AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
Appointment of Interim CEO at Gulf Coast JFCS
The Board of Directors has appointed Eric Feder as Interim CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services. Eric was the COO of Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for 13 years, and is an accomplished healthcare executive with extensive experience in all areas of hospital and non-profit operational administration. He has served as a volunteer and Board member with several not for profit organizations in Pinellas County, including Habitat for Humanity and the Urban League.  Jay Miller, Board Chair of Gulf Coast JFCS thanks everyone at AJFCA for their support and commitment to the agency. The mission continues and will always be to provide essential human services to individuals and families in times of need.
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Roselle Ungar Appointed Executive Director of JFS New Orleans
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans is pleased to announce it has hired a new Executive Director, Roselle M. Ungar, CFRE. Ungar brings more than three decades of experience to the social service agency whose mission is dedicated to preserving, strengthening and enhancing the well-being and self sufficiency of individuals and families.  A native of New Orleans, Mrs. Ungar is a highly accomplished non-profit professional with an extensive background in development, management, leadership training, community outreach, donor relations and event planning. Her most recent positions include Owner and Consultant for Strategic Nonprofit Consulting, LLC since 2013, and Director of Community and Philanthropic Affairs for Crescent Bank and Trust for the preceding 6 years. Learn more about Roselle here.
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New CEO of JF&CS Atlanta Announced
The Board of Directors of Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta announced that Rick Aranson, who has served as the Chief Operating Officer for the past eleven years, will assumethe role of CEO effective July 1, 2015.  | | Rick Aranson, newly appointed JF&CS CEO |
Read the entire announcement here. | |
JSSA Launches New Eye Care Program for Holocaust Survivors
Jewish Social Service Agency most vulnerable Holocaust survivor clients will be the beneficiary of a new eye care program that is being established through the outstanding generosity of community donors under the leadership of Dr. Michael Berenhaus. Eyeglass lenses will be fabricated through donated optical lab services, and donated frames will be fitted at no cost to the survivors in five pre-selected Maryland/Northern Virginia "eye care sites." Medicaid and Medicare will cover the eye exam; the new eye care program will cover all other charges. Learn more here.
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JFCS Southwest Florida Meets Grant Challenge for New Senior Center
Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida is set to expand its senior center this month to 6,800 square feet thanks to grants from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Patty and Jay Baker, the Brookedale Foundation and others. Jaclynn Faffer, president and chief executive officer of JFCS, announced the organization has raised the $150,000 necessary to meet challenge grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation in less than five weeks. The combined $300,000 is targeted for an extensive expansion at the organization's Senior Center, the first of its kind in Collier and southern Lee counties. Construction is scheduled for mid-January and will encompass approximately 6,800 square feet upon completion. Continue reading here.
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Stay updated on AJFCA offerings, agency news & current trends . . .
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D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
Early Tuesday morning, I woke up in Eilat eager to spend the day visiting Petra in Jordan. This is not the height of tourist season, so my wife, son, and I were accompanied by just two other tourists for the border crossing, two hour drive, and day of walking the wonders of Petra. This gave us the opportunity for plenty of personal time with our guide, Ahmed, to explore and delve into the history, geography, and mythology of all that we saw. And, Ahmed was a wealth of information, equally well-versed in the Koran, Bible, and all that is known of the Nabateans who once occupied Petra.
While we were driving through the Edomite Mountains of Southern Jordan, we talked about the journey of Moses and the Israelites as we were passing through the very terrain where some believe they spent the bulk of their 40 year trek (which was mostly stops for periods of time). As we came closer to Petra, Ahmed pointed out Mount Hor or Jabroun Harun as it is now known (Mount Aaron). This is the site of Aaron's death as recounted in the Torah and it is considered to be one of the holiest places in Jordan. A mosque was built on the edge of the mountain in the 14th century and is said to contain the tomb of Aaron. There is a debate as to whether this is actually the site of the Biblical Mount Hor, or whether it is in the Sinai desert, but it is easy to imagine this landscape being the home of the Israelites as they made their way to the Promised Land.
As we continue reading of the Exodus in this week's parashah, Yitro, and visualize ourselves with the Israelites as they receive the Ten Commandments from God, perhaps we can connect more easily with our ancestors if we can also connect with the places that they visited. Maybe it was Mount Hor in Jordan, or Mount Hor somewhere else, but seeing and touching the land makes the possibility all that much more real.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
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Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month 
In observance of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and support efforts to foster inclusion in the Jewish community, AJFCA will be highlighting member agencies that promote inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities.
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region-Committee on Inclusion and Disabilities
The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region took a huge step towards supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community in 2010 with the creation of the Committee on Inclusion and Disabilities (CID), a grassroots committee developed by professionals and parents in the Sacramento region with grant funding from the Federation. In 2011, CID became a formal committee under Federation's Jewish Family Service program with the mission of leading and promoting full participation in Jewish life for people with disabilities and their families within the Jewish community by increasing community awareness, removing barriers, changing negative exclusionary attitudes into a climate of acceptance and support by helping the community to think differently about persons with disabilities, promoting and developing models and champion  s of barrier-free life, and developing new initiatives to promote inclusion. Over the past five years in operation CID has developed numerous events and projects that raise awareness and educate community members about the needs, opportunities, strengths and barriers of people with disabilities in their community by featuring films, stories and activities that highlight people with disabilities at community events. The group has also increased access to information and activities in their community. For one such event, CID partnered with Sacramento's local public radio station affiliate for a transition panel called "My Child with Special Needs is Turning 18: Now What?" The panel included parents and professionals discussing conservatorships and special needs trusts, supportive living, transition from school-based services to Regional Center-funded services, and other related topics. CID has partnered with local agencies for calendaring events and to brainstorm about outreach strategies to reach more Jewish families in the Sacramento region. CID's current project is creating a Lending Library of various equipment for people with disabilities. In 2014, CID was honored for its efforts at the annual Inclusion Celebration, organized by Supported Life Institute, which "offers educational and training opportunities to assist individuals and organizations in the work of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities."  To learn more about the work being done at the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, email Elissa Provance. |
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Jewish Federations Applaud Administration Commitment to Holocaust Survivors and Older Americans
Jewish nonprofits expressed both appreciation and disappointment as President Obama and his Administration revealed their FY2016 budget. The Jewish Federations of North America voiced concern over the limitation of the charitable tax deduction and funding cuts for important security and emergency programs, while expressing appreciation for the budget treatment of key programs for Holocaust survivors, older Americans and people with disabilities. Read the entire article here. |
Extend Children's Health Insurance Program
The Coalition on Human Needs is asking your organization to sign onto a new letter urging congressional leaders to take action to provide four years of renewed funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Last fall, we sent a similar letter to Hill leaders in support of a CHIP funding extension that was signed by an outstanding list of 1,200 state, local and national organizations, with representation from every state in the nation. Click here to learn more and sign on. |
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AGENCY PROGRAMMING/OPERATIONS
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Talent? Leadership? Really, it is all about Culture 
Did you know that in the philanthropy and nonprofit world we have no followers, only leaders? How else can one explain that every community, every organization, every affinity group, and who knows how many others recruit actively for their leadership training/development programs? Read the entire article here. |
Why and How You Should Run Your Nonprofit Like a For-Profit Organization 
For profit" is a mindset and approach that you'll find in high performing organizations of all shapes and sizes, including nonprofits. Click here to read the three "for profit" considerations for driving impact. |
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2015 AJFCA Annual Conference Registration & Extended Awards Deadline - TODAY
AJFCA is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2015 Annual Conference. Click here to learn more and REGISTER! 
All Annual Conference Awards submission deadlines have been extended to TODAY - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH. Click here to view the guidelines.
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Domestic Violence Quarterly Call - Orthodox Community
Join Aliza Schulman, Domestic Abuse Program Coordinator at Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Service for a call focusing on the specifics concerns and manifestations of domestic abuse within the Orthodox community including issues of Mikvah, shame, stigma, agunah/get and community resistance. Learn to the importance of personalizing and tailoring prevention programs to speak to specific audiences. Domestic Violence Quarterly Call - Orthodox CommunityTuesday, February 17th, 2:45pm ET - REGISTER HERE
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JWI's National Alliance to End Domestic Abuse Webinar: Responding to Trauma in the Workplace
This past December, CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family &  Community Services, Rochelle Tatrai-Ray's life was suddenly and tragically taken by her estranged husband. This webinar explores the response in the Clearwater community and discusses the impact of trauma, grief and loss in a workplace setting, focusing on recommendations for workers and managers, general coping strategies and integrative therapies. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Consider the impact of traumatic events in workplace settings, especially in a domestic violence context.
- Identify strategies to build an environment of support in a workplace setting
- Recognize coping strategies and integrative therapies that can be effective in a workplace.
Presenters: Dr. Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT
Dr. Sonia Oyola, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of Chicago
Ann Marie Winter, COO Specialized Programs & Policy,
Gulf Coast JFCS
Responding to Trauma in the Workplace
Thursday, February 19th, 12pm ET - REGISTER HERE
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PurchasingPoint Discount Program Webinar 
AJFCA partners with the National Human Services Assembly to provide our members access to the PurchasingPointŪ program, an exclusive discount program for nonprofits that leverages group buying power to get access to significant savings from your everyday vendors. The program is designed to help nonprofits reduce overhead costs by providing access to discounts on a vast range of products and services including, but not limited to: office supplies, shipping, copiers, postage equipment, furniture, cleaning supplies, promotional merchandise, car rental, cell phones, and more.
PurchasingPoint Discount Program WebinarThursday, February 19th, 2pm ET - REGISTER HERE
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New National Study on Nonprofit Board Practices 
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COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
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The Top Email KPIs for Nonprofit Communicators 
How often do you think about what happens after you hit the send button on an email campaign? Fundraisers and nonprofit communicators who take a data-driven approach to email marketing typically experience higher success rates on their newsletters, appeals and acknowledgements than those who "send it and forget it." Learn more about the top email key performance indicators that nonprofits should care about and measure often here. |
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Tell Donors the Right Story with Your Annual Report
When it comes to nonprofit annual reports these days, we seem to hear about two extremes: They are either wildly creative and visual (no pressure!), or boring beyond belief (god forbid). Treacherous waters indeed. But in our experience, the challenge isn't in whether your report looks fancy enough, or whether it's printed or online-the real danger is losing sight of what your supporter needs from the report. Read the entire article here. |
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VOLUNTEERS & YOUNG ADULTS
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Showing our True Selves to Young Adults
Jewish change agents are Jews who have worked within and beyond the Jewish community to create a world more closely aligned to their ideals. This is predicated on the meta-essential question that cuts across Jewish text and thought: How ought this world look, and how do we get there? Continue reading here. |
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