JFNA Grants Bulletin
March 4, 2016
 Please click here to view funding opportunities. Kindly let Liz Leibowitz, Director of Government Affairs, know if you intend on applying for any of them or if you have any questions.
| |
AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
German Congressional Study Group Meeting in South Florida
On March 7th a group of Ruth & Norman Rales' professionals and one local Holocaust Survivor spoke to a congressional study group from Germany. Florida was their first stop on a three state tour as part of the study group meeting. Ted Deutch organized the Florida portion and that's how JFS were asked to participate. Those from the German group included many current members of the German parliament and three members of congress including Ted, Charlie Dent (PA) and a member from Nebraska.  The meeting with the Congressional Study Group from Germany was an extraordinary opportunity for JFS to have an honest and frank dialogue with members of the German Parliament about the aging Holocaust survivor populations living meeting with the Congressional Study Group from Germany was an extraordinary opportunity for JFS to have an honest and frank dialogue with members of the German Parliament about the aging Holocaust survivor populations living. The focus was to convey gratitude to the German government for the funding we as a nation receive through the claims conference but to also stress the vast unmet needs that are prevalent both here and nation wide. In addition to the presentation, the group was honored and humbled to hear the story of 88 year old Holocaust survivor, Norman Frajman, who survived the camps and lost over 120 members of his family in the Holocaust. The members expressed sincere respect and humility in hearing Norman's story and stressed their support in fighting antisemitism in Germany today as well as open to discuss increased funding for those in the most need.
| |
JFS Western MA Joins AJFCA
| |
Support Your Network by Joining the Senior Resource Connect Incentive Program!
Share 3 of AJFCA's SRC posts (posted every Wednesday starting 3/16) on your Facebook page by May 14th and notify Liz to take part in the SRC reception at the AJFCA Annual Conference  SRC supporters will be recognized on the AJFCA conference mobile app, have a special thank you package waiting for them at conference registration, are invited to a special reception at the annual conference (Allies and Partner Circle only), and will be featured in social media and online. Get the details here.
| |
|
|
|
The Voice and Vision for Stronger Communities
|
D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
I haven't been able to walk into an IKEA store for years without breaking into a cold sweat. All I can think about are all those "easy to assemble" pieces of furniture that I have brought home and end up looking nothing like the samples on the showroom floor. They wobble and list to one side, or fall apart altogether. Over and over I hear the voice of former AJFCA Board Chair Dick Blankstein: "Every Jewish male's most feared words are some assembly required."
This week's parashah, Pekudei, leaves no room for error or faulty construction. As we come to the close of Exodus, the Tabernacle is complete, along with all of the decorative accompaniments, including priestly garments. The level of detail is exhaustive in color, size, composition, and more. In constructing something so intricate, every element requires attention and clarity of design. This is how you move to perfection.
In our programs and work with clients, we also require great attention to detail. Planning and preparation, careful consideration of the proper tools, all make a difference in the work our agencies do to build stronger communities comprised of individuals who can reach their full potential. Far better than the skeletal instructions from IKEA.
Shabbat Shalom.
|
CMS Announcement on Funding LTC and Behavioral Health Providers 
|
Close Loopholes Surrounding Guns 
The Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, of which AJFCA is a member, is circulating a clergy sign-on letter for H.R. 3130, the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, and S.1520, the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act. These bills would close loopholes that currently allow some convicted abusers and all convicted stalkers to buy and own guns. If you think a clergy member in your community would be interested in joining the letter, we encourage you to share this information with them.
|
|
Appropriations Updates
Earlier this week, AJFCA sent out an action alert asking for help in two legislative efforts that AJFCA and JFNA are working on in the House of Representatives. The first is an effort to maintain funding for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program and the second is to increase funding for Nutrition Programs in the Older Americans Act. If you would like to learn more about these advocacy efforts, click here. Should you have questions regarding this action alert or wish to receive Legislative Updates in the future, please email AJFCA's Director of Government Affairs, Liz Leibowitz.
|
Project Get Smart
|
|
NEWS and TRENDS in AGENCY PROGRAMMING
|
Why Jewish Organizations Should Rent Space to 12-Step Meetings 
Imagine a situation in which thousands of Jews all over the world are sitting in churches every week. Every kind of Jew, sitting in every kind of church. Many of them are wishing they could be sitting in a synagogue instead, but they can't. It is hard to think of another situation for which the organized Jewish community wasn't actively seeking a solution so those Jews could come into synagogue instead of church.
So who are these Jews? These are Jews in recovery from addiction of every sort: alcohol and other drugs, compulsive overeating, gambling ...the list goes on. Learn more here.
|
|
AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
|
AJFCA Senior Services Midwest Meeting
Last year's senior service meeting was a huge success and AJFCA is thrilled to offer another meeting for older adult services professionals this Fall! Share your knowledge and connect with other AJFCA professionals throughout the network around all things senior services. The meeting will begin with an afternoon and evening of networking on Sunday, September 25th to be followed by a day of programming on Monday, September 26th. Want to suggest a topic or present your agency's program? Let us know. Detailed information, including hotel, schedule, and registration information coming soon. Seats will be limited, so save the date today! Contact Liz with questions. AJFCA Senior Services Midwest Meeting
September 25th & 26th
Jewish Family & Children's Service of St. Louis, MO
|
2016 AJFCA Annual Conference
The 2016 AJFCA Annual Conference Award winners can be viewed here.
_______________________
Join AJFCA for a dynamic and informative conference full of networking opportunities and engaging speakers in sunny San Diego.
View the tentative schedule, workshop content and networking lunches here. Discuss trending topics with colleagues at this year's Annual Conference.
Click here to learn more about the 2016 Annual Conference.
Contact Megan with questions. 
|
|
BoardSource Offers Great Tools for Board Members and CEOs
Learn about the 6 essential ingredients to becoming a better board and provide stronger oversight through a tool for the CEO and board here. |
4 Steps to Closing the Communications-Fundraising Divide (Case Study) 
Communications and fundraising are two halves of a whole. But when they don't operate that way, the results are far less than they could be. Separate silos are a huge barrier to serving up consistent messages to the full range of audiences every nonprofit must engage for its various purposes. Learn more here. |
|
|
