Professional Conference 07

At the 2007 JCCs of North America Professional Conference, your Institute gives you 12 hours of learning with folks doing similar work to yours in JCCs throughout the United States and Canada. The Conference also affords you three opportunities to elect workshops that will add to your learning enjoyment, on topics that you choose. They are offered on Sunday at 4:00 p.m., Monday at 2:15 p.m., and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Look over this list, and choose the three that appeal to you the most! Since the workshops are only 90 minutes long, please be sure to arrive on time, as they will start promptly. You may not switch workshops once they have started. Thank you for your cooperation and ENJOY! The rooms are set for first come – first serve attendance, and we may need to limit attendance at certain sessions

S1. Israel’s 60th – Programs and Celebrations in Your JCC! – Esti Moskovitz-Kalman
Israel's 60th birthday celebration in 2008 presents a great opportunity for engagement, and for positioning Israel in the right place in the JCC. Learn how to program a year long celebration of Israel in the JCC and the community, culminating in Independence Day. The workshop will be facilitated by Esti Moskovitz-Kalman, Educational Director of Makom - The Israel Engagement Network and formerly Jewish educator at the Baltimore JCC.

S2. "JCC, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz!": Ethical Dilemmas and Jewish Values in the Daily Life of the JCC – Phil Miller, Vice President, JCC of Greater Baltimore
From decisions on allocating scholarship dollars to handling belligerent lap swimmers or a drunken teen and firing the secretary who still can't type, JCC professionals are confronted daily with tough ethical dilemmas that have no clear right and wrong. We'll look at some tough cases from JCC life and how Jewish values and stories can be a part of our decision making.

S3. Inclusion of people with disabilities: Where to Start? – Eva Cowen, Special Needs, JCC of Greater Washington
It’s not just a nice idea – it’s the law and it is the right thing to do. Come and learn how to make accommodations so that all of your members can participate in your programs and in life at the JCC. We will tackle some of your most difficult questions and challenging situations.

S4. The lay leader and me: effectively working with lay leaders - even when it seems difficult! – Alan Goldberg, Vice President Mandel Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management, JCC Association
What is the "Rx" to working with lay leaders? This session will give you some good ideas as to how to get lay leaders involved, build a positive working relationship, deal with difficult situations and develop real partnerships. It is this partnership that drives an excellent JCC forward.

S5. Budget Phobia: A Group Therapy Session – Joan Roth, Chief Financial Officer, Jewish Family Services in Baltimore
Although we each bring the highest level of our professional skills to our JCC position, many of us have a phobia for developing and managing our department budget. This ‘group therapy’ session for professionals new to JCCs will help eradicate your phobia by giving you the budget basics to take home with you.

S6. The Cheese Does Not Stand Alone: Effective Performance Evaluations - Dale Busch, Associate Executive Director, JCC of Greater Baltimore
You should be involved in conducting effective performance evaluations on those whom you supervise. It's an energizing process, and its growth oriented for the two of you. It's also a must! If you are currently not doing performance evaluations, please attend this workshop to learn about how to be a more effective supervisor!

S7. Working with Difficult People – Lisa Schkloven, Program Coordinator, The Parent Resource Place of Jewish Family Services
The JCC is in the people business, and sometimes some of our people can be somewhat difficult. This seminar gives the JCC professional insights and tips for coping with difficult people.

S8. Running a Very Effective Meeting Every Time – Ashley Klapper, Assistant Director, Jewish Volunteer Connection
What? Another Meeting? JCCs seem to exist on a plethora of meetings which take up a great deal of time. We will learn a number of tips on how you can assure that your meetings will be streamlines and functional.

S9. Interviewing Skills to Effectively Fill your P/T positions – Darlene Wolff, Vice President of Human Resourced, THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Some of us are uncomfortable conducting interviews for part-time and seasonal staff, as we are often under the gun to “just fill the position”. This workshop will give you insight as to the questions to ask and the behaviors to look for.

S10. The Insider’s Guide to Successful Grant Writing – Lauren Klein, Assistant Director of The Center for Funds & Foundations, THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
This workshop is designed for those of us who let a deadline go by because we didn’t think we knew how to complete the grant application successfully. Grants are our friends – let’s get to know how friendly they can be!

S11. The JCC Brand: What’s Love Got To Do With It? – Peter Shevenell, Creative Director, JCC Association
How many times have you heard something like this: "I love Nordstrom; their customer service is second to none." Or, "I love Jet Blue, I wouldn't fly any other airline." Or simply, "I looooooooooooove Starbucks!" We use the word love a lot when it comes to our favorite brands. A brand is more than a slogan, a logo, and some colors—it represents the very essence of an institution. The JCC Brand expresses the heart and soul of the JCC to the world. Learn how to increase loyalty to your JCC by using our Brand to build an emotional connection with members. It’s professionally-developed, easy-to-implement, and best of all...free!

S12 .Programming “Jewishly” w/o a knowledge of Judaism? – Alvin Mars, Director of Mandel Center for Jewish Education, JCC Association
Insights and tips for those JCC Professionals who want to develop “Jewish programs” within their department, but feel they may not have enough knowledge about Judaism. This workshop will help you to carry home some useful tips & tools.

M1. Issues on Israel’s Agenda Today – Insights and Implications – Sara Sless, Program Director, Israel Office JCC Association
Events and developments in Israel raise important issues - for Jews and Jewish life in Israel, North America and beyond. Sara Sless from JCC Association's Israel Office will lead participants in an analysis of these core issues on the agenda today, with insights about trends and implications - and an opportunity for discussion.

M2. Community Matters: From Babel to Wisteria Lane – Phil Miller, Vice President, JCC of Greater Baltimore
Community is the JCC's middle name. What is it and why do we care about it so much? We'll look at some clips from the TV show "Desperate Housewives" and two stories from Torah that help us define for ourselves and for our JCCs why community is at the heart of our business.

M3. Ethical Dilemmas: Decision Making in the JCC based on Jewish Values – Larry Ziffer, Executive Vice President, Center for Jewish Education
We are forced to makes dozens of decisions every day, some are easy, some are tough. This workshop will provide insights and a frame of reference for making your decision making somewhat less stressful by understanding certain Jewish values involved.

M4. Hands on Disability Awareness Training – Eva Cowen, Special Needs, JCC of Greater Washington
Walk a mile in their shoes. Come and participate in a meaningful, hands-on session where you will be able to experience what it might be like to have certain disabilities. This session will provide you with some ready-to-use tools that will help you train your own staff

M5. Working with Lay Committees 101 – Buddy Sapolsky, Executive Director, JCC of Greater Baltimore
At the heart of a JCC’s successful programs is the partnership between its professionals and its lay volunteers, who make up the members of the Lay Committee for the professional’s programs. This session covers the key basics for making sure this is a successful experience for the professional.

M6. How to market your programs by Word-of-Mouth! - Peter Waldheim, Senior Strategist, Word of Mouth Marketing Assn.
Meet one of the world's leading word-of-mouth masterminds, and discover how to implement word-of-mouth marketing for your programs Peter will teach some of the most import WOM skills. Learn the words and trends involved in this key way to support your programs!

M7. Land On Your Feet or Learn How to Fly - Robert Calabrese, Senior Consultant, A&S Global Management Consulting, Inc.
Change and transition (birth, death, new job, relocating, etc) are necessary parts of life – and often leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and others. While change management gurus share processes and steps to lead and manage change, few deal with the emotional impact that often causes us to feel “out of our skin” for months on end! In this humorously interactive session, participants will take time to identify where they are in the midst of life’s transitions so that they can make better choices for themselves and recognize that ultimately there are only two choices we have when confronted with life’s changes, land or fly!

M8. How are we doing?: Effective Program Evaluations –Michael Hoffman, Vice President for Agency Development, THE ASSOCIATED; Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
“Hey, that was a great program you ran last night!” How does a JCC professional know when a program was a true 5, or a 7.5, or even that perfect 10? Tips and insights to effective evaluation of your programs are offered.

M9. Win-win skills and rules for conflicts at the JCC – Mitchell Karp, Lead Consultant, Karp Consulting Group, Inc.
Some insights into bringing resolution and shalom (peace) when you come into conflict with a member, colleague, or volunteer who wants it his/her way. Mitchell provides how-to's for making it a win-win situation.

M10. Stress Management & the Art of Juggling – Scott Asalone, Co-founder, A&S Global Management Consulting, Inc.
It's so important that JCC professionals take time to "take care of yourself." Scotts' tips are the best. Have some fun with Scott as he provides techniques to enable you to lighten up during a typical JCC workday.

M11. Interviewing Prospective Part-Time Staff: Avoid the Common Pitfalls – Mark Zalkin, Principle Management/Leadership Trainer, Zalkin Training and Development
Mark gives you some tips and tools to use when screening for your next staff vacancy. First Impressions? Lasting Impressions: learn how to make the judgment call.

M12. Getting More Each Day: Time Management Made Easy – Jan Sparrow, Co-founder, A&S Global Management Consulting Group, Inc.
JCC professionals feel "there is never enough time!" Jan shows us there is, with some amazing insights into time! There are only 24 hours in each day, but Jan provides some creative tips on how to use those precious hours to your greater benefit.

M13. What’s All This Talk About Benchmarking? – Brian Hayden, Senior Consultant, Collaborative Strategies, Inc and Alan Goldberg, Vice President Mandel Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management, JCC Association
Benchmarking! Benchmarking? You have heard that term before, and it will be mentioned a great deal during the four days of the Conference. The JCC Association's Mandel Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management has spent the past year identifying those factors that lead to success in the management of a JCC. Join our expert, Brian Hayden, for this guide to how Benchmarking can contribute to your program's success.

M14. Unaffiliated, but Engaged? - Steven Cohen, Director, Florence G. Heller – JCC Association Research Center
Choose this workshop to find out why today's Young Adults feel the Jewish Community is Alien, Bland, Coercive and Divisive, and yet they still feel Engaged with being Jewish. This workshop will give you some hands-on insights and how you can successful reach out to age cohort most JCCs find most challenging.

W1. Israel Connections for Your JCC – Sara Sless, Program Director, Israel Office JCC Association & Naomi Marks
A distinctively JCC approach to Israel, including ways this can enhance the Israel dimension in your own JCC, and unique Israel Office programs available to JCCs - seminars for professionals and lay leadership, JCC Maccabi Israel programs for teens and birthright Israel participants, Partnership 2000 initiatives with Israeli community centers, and Israel trips for families and other JCC membership groups. Co-presentation and facilitation by Sara Sless, JCC Association Israel Office, and Naomi Marks, JCC Maccabi Israel - North America.

W2. The tale of Mitzvot - Good Deeds - and how they can enhance your JCC Programs – Danny Siegel
Famed author Danny Siegel defines "mitzvah heroes" as "giants of human action, as well as of the human spirit, most of whom are just ordinary people who found their way into `mitzvah work' - they devote their time and energy to change the world for the better, based on Jewish principles." He will show you how they can connect to your work at your JCC.

W3. It’s easy to present a D’var Torah - “Try it! You’ll like it!” – Rabbi Jay Goldstein, Beth Israel Congregation
Literally, the term “D’var Torah” means a word or a thing of Torah, and represents that fact that some JCC folks believe every meeting we hold should begin with a “D’var Torah”. Believe it it or not, as you will learn at this seminar – it’s easy to develop and present one. Here’s how…

W4. And How Do I Pay for These Accommodations? – Eva Cowen, Special Needs, JCC of Greater Washington
This session will provide participants with some creative strategies for funding inclusive center programming. Learn about some surprising resources.

W5. So You Want to be a JCC Maccabi Games Director? – Lenny Silberman, Vice President of Program Services, JCC Association
JCC Association receives a number of calls every year from our colleagues who say, “Hey, I would love to be a JCC Maccabi Games Director, and have my community host the Games, but I am afraid it’s too awesome of a task!” NOT TRUE! Come to this workshop and find out everything you always wanted to know, from a staff and community perspective, about directing the Games – pick the brains of former Games Directors and Assistant Directors and participate in a panel discussion.

W6. Connect Across the Continent with JCC Resources and Listservs – Kay Mitchell, Manager of Information Resources, Mandel Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management, JCC Association
Where can I order apples and honey to celebrate the New Year at my JCC? Any recommendations for entertainment at a fundraising event? How do you manage locker rentals in your fitness center? As challenging questions like these arise, JCC Association technology can help you to respond. Learn to maximize two key tools – JCC Resources and JCC Association listservs – to get answers and meet your deadlines. Your colleagues are never more than a few clicks away!

W7. Career Planning for JCC Professionals < 5 yrs – Dava Schub, Director of Annual Giving, JCC in Manhattan
Did you know there are 3,000 professionals in 250 JCCs throughout North America? The JCC is family is a big one, and this session will help you explore the different career paths open to you as you begin to think about your long term career goals.

W8. Career Planning for Advanced Pros > 5 yrs – Allan Finkelstein, President, JCC Association
For those who have been in the JCC family at least five years, this unique meeting with the President of JCC Association offers an opportunity to explore the choices available to you as you continue to plot your JCC Career.

W9. Questions You Would Never Ask your Executive – Ellie Aronowitz-Witkes, Executive Director, Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester; Eric Koehler, Executive Director, JCC of Northern Virginia; Gary Lipman, executive Director, JCC of Stamford
This is a great session for those JCC professionals who have questions they want to ask of their executive, but feel that it’s best to ask them of somebody else’s executive, not their own. No holds barred – hopefully all questions answered!

W10. Sure-Fire Fundraising Activities for Your Department – David Phillips, President, Capital Camps & Retreat Center
Working within the rules and regulations of permissible departmental fund-raising activities at your JCC, this workshop will inspire you with a number of creative "how-to's" for raising much needed supplemental dollars for your department’s activities.

W11. Meet J-Serve: A Great Program for Jewish Youth
J-Serve is the annual day of service for Jewish youth throughout the world. It is a day on which Jewish teens join their counterparts in other faith communities, other cities and other countries in giving of their time to serve the communities in which they live.

W12. Tips for Staff Training Programs – Steven Rod, Vice President of Professional Development Services, JCC Association
This session is designed for those Department Directors who want to bring their part-time staff together several times a season for staff training. How do you get the message out? How do you motivate them to come? How do you “give them the most you can” effectively in this limited amount of time?

Introducing the Darrell D. Friedman Institute

The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center (DFI) in Baltimore is the central address for professional development for Jewish communal professionals. We welcome you and are thrilled to be a part of the JCCs of North America Professional Conference by offering the expertise of our community’s professionals.

For over 35 years, DFI has provided strong and thoughtful programming to prepare future professionals for the field, through leadership seminars, mentors, missions, networking and career guidance. DFI is now taking those elements and experience to impact a broader cadre of people through several different targeted initiatives to provide the best training for those at all stages of professional growth.

Through J-PRO workshops, DFI promotes success in the workplace by providing all Jewish communal professionals with the skills and Jewish knowledge needed to advance their careers. STAR Fellows, a selected cohort of motivated professionals, participate in a leadership development workshop series designed to advance their management and communication skills within a Jewish context. KEHILLAH: Jewish Communal Professional Association of Greater Baltimore is a membership organization that provides opportunities for networking and programs to explore broader issues of concern to Jewish professionals.

In addition, DFI provides customized professional development workshops for groups or conferences coming to Baltimore, such as they did for the JCCA. DFI is fortunate to have talented professionals in the Baltimore-Washington community who can be called upon to offer their knowledge to others. They generously give of their time and expertise and are genuinely excited about helping their colleagues to grow in the field. For more information contact Cindy Goldstein, Executive Director, at cgoldstein@thedfi.org or call 410 578-6932.

We welcome DFI’s Director, Cindy Goldstein, and express our appreciation for providing a number of our workshops to you!