plattsburgh (Area 6) Relays For Life June 17-18! As part of our Area Challenge, we want to see which Alumni Area Club can 1) get the most people out to support their team and 2) raise the most money for this OUTSTANDING cause!

Join a team, raise money, and join us for an OUTSTANDING night!

Relay For Life Team Pages:

Team HOBY NYE @ Fishkill (Area 1)
Facebook Event: HOBY Relay for Life in Fishkill

Team HOBY NYE @ The Rensselaer Relay For Life (Area 3)
Facebook Event: HOBY NYE at Rensselaer Relay for Life

Team HOBY NYE @ The Plattsburgh Relay For Life (Area 6)
Facebook Event: HOBY NYE Does Relay For Life @ Plattsburgh

Hey HOBY! Our Build Day with Habitat For Humanity is almost here! We need 10 OUTSTANDING alumni who can commit to being available on June 25th - if you're interested, let us know! We'll put you on "the list," and you can start fundraising to meet our goal of $50 per participant to benefit Habitat For Humanity! This is sure to be an OUTSTANDING event - don't miss out!

• Habitat for Humanity Build Day
• Albany (Exact Location To Be Announced)
• Saturday, June 25th, 2011
• 9:00am - 3:00pm

Facebook Event: Habitat for Humanity Build Date with HOBY

Hey HOBY! Our monthly volunteer date at the Regional Food Bank is coming up on June 26th! We need some OUTSTANDING alumni and staff to join us for 3 OUTSTANDING hours of service! This is always a lot of fun, and it's a great way to start completing L4S hours! Don't miss out!

• HOBY NYE Volunteers at the Regional Food Bank
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
• 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY
• Sunday, June 26th, 2011
• 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Facebook Event: HOBY June Regional Food Bank!

Official Site: Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Call For Nominations! Interested in running for office in the HOBY NYE Alumni Association? It is once again time for the alumni association to choose its officers for the coming year. Review the descriptions below, and if you wish to run for an E-Board position you must submit a nominating statement to TJ McNally and Geoff Sherwood (co-Alumni Advisors) at alumni (at) hobynye (dot) org BY Saturday, JUNE 25, 2011. Nominating statements will be compiled and nominees will be announced on Friday, July 1. Nominating statements will be available for voters to review online. ALL ALUMNI ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE!

Nominating Statement

Include your full name, alumni year, and the position for which you are running.

Please use the following guiding questions to help you develop your nominating statement:

• What does HOBY mean to you?
• Why should people vote for you for the role of _____________ for 2011-2012?
• What experience/qualifications do you possess that make you a strong candidate for the position?
• Is there anything else that we should know about you before we vote?

Executive Board Positions and Eligibility

President - As President of the Alumni Association you are to keep open lines of communication with all HOBY Alumni and Staff. You are to bring new ideas to the group and help facilitate the work of the Area Clubs in order for them to accomplish their goals. You are to organize and run Alumni Association Meetings. Your primary job is to mentor the Area Club presidents and keep alumni enthusiastic about the activities and events. Must be a second year alum or older.

Vice President - As Vice President you work with the President and all other Alumni Officers to organize projects and events, help the president come up with new ideas, and assist with mentoring the Area Club Presidents. You should be encouraging alumni participation with projects. Must be a first year alum.

Secretary - You are organized. As Secretary you keep minutes from all E-Board Meetings, and after the meetings you should type the minutes and send them to the Alumni Advisor so they can be posted on the website. Keep track of what is going on in each area and help come up with new ideas. You will work closely with the Public Relations officer to develop content for advertising, etc. and with the Alumni Advisor to create Alumni Association reports. All alumni are eligible.

Public Relations - ADVERTISE! Make flyers for events and send them to the Advisor to get them posted on the website. Contact outside vendors to get fundraisers set up. Make sure Facebook and any other networking is being used to advertise for events in order for maximum turnout at events. All alumni are eligible.

Area Club President - The main purpose of the Area Club president it to keep alumni in their respective area active. Keep communication lines between yourself and the E-Board open in order to complete projects and get new ideas. You will be the bridge between the E-Board and the alumni from your area, and as such you will be responsible for keeping them informed and involved. Work on completing the 1:1:1 challenge, meaning one social event, one service project, and one CLeW in each area. 1:1:1 should not limit you, but it should guide you. Do service projects and social events. If there is already a CLeW established in your area keep it going! If not, check out the planning guide and try to get one set up in your Area. Once elected it is recommended that you recruit a group of alumni to assist you (perhaps as a mini-board). All alumni are eligible.

Voting will begin on Friday, July 1 and run through Friday, July 8. More information on voting to follow.

So what are you waiting for? NOMINATE YOURSELF TODAY!

Out Now! The OUTSTANDING Post-Seminar Issue of The Thunderclap - the official quarterly newsletter of the HOBY NYE Alumni Association!

Check out The Thunderclap to stay updated on everything that's going on with HOBY NYE's Alumni Association! It's packed with OUTSTANDING features, including:

• A Message from your E-Board Premier Sam Moore!
• A Message from Alumni Advisors TJ and Geoff!
• Logging your L4S Hours and the HOBY NYE 2010-2011 L4S Leaderboard!
• Interviews with E-Board Premier Sam Moore and Vice-President Shilpa Taneja!
• Alumni Spotlight Articles on OUTSTANDING NYE Alumni Cole Gleason, Isabella Mincarelli, and Kristen Balschunat!
• Information on E-Board Elections!
• Meet Your E-Board!
• OUTSTANDING Bracelets for a Cause!
• Mark Your Calendars! NEW VOLUNTEER DATES!
• How to Stay Connected with HOBY NYE!
• HOBY Flair!

Hey HOBY! Here's our OUTSTANDING HOBY NYE 2011 Futures Kit (18.6 MB) in downloadable .zip format!

Hey HOBY! Your OUTSTANDING Alumni from Areas 1 and 3 worked hard this year to put together OUTSTANDING CLeWs (Community Leadership Workshops for 9th grade students) at Minisink Valley High School and Shaker High School! Both events were OUTSTANDING ,mini-HOBYs for 9th graders, and you'll have to check out the Summer 2011 issue of The Thunderclap to read all about them!

Out Now! The Second Issue of The Thunderclap - the official quarterly newsletter of the HOBY NYE Alumni Association!

Check out The Thunderclap to stay updated on everything that's going on with HOBY NYE's Alumni Association! It's packed with OUTSTANDING features, including:

• A Message from your E-Board Premier Sam Moore!
• Results of our first Cans for Community Project!
• Recent Alumni Projects!
• Meet Your E-Board!
• OUTSTANDING Bracelets for a Cause!
• Mark Your Calendars! NEW VOLUNTEER DATES!
• How to Stay Connected with HOBY NYE!
• HOBY Flair!

Are you ready for the HOBY senior prom?! The HOBY senior prom is a prom thrown by HOBY alumni FOR senior citizens, and is a great opportunity to hang out with New York East HOBY alumni and put a smile on the faces of many outstanding people :) It will take place in Poughkeepsie (Area 1) on April 16th

• 4:30- set up and getting the ladies glammed up by helping them do hair and makeup
• 5:30-7 DANCE!/ cheers/ smiles (aka-what HOBY does best)
• 7-7:30- clean up and goodbyes

HOBY NYE Area 1 SEnior Prom Facebook Event

HEY HOBY! Hope you can join us at the Regional Food Bank for a couple of OUTSTANDING hours of volunteering for a good cause! Spring 2011 Food Bank dates are:

• April 17th 12:00 - 2:00
• May 1st 12:00 - 3:00

HEY HOBY! CLeW planning is well underway in Areas 1 and 3, and CLeW dates have been selected. Both the Area 1 CLeW at Minisink HS and the Area 3 CLeW at Shaker HS will be held on May 14th! Both of these CLeWs will need some OUTSTANDING Facilitators and Junior Staff - contact an alumni advisor or planning committee member for details!

flickr.com/photos/HOBYNYE

HEY HOBY! Are you thinking of applying for a staff position for HOBY NYE 2011?? If so, check out these important updates!

J-Staff Applications are DUE JANUARY 31st!

flickr.com/photos/HOBYNYE

HEY HOBY!!! Did attending HOBY NYE change your life? Would you like the opportunity to make the lives of this year's ambassadors TOTALLY OUTSTANDING?!?! Or maybe you just want the chance to do the Chester cheer again!! Well here's your chance to come back as an OUTSTANDING seminar volunteer!

Download the HOBY NYE 2011 J-Staff Application, complete it to the BEST of your ability, and turn it in by January 31st and you could be selected to volunteer at this year's seminar for a completely OUTSTANDING, life-changing weekend! The J-Staff selection process is always highly competitive, so do your best and good luck!

Applicants must be able to:

• Commit to being at seminar from Thursday night (June 2) through Sunday afternoon (June 5)
• Show progress toward your 100 hour L4S pledge
• Attend a J-Staff training on a date TBD
• Speak to people at your school or at a service organization about HOBY
• Fundraise your sponsorship for seminar ($200)

Out Now! The First Issue of The Thunderclap - the official quarterly newsletter of the HOBY NYE Alumni Association!

Check out The Thunderclap to stay updated on everything that's going on with HOBY NYE's Alumni Association! It's packed with OUTSTANDING features, including:

• A Message from your E-Board Premier Sam Moore!
• Junior Staff Application Info!
• Cans for the Community Project Update!
• 2010 HOBY Holiday Hangout Info!
• Recent Alumni Projects!
• Meet Your E-Board!
• OUTSTANDING Bracelets for a Cause!
• Mark Your Calendars! NEW VOLUNTEER DATES!
• How to Stay Connected with HOBY NYE!
• HOBY Flair!

2010 HOBY Holiday Hangout!
December 12, 12:00 - 5:30pm
Columbia Tae Kwon Doe
370 Columbia Turnpike
Rensselaer, New York 12144

HEY HOBY! Do you feel that your life has been lacking some OUTSTANDING lately? Are you missing your HOBY friends and suffering from a lack of spontaneous dance opportunities? Have you been dying to show off your awesome Santa themed HOBY Hug or to kick some butt on Mario Kart 64? Come hang out! The 2010 HOBY Holiday Hangout will be held at Columbia Tae Kwon Do on Sunday, December 12th from 12:00-5:30!. Come see your friends and enjoy music, games, pizza, soda, holiday cookies, hot cocoa, and, of course, CHEERS! Just $10 will cover food, drink, and a whole lot of OUTSTANDINGNESS! We'll also be taking donations of new toys for Toys for Tots! Bring a NEW (unwrapped, in the package) toy and admission is only $5!! Hope to see you there! See the Columbia Tae Kwon Do website for map and directions.

Facebook Event: 2010 HOBY Holiday Hangout!

Toys For Tots Needs by Age Group

HEY HOBY! Want to support our OUTSTANDING HOBY NYE seminar and get some holiday shopping done at the same time? Check out these three OUTSTANDING fundraisers! HOBY NYE benefits directly from all sales, and the money raised will be used to help us put on this year's seminar!

Dean’s Beans – Our special HOBY Alive, Awake, & Alert coffee from Dean’s Beans is Organic, Fair Trade, and completely OUTSTANDING! Also check out the hot cocoa mix and chocolate Java Drops! Orders are due to Ken Wei on December 1st and will be shipped to Ken. Packages can be shipped directly to you for a small shipping charge of $5.00. Checks should be made out to Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. See the information sheet and order form for more details.

Dean's Beans Information Sheet

Dean's Beans Order Form

PartyLite – Know anyone who loves candles? PartyLite’s fundraiser catalog offers 10 OUTSTANDING scents that would make perfect gifts! Orders can be shipped anywhere in the US. Orders are due on December 1st. Checks should be made out to Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. See the fundraiser catalog and order form for more details.

PartyLite Fundraiser Catalog

PartyLite Fundraiser Order Form

The Pampered Chef – For all of your cooking and entertaining needs, The Pampered Chef website has a catalog full of OUTSTANDING products perfect for your home and for gifts. All orders are due December 6th. Orders can be shipped anywhere in the US, or can be picked up at our December Planning Committee meeting. Checks should be made out to Dana Herchenroder or orders can be placed online directly.

For online orders: Go to pamperedchef.biz/danalynn, Select "Our Products", Click "How to Purchase", Type First Name as "HOBY", Click HOBY Fundraiser, Place your order!

See the information below for more details.

Pampered Chef Guest Specials

Pampered Chef Order Form

HEY HOBY! We're starting an OUTSTANDING service project all over New York East and we need your help! Talk to your friends, your school, local businesses - whatever it takes to get AS MANY BOTTLES AND CANS AS POSSIBLE!!! Our "Cans for the Community" project will run from November 1st, 2010 through January 1st, 2011, and the Area with the highest number of total items collected as of January 2, 2011 will host a HOBY Hangout pizza party sponsored by the Alumni Association! You can find more instructions and the contact information for your Area Presidents below - we're looking forward to some OUTSTANDING competition!

Cans for the Community Project Brief:

Imagine yourself buying a bottle of your favorite soda to go along with your lunch. How many times do you unscrew and re-screw that top on the bottle to satisfy your own thirst? Then, when you finish, you drop it into the garbage can (or perhaps into the recycling bin if it’s nearby). Or maybe you prefer drinking out of a can. And you sit twisting the pull tab back and forth absent mindedly until it pops off. You then proceed to drop both the tab and the can into whichever trash receptacle is closest.

Now imagine yourself pulling off that lid one more time, or holding onto that tiny piece of metal. But this time you’re not doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for others. Many do not realize that five seconds of their time can turn into a new dimension of help and community service.

Purpose:

Lids: Most times, the screw on tops that we encounter every day on peanut butter jars or soda bottles end up as litter or trash. They find their ways into our rivers and oceans where birds, marine creatures, and other animals mistake them for food. The enormity of this pollution problem is devastating to our oceans and wildlife.

The beauty company Aveda accepts the screw top lids and turns them into new lids and tops to keep them out of the waterways and to recycle the materials. They accept lids made of rigid polypropylene plastic (indicated sometimes by a 5 within the recycling symbol.) This includes the lids from:

-Shampoo bottles -Water/soda/milk/other beverage bottles -Flip top caps on food product bottles and tubes (ketchup/mayonnaise) -Laundry detergents -Some jar lids (such as peanut butter)

Tabs: The pull off tabs you find on your typical soda can are made of a higher-quality aluminum while the can itself is only made of an alloy. By collecting the tabs, you are slowly and exponentially increasing the value of these tabs; which, by normal recycling means, would receive no extra value. The Ronald McDonald House collects these pull-tabs and takes them to local recycling plants where the aluminum is then weighed and valued. The Ronald McDonald House then receives that amount of money in exchange for the aluminum tabs.

Cans/Bottles - After you've taken off the tabs and bottle caps, head to your local supermarket or beverage center and return the bottles and cans. What you decide to do with the money collected is up to you - who do YOU want to help? You can use it to buy food and donate it to a local food pantry or you can talk to the supermarket staff and see if they can write a check to an organization such as the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. If you would rather put the money you raise together with money that other HOBY alumni (and friends) raise, talk to your Area President!

Possible To-Do's:

1.) Speak to individuals and begin by speaking with individuals or groups of individuals (such as members of your school’s Key Club, Environmental Club, or student government) who would be more willing to help with your effort. Explain to them the purpose and cause this small effort is going to and ask them to keep a bag or jar next to their home recycling bins for lids and tabs.

2.) Also talk to college friends or friends with upcoming events to help out with your efforts. If a friend is having a party, ask in advance if you can place a bag by their recycling for the tabs or pull them off yourself.

3.) Draft letters to your town’s local restaurants and hand deliver them and try to self-explain to see if they would allow these collection bins by their own recycling containers with signs explaining the cause.

4.) In the beginning of the next school year, talk to your principal about placing these collection bins in your own cafeteria and hallways. If your principal shows enough support, perhaps you will be able to have a morning announcement telling the school about the cause and where they can donate.

5.) Be creative! Start a homeroom competition or even a competition amongst clubs within your school to raise the most lids and tabs. Perhaps even, on a larger scale, help to orchestrate an interschool competition of the schools within an Area..

6.) Maybe stay for an hour or two at a time at your local Price Chopper (with their permission of course) alone or with a friend and as people come in to recycle their cans, politely and quickly ask them if they would allow you to take their taps and tops as they recycle them, explaining the cause.

7.) Offer initiatives for people to help out. Tell them if they collect a certain number (say 75 or 100) you will personally go collect the tabs from them at their convenience.

8.) Keep a bag or jar yourself at home! Or if you see bottles lying around, take the tops or tabs (and then recycle the rest of the bottle of course!)

9.) Get people excited and involved! Ask people to pay it forward and institute these steps!

10.) Stay in contact with your Area President!!! Everything is easier when you work together!

We now have an online calendar to help keep you informed about everything that's going on with HOBY New York East! Check it out in our "Calendar" section or by using the direct link below - and if you already use Google Calendar add it in!

Direct Link: HOBY NYE Calendar

Join us as Team HOBY participates in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Albany! Walker check-in begins at 10am. The walk itself begins at 12pm. If you wish to participate, please join Team HOBY by clicking on the link below:

Team HOBY
Come join us for an OUTSTANDING day of service!

Washington Park
Albany, NY

Facebook Event: Team HOBY at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

flickr.com/photos/HOBYNYE

HEY HOBY!!! Area 1 President Alexa Rivera has set up a HOBY NYE Team for the Make A Wish Foundation's Walk For Wishes to be held October 2 at Rye Playland in Rye, NY! The Hudson Valley Chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation has granted the wishes of over 1,800 children with life-threatening medical conditions, and at any time there are approximately 130 wishes in progress!! Each wish costs approximately $7,500 to fulfill, and the Make A Wish Foundation can use our help! Help us help kids! Help HOBY NYE raise money for this OUTSTANDING organization! This non-competitive 2.5 miles walk is appropriate for any age and any fitness level - hope to see you there!

Join our team!

Rye Playland Amusement Park
100 Playland Parkway
Rye, NY

Facebook Event: HOBY NYE at the Walk for Wishes

HEY HOBY! Come join us on September 25 at the Double H Hole In The Woods Ranch for an OUTSTANDING morning of service! We'll be meeting at the main building at 9am, signing in (make sure you let the front desk know you're with HOBY), then they'll assign us our tasks for the day.

The mission of the Double H Ranch is to provide specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Their purpose is to enrich their lives and provide camp experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound. Come on out and help us help them!!!

Hope to see you there!

For more information, visit: http://www.doublehranch.org/

Double H Hole In The Woods Ranch
97 Hidden Valley Rd
Luzerne, NY

Facebook Event: HOBY Volunteers - Double H Hole In The Woods Ranch

flickr.com/photos/HOBYNYE

HEY HOBY! Want to spend a day at the CBS6 - WRGB studio with some OUTSTANDING people volunteering for MDA???? Come volunteer with us!! (You might even be on TV!)

In addition to collecting money at the track, MDA needs volunteers at the studio to answer phones, take donations, and 'run' donation slips to the appropriate people. Volunteer opportunities are available to anyone 14 or older, and they are first-come, first-served!

Volunteer Areas:

• Phones - Answer phones, record pledges - Many volunteers are needed! (16 or older)
• Mailroom - Separating the 3-part pledge slip into proper boxes, then stuffing into envelopes sorted by zip code
• Administration - Checking for legibility, verifying the donation amount, running pledge slips

These are the shifts available:

• Sun. Sept. 5, 9pm - 12:15am
• Mon. Sept. 6, 7am - 10am
• Mon. Sept. 6, 10am - 1pm
• Mon. Sept. 6, 1pm - 4pm
• Mon. Sept. 6, 4pm - 7pm
• Mon. Sept. 6, 6pm - 9pm (clean up only)

This is a DIFFERENT EVENT from the day at the track - We need OUTSTANDING volunteers for BOTH! Hope you can join us!

CBS6-WRGB Studio
1400 Balltown Road
Schenectady, NY

Facebook Event: HOBY Volunteers - MDA Telethon at CBS-6 WRGB

HEY HOBY! Want to spend a day at the track with some OUTSTANDING people raising money for MDA???? Come volunteer with us!!

We will meet at 9:00 am at the picnic benches in the back (which one exactly TBD that morning – either call or be on the lookout for HOBY people) – will be close to the Paddock area (near Big Red Spring).

Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks will be provided.

Wear comfortable clothing, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. A t-shirt has been provided in the past - we will need your t-shirt size when you RSVP.

At 9:00 am we will help MDA get set up. When gates open (about 11:00 am) we will be collecting money at the 3 entrances to the Track. After, we will regroup at the picnic table and walk around the entire track collecting money for MDA. In previous years we’ve raised $3,000-$4,000, but Kat is CHALLENGING US this year to $5,000! (Which means we need a lot of OUTSTANDING volunteers to cover the entire track and raise that amount!) We will be featured on CBS 6 periodically throughout the day, so make sure your family watches the telethon to see you on TV!

There is no age limit on the volunteers – all are welcome. Friends and family are welcome to come help out as well! Hope to see you there for an OUTSTANDING time raising money for this great cause!

Saratoga Race Course
267 Union Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY

Facebook Event: HOBY Volunteers - MDA at the Track

HEY HOBY! Do you feel that your life has been lacking some OUTSTANDING lately? Are you missing your HOBY friends? Suffering from a lack of spontaneous dance opportunities? Come hang out! The 2010 HOBY Hangout/Reunion will be held at the Albany Elks Lodge on August 15, from 2:00 - 7:00 pm. Come see your friends and enjoy music, pizza (but don't drop it or no one eats it), soda, games, and many, many cheers! Just $10 will cover food, drink, and a whole lot of OUTSTANDINGNESS! We'll also be taking donations of toiletries for the Ronald McDonald House and candy and Beanie Babies / Webkinz type stuffed animals for Operation Gratitude. Hope to see you there!

2010 Reunion: HOBY Hangout!
August 15, 2:00 - 7:00pm
Albany Elks Lodge
25 South Allen St.
Albany, NY

Facebook Event: 2010 Reunion - HOBY Hangout!

HEY HOBY! We need some OUTSTANDING volunteers to help out with the Humane Society's Feline Fest on August 7! We've been asked to help run the bake sale! If you can't be there for the whole day, we can work in shifts. Hope you can make it!

Mohawk & Hudson Feline Fest
August 7, 9:30am - 5:00pm
3 Oakland Ave, Menands, NY 12204

Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society

Here's our Executive Board for 2010-2011!

President: Sam Moore
Vice President: Shilpa Taneja
Secretary: Marissa Gates
Public Relations: Dustin Maguire

Area 1 President: Alexa Rivera
Area 2 President: Vacant
Area 3 President: Lindsay Lee
Area 4 President: Leta Williams
Area 5 President: Stephen Masterson
Area 6 President: Stephen Witkiewicz

Web Team: James Ma & Stephen Bernier

We're looking forward to an OUTSTANDING year!

There is a volunteer opportunity at the Northeast Regional Food Bank on July 25th, 2010 from 1:00pm - 4:00 pm! Join some OUTSTANDING people for a great afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank! We always have a lot of fun helping out, and our work really makes a difference! Besides, who would pass up an opportunity to possibly smash and chop frozen carrots?!?

Regional Food Bank
965 Albany-Shaker Road
Latham, NY

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Facebook Event Page - HOBY NYE Volunteers at the Regional Food Bank July 25

With the help of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2008 alum Kristen Balschunat, 2010 alum Aileen Daley, and friends have organized the first ever Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk for THIS SATURDAY, July 24, 2010 at the Queensbury School Cross Country Trails. The event is to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to spread awareness for the cause. Register to participate on the website, or even just donate. It is going to be an OUTSTANDING event- hope to see you there!

Facebook Group - First Ever Miles With A Message 5k Run/Walk

AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walks - Event Page

HOBY Team Fundraising Page

This Friday, July 23, join 2009 alum Isabella Mincarelli and the Brian K. Hoover Mission for a benefit concert at the Andes Fire Hall in Andes, NY to support local homeless shelters and Boys and Girls Clubs. The concert is scheduled from 7pm - 9pm and admission is only $3. Come enjoy some music and raise money for a good cause!

Andes Fire Hall
5259 County Highway 1
Andes, NY

Facebook Event Page: Benefit Concert - The Brian K. Hoover Mission

WE NEED YOUR VOTE! The nominations are in, and it's time to vote! Please read the NOMINATING STATEMENTS and submit your vote by e-mail to NYEALUMNIADVISOR@YAHOO.COM BY FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010. This year there is one contested position: Public Relations. Remember - ALL HOBY NYE ALUMNI CAN VOTE!

Vote Format
In your e-mail, include:

Name:
Alumni Year:
Area:
Public Relations Vote:

All other positions are uncontested, and the nominees will be appointed by the outgoing Executive Board.
Any spots left vacant (Area 2 President, Area 4 President, Area 6 President) will be appointed by the incoming Executive Board.

The Alumni Association has set up a fundraiser at Friendly's on Route 9 in Latham on July 7th, 2010 from 4:30pm - 7:00 pm! Join some OUTSTANDING people for a great meal and a great cause - and see the nominating statements for our Alumni Association elections before they're posted! Bring a friend!

Facebook Event Page - Friendly's Fundraiser July 7, 2010

Area 3 has scheduled a volunteer opportunity at the Northeast Regional Food Bank on July 11th, 2010 from 1:00pm - 4:00 pm! Join some OUTSTANDING people for a great afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank! We always have a lot of fun helping out, and our work really makes a difference!

Regional Food Bank
965 Albany-Shaker Road
Latham, NY

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Facebook Event Page - Area 3 Project: Regional Food Bank

Call For Nominations! Interested in running for office in the HOBY NYE Alumni Association? It is once again time for the alumni association to choose its officers for the coming year. Review the descriptions below, and if you wish to run for an E-Board position you must submit a nominating statement to TJ McNally and Geoff Sherwood (co-Alumni Advisors) at NYEALUMNIADVISOR (at) YAHOO (dot) COM BY TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010. Nominating statements will be compiled and nominees will be announced at our fundraiser at Friendly's Restaurant in Latham on Wednesday, July 7. Nominating statements will be available for potential voters to review, and any nominee at the fundraiser will have the opportunity to speak with fellow alumni (and potential voters.)

Nominating Statement

Include your full name, alumni year, and the position for which you are running.

Please use the following guiding questions to help you develop your nominating statement:

• What does HOBY mean to you?
• Why should people vote for you for the role of _____________ for 2010-2011?
• What experience/qualifications do you possess that make you a strong candidate for the position?
• Is there anything else that we should know about you before we vote?

Executive Board Positions and Eligibility

President - As President of the Alumni Association you are to keep open lines of communication with all HOBY Alumni and Staff. You are to bring new ideas to the group and help facilitate the work of the Area Clubs in order for them to accomplish their goals. You are to organize and run Alumni Association Meetings. Your primary job is to mentor the Area Club presidents and keep alumni enthusiastic about the activities and events. Must be a second year alum or older.

Vice President - As Vice President you work with the President and all other Alumni Officers to organize projects and events, help the president come up with new ideas, and assist with mentoring the Area Club Presidents. You should be encouraging alumni participation with projects. Must be a first year alum.

Secretary - You are organized. As Secretary you keep minutes from all E-Board Meetings, and after the meetings you should type the minutes and send them to the Alumni Advisor so they can be posted on the website. Keep track of what is going on in each area and help come up with new ideas. You will work closely with the Public Relations officer to develop content for advertising, etc. and with the Alumni Advisor to create Alumni Association reports. All alumni are eligible.

Public Relations - ADVERTISE! Make flyers for events and send them to the Advisor to get them posted on the website. Contact outside vendors to get fundraisers set up. Make sure Facebook, Yahoo! Groups, and any other networking is being used to advertise for events in order for maximum turnout at events. All alumni are eligible.

Area Club President - The main purpose of the Area Club president it to keep alumni in their respective area active. Keep communication lines between yourself and the E-Board open in order to complete projects and get new ideas. You will be the bridge between the E-Board and the alumni from your area, and as such you will be responsible for keeping them informed and involved. Work on completing the 1:1:1 challenge, meaning one social event, one service project, and one CLeW in each area. 1:1:1 should not limit you, but it should guide you. Do service projects and social events. If there is already a CLeW established in your area keep it going! If not, check out the planning guide and try to get one set up in your Area. Once elected it is recommended that you recruit a group of alumni to assist you (perhaps as a mini-board). All alumni are eligible.

Voting will begin on Wednesday, July 7 and run through Friday, July 16. More information on voting to follow.

So what are you waiting for? NOMINATE YOURSELF TODAY!

HEY HOBY! THREE of our Area Clubs have organized teams to participate in Relays For Life on Friday, June 18! The Area 1 Team is participating in Fishkill, NY, the Area 3 Team is participating in Guilderland, NY, and the Area 6 Team is participating in Plattsburgh, NY! In the spirit of the World Cup, there will be a friendly competition to see which Area Team can get the most people to show up and which Area Team can raise the most money! These events are always a GREAT time for a very important cause - if you can make it to ANY of the scheduled Relays, sign up today!

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the same time, we’ll help raise much needed funds and awareness to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save more lives.

At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say that Relay is a life-changing experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Whether it is through a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. Join us! Together, we have the power to help create a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone’s life.

If there is anyone who would like to help, but has trouble finding a way there, please let us know! If you would like to help then we'll find a way to get you there!

P.S. If you are not able to attend, you can still help by making an online donation!

Come And Support HOBY NYE by purchasing meals (and having a great time) at Five Guys! 20% of any purchase you make between 5pm and 7:30pm will go to the HOBY NYE fund. You MUST bring the fundraising FLYER with you in order to donate to HOBY. The Five Guys location that accepts the flyer is in Southside Plaza at 7 SOUTHSIDE DRIVE, CLIFTON PARK, NY, 12065.