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Mid-Atlantic
Candle:
Giving Light to All
Women of Reform Judaism Mid-Atlantic District Newsletter –Spring 2009
from the president’s desk
its own inimitable way, andon Friday ateach sisterhood needs to make in its future and theture that belongs to all of us.
A
obligations (and non-inute reports”terhood by enticing members –Residence, Washington Hebrew Congregation, who was ordained and
call to convention
As I write, my thoughts are on our coming convention April 24-26 in TysonsCorner, VA. Our Washington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood, under theincredible care and diligence of convention chair
Mildred Amer
, has responded inMildred has kept me and them on track. Our specialWRJ guest and resource
Blair Marks
[
see her bioelsewhere in this newsletter
] will teach us, laugh withus, and share her expertise. We begin10:30 am and end at 2:00 pm on Sunday.I recognize that these are extraordinarilydifficult times financially and money is very tight.Yet the benefits of attending far outweigh the costs.Consider all the learning, sharing between sisterhoodsand leaders, camaraderie, bonding, answers to yourquestions, answers to the questions you hadn’t eventhought of asking, leadership training, know-how, thestrength that we bring to one another, and never forgetthe fun. This is the investmentfu
sampling of what we will be doing ---
•
A special Friday afternoon session taught by WRJ Treasurer
BlairMarks,
a must for every sisterhood, especially treasurers, on the newbudget rules, oversight, and transparency to which all non-profits arenow subject. This session will also cover yourobligations) to your congregation and its board.
•
Our famous and eagerly anticipated Saturday “two-mwhere each sisterhood highlights its best program.
•
A Friday workshop on marketing sispique their interest and draw them in.
•
“From Russia with Love” – Hear about our YES Fund dollars at work with special Saturday guest speaker Rabbi Michael Farbman, Rabbi in
2
served in London, England before going to St. Petersburg, Russia tohelp build and develop a Reform Jewish congregation.
•
Our popular Book Talk workshop on People of the Book by GeraldineBrooks – read it ahead of time or not.
•
Our traditional social action collection project [
described elsewhere inthis newsletter
].
•
Meet our new District web site – let your mouse do the walking.
•
Installation Saturday – tribute to all past district presidents and thepassing of the
Torah
to incoming President Denny Norris, followedby a special celebratory concert by Cantor Lisa Levine and a specialreception.
•
Orientation for the new District Board (that also includes allsisterhood presidents) on Sunday.
•
Embracing Change – the how-to’s of moving beyond our comfortzone to build on the dialogue begun at Interim in Raleigh.
•
Board meeting and plenary Friday to adopt the 2009-2011 budget andproposed amendments to our bylaws and policies.
•
Rabbi Richard Sternberger Social Action and Best MembershipProgram Awards.
•
Facilitated sharing and problem solving – talk time face-to-face.
•
A Sunday workshop on managing conflict on the sisterhood board orturning lemons into lemonade.All is just a sampling of what we will be doing in addition to celebrating
Shabbat.
a name change and an explanation
Those of you who attended our District board meeting in Baltimore lastJanuary might have noticed that the name of our convention has changed, and thereis an explanation. It turned out that our original choice was almost identical to thename used in the mid-nineties. Rather than almost duplicate, Denny Norris and Idecided to change the name. After two weeks of going back and forth, we came upwith “
VISION & FORTITUDE; CHALLENGES into OPPORTUNITIES”.
We believe it remains true to the thrust of the original name, but at the same time itacknowledges our response to the difficult financial times in which we findourselves.
a bit of district trivia
Sometimes the proverbial light bulb goes off. After having written “62
nd
Biennial” enough times, it occurred to me to wonder how that was possible for anorganization founded in 1923. I called Past WRJ and District President HeleneWaranch, who suggested that the person with the best institutional knowledge or
3
memory would be Past District President Joan Wachstein. She was correct and Ifound my answer.It seems that from the time of our founding until the early or mid 1960’s,conventions were held yearly. The work, the preparation, and the costs were huge.As Joan put it succinctly, “We were broke.” It was then decided that conventionswould occur biennially, but the numbering would continue as it had begun, thusarriving this year at the 62
nd
.Laia S. Katz, president
social action project for convention
The recipient of our WRJ District Social Project will be the Abram SimonSchool (named after Washington Hebrew Congregation’s second rabbi, RabbiAbram Simon) in DC. Our host, WHC Sisterhood, has taken a special interest inthe school’s 1
st
grade reading program for the past two years. With our ongoingdedication to youth and education we will be sponsoring a
Dr. Seuss
Book Drive –
preferably new, but also “gently” used ones. One suggestion is to tryAmazon.com: Used and New Dr. Seuss books. They have a 10 book set for $27.82– perhaps some of you would like to order together. Costco also has books at alower price. Whatever you can bring will be appreciated. Please bring your mostwelcome donations to the Registration Desk at the Convention.
Meet Blair Marks --We are indeed fortunate that Blair Marks will join us at convention as our WRJ resource and guest. A former WRJ vice president, she is currently theWRJ treasurer as well as the president of the WRJ Southeast District. As a district president she understands what we face in our sisterhood lives. Not onlyis she savvy and knowledgeable - she has a wicked sense of humor and she singslike an angel.
Blair Marks first became involved with sisterhood in the early 90’s while atKahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, SC, eventually serving as thatsisterhood’s president. She has also served as a district director, vice president,and treasurer and as a vice president of WRJ. Blair is active in her own sisterhoodat Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia. Over the years she has worked inprogramming, fundraising and membership, helping at countless Purim carnivals,Chanukah festivals, art auctions, mystery dinners, and the like.
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