2008 HOBY PA-West Seminar Blog

Teleconference Link

2008-06-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

To read media coverage of the Al Asad teleconference from Friday, June 13, proceed to the following link:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/16600844/detail.html

Friday, June 13 - Second Day

2008-06-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

After a wake-up call at 6 o'clock in the morning, the ambassadors were taken to breakfast in the cafeteria at the Rossin Campus Center. Following breakfast, the ambassadors made a short walk to the Dieter Porter Auditorium, where they were able to actively participate in a teleconference call with soldiers at the Al Asad Airbase in Iraq. The teleconference was sponsored by Freedom Calls. Individual ambassadors had the opportunity to speak into the microphone, asking the soldiers their personal questions on everything from their service, what they miss most, and what they feel are the most important leadership qualities.

The teleconference was followed by the ambassadors' third panel session, this one based in Entrepreneurship. The ambassadors were able to lead discussions with business consultants and professionals on current technology, as well as future technology, in the three sections of this third panel session, entitled "The Business of Technology," "The Business Outlook: Where is Western PA Today?" and "Agricultural Initiatives."

The entrepreneurship panel session was followed by an off-site field trip (panel session 4) to a variety of business in the Western Pennsylvania area: Rose Plastics, Kurt J. Lesker Co., WISER Institute, the Heinz test kitchens, and the Federal Reserve Bank, Pittsburgh Branch. Despite the rain, the buses were off around noon, returning before five. Students enjoyed a boxed lunch, and luckily, a sunshine and breezy return.

After a short rest for some, an even shorter for others, depending on their return time, the ambassadors were off to their fifth panel, a career dinner, during which they were able to sit down for a meal with some of the top professionals in the area. The guests were qualified in a variety of fields, from art teachers to mathematicians to engineers and health care professionals.

The ambassadors then exercised their creativity in community and team building activities in which they were asked to design their ideal community using only a roll of masking tape, a box of uncooked spaghetti, and a roll of aluminum foil. After discussing their communities and their ideas, the ambassadors were treated to a rousing talent show, including the best and most talented of the HOBY ambassadors and staff. There were a wide range of acts, from singing, to baton twirling, to stand-up comedy.

The night rounded out with a quick session of reflection, and it was off to bed for the ambassadors after a long and tiring, but fun and eventful, day.

Thursday, June 12 - First Day

2008-06-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

The 2008 HOBY Conference kicked off today with the arrival of this year's new ambassadors. They were greeted by the enthusiastic junior and senior facilitators, jumping right into HOBY's trademark cheers. After some slight hesitation on behalf of the nervous newcomers, they were soon giving the staff a run for their money, shouting along with the best of them.

After registration and cheers, the ambassadors were taken to the Rossin Campus Center, where the President of Washington and Jefferson College, Tori Haring-Smith, greeted them with a brief history of the school and welcomed them to the campus. The ambassadors were then treated to the wise motivational words of Rick Grandinetti, the founder and CEO of Vision Planning, Inc., who was back for his third year, impressing upon the ambassadors the importance of today.

After an hour break for lunch with representatives of several Pennsylvania colleges, the ambassadors attended panel sessions on education and the important aspects of a good application. The session contained a question-and-answer portion and was followed by a college fair and a tour of the Washington and Jefferson campus.

Group photos were taken of the HOBY ambassadors and staff, followed by more cheering, until the ambassadors were taken to dinner. Dinner was followed by panel sessions on the media and communication, which were entitled: "Advertising and National Media: Influencing Opinions" and "The Future of the Newspaper, e-Media, and Local News."

The ambassadors were then taken outside to get to know one another better through icebreakers and team-building activities. The day ended with a period of reflection, in which the ambassadors were given the opportunity to vocalize their thoughts on the day's activities.