Having Fun?

Tony Brigmon, 'Ambassador of Fun' for Southwest Airlines, shares his experiences

Media Panel

A small clip from yesterday's media panel

HOBY Honored By Texas House of Representatives.

HOBY Texas North was recently honored by the State of Texas House of Representatives. Representative Carol Kent, in a letter addressed to HOBY Texas North, states that she "[is] proud to have the opportunity to recognize [our] outstanding achievements..." Below is an excerpt from House Resolution No. 793.

"WHEREAS, HOBY focuses on students at the sophomore level of high school, and individuals are nominated by their schools for participation in the course of completing the program, young people learn the values of volunteerism, excellence, diversity, innovative thinking, leadership, and community partnership; HOBY graduates emerge from the program with extensive knowledge of the American economic system and a better understanding of what it takes to succeed within it; and

WHEREAS, May 16, 2009, is HOBY Texas North Service Day, and this special observance provides a fitting opportunity to recognize this outstanding organization and command the students who are taking part in its training and service programs; now, there be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby honor Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership of North Texas and extend to all those involved with HOBY Texas North sincere best wishes for continued success..."

This is an OUTSTANDING honor to be given, and we are grateful to our staff, alumni and ambassadors for being who they are and doing what they do best! Each of everyone of them is a leader in some way, and Texas recognizes that! Congratulations HOBY Texas North.

Day Two: Outstanding

Jad Allen again, here with a quick status update from HOBY: Day Two. Fridays are always hard on students, especially because they know the weekend is quickly approaching. They don't say TGIF for nothing...but not these students. Our ambassadors woke up at the early hour of 7am, alive, awake, alert and enthusiatic for the day to come. After a delicious breakfast, we dove right in with some leadership activities....aka energizers. Now, at this point in time in the seminar, we usually have to goad the ambassadors to join in with the cheers and energizers, but these OUTSTANDING rockstars were ready and willing to go. We had a panel on Medical Ethics, including a mock trial, followed by a time for personal reflection on leadership. After that, we had a delicious lunch sponsered by Jason's Deli (Yum!), followed by a TCU scavenger hunt. We then had the special opportunity to listen to Todd Whithorne of Cooper Concepts talk about "Investing in Your Personal Health". The ambassadors, after running around campus completing the scavenger hunt, were a bit tired, but that didn't stop them from some stimulating debate in the "Media and the Public's Right to Know" panel, headed by Brenda Teel-Jackson of WFAA, Jill "J.R." Labbe of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Bob Ray Sanders, also of Star-Telegram fame. Following such a stimulating debate, it's time for break, right? Well, Tony Brigmon, the "Ambassador of Fun" (I wonder where I got MY title from) of Southwest Airlines, came and talked to us about the importance of having fun while leading in his address, "Having Fun Yet? Leadership and Life Lessons." After all these panels, the ambassadors were famished, so it was off to the cafeteria for another delicious meal. During this meal, some ambassadors had the distinct opportunity and honor of meeting some Optimist Club members from the Ft. Worth area, and even more, had the chance to eat with them and get to know a bit of what they do. Next, after dinner was said and done, we got to hear the TCU - New Student Programs do their "More Than Words" presentation, stating that words really do have power, therefore, we, as leaders, must watch what we say. After a great breakout session with their small groups, the ambassadors got to get their groove on at the HOBY Social. Steve Roberts, of Celebrations Entertainment, delighted ambassadors and staff alike with a high energy, high fun, and highly bonding experience. After an intense two hour dance session, it was time to hit the hay. It was a truly OUTSTANDING Friday!
"O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G, Out-Out-Outstanding!"

HOBY Hugs,
Jad

Catching up. . .

This is the point of the seminar where as a volunteer, it starts to catch up with you! It has been a pretty action packed day. We just got back from dinner after a great lecture by Tony Brigmon who used to be the Ambassador of Fun for Southwest. He is a self styled FUNOLOGIST and we now know why. . .

We had dinner which was sponsored by the Optomist Clubs in the greater DFW area and had the opportunity to meet the incoming president of Optomist International (more later).

Right now the Ambassadors are in the ballroom listening to "More than Words", a TCU presentation on hate speech and intolerance. This is a very important part of the seminar and what follows is small group conversations that remind us what this generation is both facing and capable of.

Todd Whitthorne

Todd first spoke to our group a year ago - very successfully! You wouldn't think about health and wellbeing as a leadership topic but Todd is a dynamic speaker and really puts into perspective how health and weight are being more and more on an issue. He gave our Ambassadors very significant data and incentive to "exercise their minds." We had a great example from one of our alumni who since last year's seminar has lost over 120 lbs!

I offered Todd this deal - if I lose 40 lbs over the next year, he will return for our 2010 seminar. There, I said it!

Quick Pic

The ambassadors not only survived the heat for the picture taking process, they cheered through it!