The primary method of contact for the seminar will be email. Please ensure that when you register a student that the school contact’s email address, the student’s email address, and at least one parent’s email address are correct. If these email addresses are not correct, the student’s ability to attend the seminar may be impacted and/or their receipt of necessary paperwork will be delayed.

Specific information regarding our seminar will be emailed in early 2018. This packet of pre-seminar materials will be sent to the addresses – school contact, student, and parent email addresses — supplied at the time of registration. This packet will, hopefully, provide you and your student with all of the information that is required for the seminar experience to be enjoyable and productive.

The above emails will be sent from the email address NYEOps@hobyny.org. Please ensure that this email address is not blocked by the email accounts provided. You may also receive emails from NYERecruit@hobyny.org . Finally, information regarding our specific seminar can be found at the website, http://www.hobynye.org and about our national program at http://www.hoby.org.

The following checklist must be completed before you student will be eligible to attend our seminar:

• The student must be registered online via HOBY National. More details are available here.
• The pre-seminar materials (emailed in the late Winter/early Spring) must be completed and returned to our seminar.
• The student’s registration fee (and sponsorship fee if the student is registered as an additional student) must be paid. For more information on these fees please see this question.
• The student’s key deposit must be paid. More information regarding the key deposit will be provided with the pre-seminar materials (as mentioned above, these materials will be sent in the late Winter/early Spring).

The seminar will take place at the Silver Bay Resort and Conference Center in Silver Bay, NY. Please see the seminar site map for more information.

Seminar participants must check in on on Friday September 18th, 2020 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 am. Seminar will begin on September 18th at 9:00 am and conclude September 20th ending around 3:30pm. Seminar participants must be present for the entire seminar, including overnight.

You are responsible for your transportation to and from the seminar. Please include all details of your itinerary on the Participant Confirmation Form (document included in your pre-seminar materials). If you get lost on the way to the seminar, please call 518-882-8496.

During the HOBY Leadership Seminar, many dynamic leaders—all volunteers from the fields of business, education, government, and other professions—will address aspects of our changing world and the challenges future leaders will confront. The program will not promote any specific political party, religion, or way of thinking, but is designed to develop critical thinking skills by actively involving participants in discussions and informal debate. Before the participants leave our seminar on Sunday they will be challenged to commit to completing, within one year of their experience at seminar, at least 100 hours of community service that will make a difference in their community. The program also includes outstanding speakers, leadership activities, social events, and a special closing ceremony to which the parents are invited.

Please provide information about the medication on the Medical History Records Form and bring the Physician Medication Verification Form with you to the seminar (documents are included in your pre-seminar materials). Make sure to read and comply with the Policy for Use of Medication during a HOBY Event. Prescription medication will have to be turned in during the registration process while over the counter medicine and may be kept by the student. Medicines used in a rescue situation (i.e. Epi-Pen, asthma inhalers) will be kept by the student.

Parents, friends, and family members are discouraged from calling students during the seminar due to the disruption caused to panels and activities. Students will be required to leave all electronic devices – including cell phones – in the dorm rooms and will only be capable of making phone calls during break times. In case of emergency, your parent(s) or guardian(s) may call Christopher Urban, HOBY NYE Director of Operations, at (518) 882-8496. The seminar will be chaperoned by qualified adults who will be staying at the facility 24 hours a day.

Dress is casual throughout the weekend, with “dress-up” on Sunday. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, and FLIP FLOPS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Please consider bringing an extra set of casual shoes. At registration, you will be provided with a HOBY t-shirt that must be worn all day on Friday. We will be completing a community service project on Friday that could potentially be messy, so plan accordingly and dress appropriately. You may wish to bring an extra change of clothes.

Saturday is “COLOR” day, and you should plan to dress in the color of the group to which you have been assigned. (Please see question How do I found out the group color? below.)

Sunday is designated as “dress-up,” so you should come prepared with professional attire. Comfortable walking shoes are still a consideration for Sunday.

Please be prepared for inclement weather.

You will be contacted during the month of May by a HOBY volunteer assigned to work with your group. He or she will be able to tell you the color of your group as well as answer any last-minute questions you may have.

Due to the distance to the closest religious facilities, the costs and logistics of coordinating transportation, and to ensure the safety of all participants and volunteers, we are regretfully unable to facilitate access to religious services during the seminar.

If circumstances arise that prevent a participant from attending the entire seminar, including overnight, we would like to give another student the opportunity to attend. Please see your guidance counselor or the main contact person at your school who selected you for them to select an alternate ambassador, and follow up with a call to Christopher Urban or Amber Arnold at (518) 882-8496.

The school, community organization, or parent has paid the registration fee and will provide transportation to and from the seminar. All costs for meals, lodging, and training materials have been generously provided by sponsors throughout our state, including businesses, foundations, individuals, and service organizations wishing to support leadership education.

During the registration process, your primary contact should be our Leadership Seminar Chair, Amanda Walshjamin. She can be reached at NYERecruit@hobyny.org.

Once your student is registered, questions should be directed at our Director of Operations – Christopher Urban and Amber Arnold. They can be reached at NYEOps@hobyny.org or at 518-882-8496.

At any point in time, questions can also be directed to our Leadership Seminar Chair – Amanda Walshjamin. They can each be reached at NYEChairs@hobyny.org.

Please keep in mind that all of our staff members are volunteers and work full time jobs during the day. Calls and emails will be returned as soon as possible.