PresenTense Community Division

Project Summary
The PresenTense Community is comprised of a wide network of hundreds of creative
young Jews from diverse backgrounds, affiliations, and skill-sets. This human capital developed
around years of work through the Magazine, Fellowship, and other PresenTense initiatives
awaits opportunities to be further animated and actualized. In addressing the question of what
added value PresenTense can bring to this community, the Community Division will focus on
generating conversations and, ultimately, action around selected fields and topics that are at the
core of the issues affecting Jewish identity, creativity, and pioneering in the here&now.
To do so, the Community Division will enable the development of topic-based Steering
Committees, each comprised of those actively engaged and making a difference in the focus
field. Each Steering Committee will begin its work by driving forward an issue of PresenTense
Magazine as well as corresponding conversations and events, dedicated to exploring the field’s
key challenges and the bright new ideas that will transform it in the future. Through this work,
the PresenTense Community will engage the young leaders both in our network and beyond who
have passion and expertise in crucial areas, giving them the forum, connections, and exposure to
cutting-edge ideas that they need to voice ideas, make connections, and take action that will
profoundly affect the Jewish People.

Project Goals and Objectives:

Goals:
 To lower the barrier to entry for young Jews to allow them to voice their ideas in the
global conversation on Jewish identity and innovation in the digital age
 To facilitate conversations on innovation in the Jewish world, and to foster connections
between innovators in the same fields
 To empower young Jews with the tools and resources they need to broadcast their voice,
their initiatives, and their creativity, to ensure they have the support they need to be
successful
 To build and strengthen a global community that supports and fosters innovators and
Jewish leaders in multifaceted ways, where those involved may go on to be active in local
PresenTense Fellowships, PresenTense Investments, or through other opportunities

Objectives:
 To sustain topic-based Steering Committees, producing in-depth explorations of target
fields through which innovators in the same field are connected and find opportunities to
work together
Target: Environment, Leadership, The Jewish Establishment
 To enable each topic-based Steering Committee to guide the development of an issue of
PresenTense Magazine highlighting innovation and new ideas in that field.
Target: 3 per year
 To expand the conversations and create more opportunities to get involved through online
conversations, conference calls, and in-person events
Target: 5 conversations per issue

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 1
  To create conversations with up-and-coming Federation professionals through FedHeads
Target: 2 circles, each with 1 call per month

Context
PresenTense’s Community provides value to its members through enabling a supportive
environment where creative thinkers, writers, and innovators can network; gain peer
feedback as they develop their own ideas; and be exposed to new ideas and the wider
discourse on issues that matter to them. Having experienced the benefits of the PresenTense
Community, they may be inspired to explore other PresenTense opportunities and contribute
to the organization’s work through participation in local fellowships, etc. Meanwhile, by
focusing on target fields, PresenTense is poised to make an impact on areas that matter in
Jewish life today, and to provide needed support to those also engaged in this work. This
feeds into different facets of PresenTense’s work with these fields, such as with fellows
whose initiatives address them.

Assumptions
Assumptions include:
 There is a continued demand to explore the challenges facing innovators in different
fields related to Jewish identity and innovation in the digital age (proven thus far
through the Magazine)
 We will therefore be able to attract top young Jewish professionals active in the target
fields to participate in conversations around them
 Once engaged, these innovators will gain access to tools and resources valuable to
them, including networking opportunities, one-on-one and group workshopping of
their ideas, and exposure, which will enhance and enable their work and the field as a
whole
 Community members will be interested in growing into leadership roles – both due to
this demand for conversations on key Jewish issues, and because they aspire to be
part of the PT Team serving the Jewish People, with the privileges and
responsibilities entailed
 We will be able (technically, financially) to continue to foster online and in-print
conversations
 Animating the PresenTense Community will foster innovators who will go on to be
active in PT in other ways
 PT can sustain the infrastructure necessary for an effective and functional global
community, including effective communication, successful community organizing,
and delegation and management of roles and responsibilities

Summary of Work Plan

Overview: Cycle of a Steering Committee

Month Activity Deliverable
October Recruit PT13: Leadership SC and PT13 Committee Formed,
first Conference Call – presented online
brainstorm of new ideas in the
field

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 2
 November SC presents Top 10 list of
challenges in the field
December SC members advise on or write
articles for publication
January Publish magazine
February Recruit Fellows for Institute
March Events planned and executed
April Conference calls, webinars
planned and executed
May Publish online reflections on the
issue
June Conference call for lessons
learned and work on ongoing
projects
July Recruit committee members for
other opportunities in
PresenTense (contributing to
magazine, local Fellowships, etc.)
Online presentation/discussion of
ideas, with Top 10 lists presented
Articles for publication
Magazine
Fellows recruited
Events continuing the
conversation of the Magazine
Conference calls, webinars
Online conversations
Conference call, ongoing projects
Recruited volunteers for other
positions in PT

Resource Requirements
Staff:
 Network Animator: Manages overall process, networking and recruitment, working with
volunteers to produce results
Volunteer positions:
 Community Writers, Editors, Art Team – producing PresenTense Magazine
 Topic-based Steering Committee members – Experts in fields who guide the production
of the relevant issue of PresenTense and generate conversations around the fields
 Planned for the future: Overall Steering Committee to guide the Community Division
Budget:
 In-print magazine: $5,000/issue
 Access to conference call line

Risks
 Though it has been piloted, topic-focused Steering Committees are a relatively new idea.
As such, there is the risk that it will not effectively engage its members, produce
meaningful conversations, or generate action.
 There is a risk that a Steering Committee will only be active for the magazine cycle, and
will not be sufficiently motivated to run events, continue to be involved, and generate
action in the field.
 There is a risk that lack of effective communication and data management will cause the
Community and its members to be disconnected from the larger operations of
PresenTense.
 There is a risk that lack of communication and adherence to deadlines will hamper the
progress of the Steering Committees and the publication of Magazine issues.
 There is a risk that the Magazine will not be able to support itself on ads and
subscriptions revenue

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 3
Appendix: Workplan by WBS

1. Environment SC: PT12

1.1. Editors, Writers, and SC members finalize PT articles for publication by 10/3
1.1.1. SC works with writers or writes own articles: Final drafts due 9/26
1.1.2. Copy-edited articles due 10/3
1.2. Art Team assembles PT artwork by 10/3
1.2.1. Photography Director finds relevant photography for all articles
1.2.2. Art Team finds a Cover, Backpage, and Contributors’ Map
1.3. Magazine Laid Out by October 17
1.3.1. Art Director lays out Magazine
1.3.2. Simi and Ariel give feedback on design
1.3.3. Have people lined up to proofread Magazine week of 10/11
1.3.4. Be in touch with Publishing House about going to press
1.4. October Steering Committee Call
1.4.1. Send out email for October call by 9/29
1.4.2. Plan agenda – review advising/writing process, next steps with events, etc.
1.5. SC Plans Events
1.5.1. Be in touch with SC members individually about events by 9/29
1.5.2. Follow up with interested Committee members to plan events by 10/15
1.5.3. Events executed in October, November, December
1.6. SC Plans Conference Calls, Webinars
1.6.1. Be in touch with SC members individually about conference calls by 9/29
1.6.2. Follow up with interested Committee members to plan events by 10/15
1.6.3. Calls executed in October, November, December
1.7. SC publishes online pieces in conjunction with issue release
1.7.1. Follow up with SC members and their organizations to encourage them to submit reflections on
pieces posted and original pieces by October 24
1.7.2. Work closely with Simi to implement online content in November, December
1.8. SC has Conference Call on Lessons Learned in November
1.8.1. Send out email about it by October 31
1.8.2. Plan agenda – sharing of experiences and gathering advice for the future
1.9. Planning of ongoing projects (action items)
1.9.1. Email Committee members to see if they’re interested in continuing projects by December 1
1.9.2. Based on interest, actualize the projects brainstormed
1.10. Recruit SC members for future PT opportunities
1.10.1. Email SC members letting them know about other SCs, local fellowships, Magazine opportunities
by December 1
1.11. SC recruits Institute Fellows in the Environment Field in January
1.11.1. Coordinate with Brachie as to best way to do this

2. Leadership SC: PT13

2.1. Form the Steering Committee for PT13: Leadership by October 15
2.1.1. Identify and email SC members by October 3, ask them to also recommend others who are interested
2.1.2. Blog and otherwise publicize opportunity to join the SC
2.1.3. Follow up with additional recommended contacts
2.2. Monthly SC Calls
2.2.1. First SC (October) call: Getting to know other SC members, offering thoughts on state of the field
2.2.1.1 Send out email by October 3
2.2.1.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.2. November call: Reviewing the Top 10 Challenges, preview to the writing/advising process
2.2.2.1. Send out email by October 31
2.2.2.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.3. December call: Troubleshooting the writing/advising process
2.2.3.1. Send out email by November 30
2.2.3.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.4. January call: Recruiting Fellows (possibly with Brachie)
2.2.4.1. Send out email by December 31
2.2.4.2. Send out agenda a week before call

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 4
 2.2.5. February call: Review of the publishing process, planning events, etc.
2.2.5.1. Send out email by January 31
2.2.5.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.6. March call: Planning Events
2.2.6.1. Send out email by April 30
2.2.6.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.7. April call: Planning conference calls, webinars
2.2.7.1. Send out email by March 29
2.2.7.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.8. May call: Gathering online reflections to continue the conversation
2.2.8.1. Send out email by April 30
2.2.8.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.9. June call: Lessons learned and ongoing projects
2.2.9.1. Send out email by May 30
2.2.9.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.2.10. July call: Further PT Opportunities to Stay Involved
2.2.10.1. Send out email by June 30
2.2.10.2. Send out agenda a week before call
2.3. Top 10 Challenges list submitted and posted online by November 21
2.3.1. Send out email to SC with details about the list by November 1
2.3.2. Publicize the posted lists through blogging, tweeting, etc.
2.4. Recruit writers for PT13 by November 15
2.4.1. Have SC email/recommend contacts, volunteer to write
2.4.2. Send out email to past contributors by October 25
2.4.3. Blog, tweet, etc. about writing/editing opportunities
2.5. SC writes/ advises on articles
2.5.1. First-draft deadline: November 30
2.5.2 Second draft deadline: December 15
2.5.2.1. SC and editors give feedback on first drafts by December 8
2.5.3 Final draft deadline January 5
2.5.3.1 SC and editors give feedback on second drafts by December 22
2.5.4. Copy-edited final drafts by January 12
2.6. Art Team assembles PT artwork by January 5
2.6.1. Photography Director finds relevant photography for all articles
2.6.2. Art Team finds a Cover, Backpage, and Contributors’ Map
2.7. SC recruits Institute Fellows engaged in Leadership in January
2.7.1. Coordinate with Brachie as to best way to do this
2.8. SC Plans Events
2.8.1. Be in touch with SC members individually about events by February 1
2.9.2. Follow up with interested Committee members to plan events by 2/15
2.9.3. Events executed in February, March, April
2.9. SC Plans Conference Calls, Webinars
2.9.1. Be in touch with SC members individually about conference calls by 2/1
2.9.2. Follow up with interested Committee members to plan events by 2/15
2.9.3. Calls executed in February, March, April
2.10. SC publishes online pieces in conjunction with issue release
2.10.1. Follow up with SC members and their organizations to encourage them to submit reflections on
pieces posted and original pieces by February 15
2.10.2. Work closely with Simi to implement online content in February, March
2.11. Planning of ongoing projects (action items)
2.11.1. Email Committee members to see if they’re interested in continuing projects by March 1
2.11.2. Based on interest, actualize the projects brainstormed
2.12. Recruit SC members for future PT opportunities
2.12.1. Email SC members letting them know about other SCs, local fellowships, Magazine opportunities
by March 1

3. FedHeads
3.1. Preliminary Planning: To be completed by the GA. This includes:
3.1.1. Finalizing topics
3.1.1.1 Topics proposed by Addie, Vicky be discussed by Ariel, Aharon, Raimy

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 5
 3.1.2. Prepare texts to be used to recruit
3.1.2.1. Participants
3.1.2.2. Speakers
3.1.2.2.1 Both need to be prepared and/or approved by all involved (Addie, Vicky, PT
staff)
3.1.3. Finalizing a list of speakers
3.1.3.1 To be discussed by Ariel, Aharon, Raimy
3.1.3.2. Reach out to recommended speakers with prepared text
3.1.3.2 Confirm list
3.1.4. Finalizing List of Participants
3.1.4.1. Prepare list of potential participants
3.1.4.2. Send out prepared text to potential participants
3.1.4.3. Confirm participants
3.2. Initialize Circles in November
3.2.1. Arrange call with Addie, Vicky to discuss first (introductory) calls (one per circle) in October
3.2.2. Send out email to participants, speakers to plan first call in October
3.2.3. Calls take place in November
3.3. December call (first call on first topic)
3.3.1. Send out email to participants to schedule call
3.3.2. Confirm speaker for call
3.3.3. Speak with Vicky and Addie before call
3.3.4. Survey after call to rate and give feedback
3.4. January call (second call on first topic)
3.4.1. Send out email to participants to schedule call
3.4.2. Arrange for someone for hotseat in December
3.4.3. Vicky and Addie to speak with two hotseat participants before the calls
3.4.4. Touch base with Vicky and Addie before call
3.4.5. Survey after call to rate and give feedback
3.5. Calls repeat as follows:
3.5.1. February Call: First call on second topic
3.5.2. March Call: Second call on second topic
3.5.3. April Call: First call on third topic
3.5.4. May Call: Second call on third topic
3.5.5. June call: Conclusion call and evaluation

PresenTense Year in Preview 5771 (Oct 2010-Sept 2011) Community Division, Page: 6