Continue reading »]]> In case you MIST it, here’s the slideshow we played at the awards ceremony! We were also able to record a few of the lecture and workshop sessions, and they’re posted below as well.

MIST NY 2012 Slideshow

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sh. Abdullah Adhami: Keynote – Family: Reconnecting Our Hearts to Home

Click here to view the embedded video.

Imam Amin Muhammad

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mohammed Hannini: Turning Back to Allah’s Mercy

Click here to view the embedded video.

Continue reading »]]> As part of MIST weekend, we’ll be awarding spirit points for teams who strive to make MIST better! These will not count toward the scores, but there will be an award for the team with the most points! Below are the ways your team can earn (and lose) points.

Positive Points

• Clean-Up Crew – Teams who are the best and quickest at cleaning up after themselves and presenting a table, room, etc. in its original, clean state will receive a total of 5 points.
• Coin Wars – This annual tradition will continue as the team with the most points accrued from coins in their jar will earn themselves up to points! The winning team will earn themselves an additional 5 points. Keep in mind that coins = positive points and bills = negatives points. Collect away!
• Creativity – 5 points will be given to teams who have been most creative overall, whether it be in the creation of their banners, competitive edge, projects and other endeavors throughout the weekend which necessitate some form of creativity and imagination.
• Dressed to Impress – Which team has the most modestly and well-dressed representation of students? Team with the most well dressed to impress students with MIST attire and spirit will receive up to 10 points.
• Early Birds – Early registrants and attendees will allow for their team to earn 10 points if they arrive early for each day’s competitions and events. What a great starting point for teams!
• MIST Family – Teams who are most competent and respectful to the guidelines and necessities of running a positive experience which include registering early, attending as many workshops as possible, being kind and generous to MIST committee members, etc. Being like family to the overall MIST experience will allot 5 points to its winning teams.
• Good Character – Teams embodying the utmost best behavior and manners will be awarded up to 10 points. Carrying yourself with respect and dignity through victory and loss in an Islamic manner is the best way to emanate one’s Deen. You can earn points by being kind to your fellow competitors, judges and coaches; cleaning up after oneself and aiding your fellow peers, elders and competitors in times of need.
• Green Deen – For teams displaying environmentally friendly acts and willing to make our world a cleaner, better place. Teams actively trying to be conscious of the way we use and spend our resources will gain 2 points per green action (actions include but are not limited to: not wasting food and water, using reusable containers, recycling and saving paper, etc.). The team portraying a substantial effort by each action and is most duty-bound to keeping our world a clean and naturally prosperous area will gain an ultimate of 5 points.
• Sportsmanship – Whether you are victorious or borderline a winner, the team that still pushes each member in the most positive manner and encourages their peers to do better next time, will receive up to 10 points for their sportsmanship. Remaining positive through wins and losses, encouragement to your own team members and others, and an overall positive attitude throughout athletic competitions can also earn you the points.
• Team Banner – Whose team has the most team pride as expressed in their fabulous banner? Please bring your team banners before the MIST competition for full evaluations and then to MIST thereafter. The winning team for the best team banner will receive up to 10 points!
• Team Diversity – It’s great to have both Muslim AND non-Muslims represent your schools at the MIST competition. The team with the most racially, ethnically and religiously diverse backgrounds will earn themselves 5 points!
• Team Spirit – Awarded to the team most proud of their members and their talents. Whether you’re a winner or beat by just a few points, the teams who express the most team spirit and encourage their fellow team members to continue to strive for their best will be awarded up to 10 points.
• Workshop Warriors – The team that has the most members attending as many workshops as possible will earn themselves an extra 10 points for their team.

Negative Points

• Bad Behavior – Any teams who do not represent themselves well and are not on their best behavior will have points deducted from their overall accrued points. Each action will count as a deduction so please behave the best to your ability.
• Complainers – Teams who have petty complaints and are not being reasonable will have 2 points deducted from their overall accrued points per complaint.

Continue reading »]]> MIST weekend is almost here–we’re sure you’re all excited for MIST 2012! To help make sure this weekend will be the best yet, we have some notes for you–please read through them and make sure everyone on your team is aware of them:

• Dress Code: Modest, business casual (prayer-appropriate and jeans should be avoided
• For basketball on Sunday: please bring a change of clothes. [You may want to bring some stuff to freshen up so you don't feel nasty for the remainder of the day, especially since the Awards Ceremony will be later on in the day.]
• A coach must be present for each team throughout the entire weekend.
• Make sure your coach knows where you are and how you’re getting to MIST.
• Hofstra is a large campus; to ensure safety please do not wander.
• We are all guests at Hofstra! Please be respectful of the campus; clean up after yourselves and do not leave the bathrooms messy.
• Should you ever have an issue during the Tournament weekend please find your coach immediately. If it’s an issue requiring immediate attention, you can approach the closest organizer.
• Follow live updates throughout the weekend through Twitter: @MistNY

Please note: Due to space limitations, we will not be having on site guest registration this year. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Continue reading »]]> As you prepare yourself for the tournament this weekend, please remember that you need to bring your school ID to MIST for checking in at registration! This is to ensure that you are a student at the school you registered under. If your school does not have student IDs, please contact us at mistny.register@gmail.com so we can find a suitable solution.

Don’t forget–MIST requires a professional dress code. That means no jeans or sneakers, and all attire should be modest, loose-fitting, and prayer-appropriate.

Continue reading »]]> In case you were wondering exactly how MIST is going to go down this year, the program is available! Just click on 2012 Tournament, or download directly here. [PDF, 2MB] Browse through the workshops, figure out competition times, and see who’s speaking! If you’re bringing a guest, make sure they check it out!

For those who know they will be missing a part of the Tournament for a legitimate reason please do the following:

1. E-mail us when and why you won’t be there.
2. E-mails must be sent in by Sunday, April 1!
3. Bring the Absence form (below) in MIST weekend

The Absence form is here and also available on the Registration page.

We hope to see you all at the tournament in less than two weeks–get your game on!

Continue reading »]]> As you’re registering for workshops, you might be wondering who’s actually speaking. If that’s the case, fear not! Speaker bios are up on our website and will be added to as we get them.

If you’re ahead of the game and have registered for workshops and submitted your signature sheet, why not browse the Spirit Week videos and check out what your fellow MIST-ers have been up to?

Continue reading »]]> Note To Registrars/Coaches: Please forward this to all members of your team in case they have not joined the google group.

We know you’re working on signature forms (remember that we have to receive them by March 30th) but we have just one more form for you guys–this one is online and it’s for Workshop Registration. Every year during on-site registration we ask you guys to register then and there for the workshops you want to attend, but this year, we’ll give you a little more time to choose. But be quick about it! Seats in workshops are placed on a first come first serve basis.

The deadline for this form to be submitted is March 26 at 11:59 PM. All competitors must submit this form. (We’ll know if you don’t.)

You can fill out the form here: http://tinyurl.com/mistnyworkshop and if you’re wondering who the speakers are, take a look at their bios!