News & Conference Information from AJFCA for January 21, 2011

This week we have added a number of new readers who are affiliated with our member agencies and sponsoring organizations. We hope you enjoy our newsletters which are sent on Fridays and include AJFCA news, updates from our agencies across the U.S. and Canada, a D'var Torah, 2011 AJFCA Annual Conference updates, and trends from the broader non-profit sector.

AJFCA supports its member agencies' fundamental Jewish values, promoting communication and partnerships among Jewish human service organizations through advocacy, education, networking and consultation. Strengthening leadership in non-profit management enables organizations to offer exemplary client and community services, which assist those in need, sustain healthy individuals and families and strengthen overall connections between the Jewish and general communities.

We always welcome comments and ideas from our readers. In the coming months we will be revising the look and content of this e-newsletter, as we do a redesign of our website, therefore any thoughts from you are appreciated.

Merger in Boston

Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Boston and Jewish Family Services of North Shore have agreed to merge effective January 31, 2011. Discussions between the two agencies have been underway for some time and both boards have recently approved the merger. The opportunity to continue to provide outstanding services in both geographic catchment areas was a driving force in this collaboration. Mergers are never easy for the participating entities, therefore the boards and staffs of both agencies are to be congratulated for taking the community-wide perspective and acting to ensure that their clients and communities will be best served now and in the future.

Special congratulations to AJFCA board members Barry Klickstein and Sy Friedland for their instrumental roles in making this merger happen. For more information, see the attached article.

D'Var Torah

Lee I. Sherman

President & CEO

Sometimes as I read a new work of fiction, I think "what would this be like as a movie?" Our modern culture influences us to think cinematically; we construct visual images from words. These images influence the way that we read the words and ultimately the meaning that we derive.

Torah is full of passages that evoke powerful visual images. One of the most visually evocative of those passages appears in this week's parashah, Yitro. We read of the most pivotal moment in the history of the Jewish people, the gathering at Sinai for God's gift of Torah. We read of thunder and lightning, of "a dense cloud upon the mountain," and of an enormous blast from the horn. All of the people trembled and then, "the whole mountain trembled violently." 19:16-18. Even without the help of Charlton Heston, we can picture the moment from these descriptive verses.

For the people gathered at the base of the mountain, and for us as readers, it is a moment of total sensory awareness. Each individually, and as part of the group as a whole, are prepared for the words and message of the Ten Commandments which follow. Commentators have debated whether each person at Sinai heard the same words, or even all of the words, but the important part is that they each received the covenantal message of Torah which makes each of them a part of the nation of Israel.

It is important for each of us to be part of a greater community. It is equally important that we retain our individual perspectives. Thus, we are unified and strengthened.

Shabbat Shalom.

2011 AJFCA Annual Conference

by Ann Zeller

Director, Meetings and Conferences

2011 Annual Conference Update

For those of you recently added to and/or already on our mailing list, this week's e-newsletter will contain a summary of conference information that was included in earlier AJFCA E-Newsletters. Please see the attached PDF file .

You will be updated every week with important information regarding the Conference. Please share all information with your colleagues. Contact me at azeller@ajfca.org with any questions regarding the Conference.

Program Update

by Lisa Budlow

Director of Programs

ONE WEEK Left to Send in Your Awards Submissions!!

The deadline for Conference Award submissions is fast approaching! There is only ONE WEEK left to send in your submissions for KOVOD, Goodman and Distinguished Service Awards for 2011. All of these submissions are due to me one week from today, Friday, January 28, 2011. If you have any questions about submissions or need a Goodman Award submission form, please email me at lbudlow@ajfca.org.

Please note that in the coming weeks, I will be sending out the information for the Leadership Awards and our new award for this year, the Trailblazer Award, both of which will have later deadlines for submission.

Thanks for all the fabulous entries we have already received and PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING!

New Resource for Grant Seekers

The Foundation Center has launched GrantSpace, a new learning community for the social sector. GrantSpace will provide valuable information on obtaining grants and managing nonprofits. To celebrate, they are offering webinars, online chats and seminars in various locations throughout the day this Wednesday, January 26. To learn more, go to http://grantspace.org/launchparties.

Get Discounts for your Agency through Purchasing Point

AJFCA is a participating member in Purchasing Point, a program that enables national nonprofits and their affiliate networks to purchase products and services at substantial discounts. Participation is FREE to AJFCA members as a benefit of your membership. Already 33 of our member agencies are taking advantage of 20-40% discounts from companies such as Federal Express, Staples, Dell, Sprint, Sherwin Williams and more.

We are offering a FREE webinar on February 17, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. EST for our agencies to learn more about this program and how to access its benefits. To register for the webinar, click here. Or to sign up for Purchasing Point and begin accessing its benefits right away, go to http://ajfca.purchasingpoint.org and enter invitation code: AJFCA620.