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Passionate Hostellers Sought for HI-USA Board of Directors We're now accepting nominations from HI-USA members to fill 4 At-Large Director seats on our Board of Directors, and we want to hear from you! Nominations are accepted through December 15, with the election to follow in February 2014. To qualify for an At-Large Director seat, candidates must be paid annual or lifetime members of HI-USA, 18 years of age or older, and residents of the United States. Diversity is one of our core values, so HI-USA is seeking candidates who can represent a variety of perspectives, experiences, and leadership styles, with a passion and commitment to growing HI-USA. Elected At-Large Directors will join HI-USA's Board of Directors for a 1, 2, or 3-year term beginning in March 2014. Our Board members are pivotal in keeping HI-USA on track towards our Vision 2020 by setting the overall priorities, policies, and budget that allow staff and volunteers to execute our mission. So, what makes a great Board member? Someone who
- has a passion for hostelling and HI-USA's mission
- has strong leadership skills and the ability to think creatively and strategically about the future and influence others to pursue a different path
- is adaptable and flexible, who thoughtfully considers new information and new perspectives
- has a personal or community network to help further our mission
- values a collegial working team
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, then you might be just who we're looking for! For more information and application materials, click here.
 Give Back, Stay for Free This January and February, groups of 10 or more receive a free night at a participating hostel for each day they volunteer in the community for at least two hours. We call this HI-USA's Great Hostel Give Back. If you're part of an Alternative School Break Group, a sorority or fraternity, a church group, or just a fun group of friends, this might be your perfect remedy for the holiday hangover! 17 hostels across HI-USA are opening their doors to groups like yours. Last year more than 250 Great Hostel Give Back guests performed over 2,200 hours in community service, which may not have happened otherwise. Most people have community service on the brain prior to the holidays, but it's needed all year long. Start out the New Year right by helping those in need and having fun along the way. Visit hiusa.org/service to learn more, or contact Amanda Dwyer, National Sales Manager, at amanda.dwyer@hiusa.org with any questions.
 Discovering Portlandia Erica and Shaun, the bloggers behind Over Yonderlust, headed to HI-Portland Hawthorne in Oregon for its 10th Annual Bike-In Movie event in September. But they saw a lot more than just a film. They witnessed the Portland trifecta: biking, sustainability, and craft beer. Portland has a vibe all its own, and the HI-Portland Hawthorne hostel epitomizes the local culture. Read about Erica and Shaun's adventures in their blog post, Hostels can be Eco-Friendly Too! Sustainable Tourism with Hostelling International.
We Did It – Thanks to You! After a worldwide vote, HI-USA earned a $17,000 Sustainability Grant from Hostelling International. A big thank you to everyone who voted for us! Your vote made a difference, and now we can make a difference too. This grant will help 8 of our hostels earn Silver or Gold certification from Sustainable Tourism Education Program™ (STEP), a recognized leader in eco-certification. Based on September's TravelBytes survey, more than 85% of you believe certification is important for truly being a green organization. And it's important to us as well. These 8 hostels will join 4 others that have already achieved Silver or Gold status and pave the way for more to come.
HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL PROMOTION
New Discounts in Spain for HI Members From running with the bulls to mouth-watering paella to the home of Picasso, there are endless reasons to travel to Spain, but the Spanish Youth Hostels Association is giving you two more. When you use your HI membership, you'll get 15% off bus services with ALSA, the leading provider of road transportation in Spain. This includes international and regional travel, so you can see more of Spain or explore the rest of Europe. To take advantage of this offer, just show your membership ID at any ticket office in Spain. Additionally, your HI membership also gets you a discount at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza de Madrid. If you're under age 30, you'll get access to their standard Discount Rate. If you're over 30, you'll get 10% off their general admission rate. A must-see for Madrid visitors, this museum features work from the 13th-20th centuries, with nearly 1,000 pieces of work on display. To learn more about hostelling in Spain, visit www.hihostels.com.
Travelbytes Contest Take a couple minutes to tell us your social media preferences and you'll be entered to win a soft and cozy HI-USA fleece jacket, courtesy of HI-Washington, DC. Click here to complete the survey. The winner will be chosen on December 2, so be sure to complete the short survey before then. | 
