Teens

Synagogue or NFTY programs at
Temple Israel and Temple Beth El.
These groups, funded by large congre-
gations and supported by strong
national organizations, count among
their members anyone attending the
congregation's high school program
and not just the ones who are active.
Temple and synagogue groups do
much for their members, providing
social, athletic, social action and reli-
gious programming. Temple Israel, for
example, offers sleepovers in the tem-
ple, annual trips to other cities and
barbecue welcome parties for eighth-
graders.
But what they don't do, says
Weiner, is share its lists of teenagers
who may not be interested in the tern-
ple or synagogue programs, but who
he believes could be interested in AZA
or BBG. Though Weiner receives the
names of prospective teen members
from Federation agencies, requesting
the same information from the shuls
has been met with indifference.
"We operate off of lists," he said.
"As Jewish organizations, we should
cooperate with one another."
Suzi Malach, youth adviser for
Temple Israel's youth group, said her
group has 300 registered members and
a calendar full of local and regional
activities. Keeping events organized,
student leaders focused and young
members interested is enough of a job,
she said, without trying to match less-
active kids with other organizations or
activities.
"This is a Temple Israel thing," she
said, adding that it is not a priority to
tell the members about other youth
group opportunities in the area. "I
don't think that is really our job. The
kids can see what is going on in the
community. They read the paper."
Michael Wolf, education director at
Shaarey Zedek, said his congregation's
- youth group contains members who
participate in both BBYO and USY.
"We aren't actively competing," he
said. "The kids tend to go where their
friends are going."
Although the challenges exist, the
future does, too, Weiner said. In the
past few years, he has seen remarkable
leaders culled from the BBYO ranks.
His board has taken charge of fund-
raising, and he's seen new alliances
formed with the Jewish community to
ensure the survival of the organiza-
tion. Weiner said he hopes to see more
of this; an increase in membership
wouldn't hurt either.
"This is the golden age of BBYO,"
he said.

8/20

1999

102 Detroit Jewish News

"To be honest, I hadn't even con-
sidered BBYO [as a career]," Weiner
Special to the Jewish News
said "I just didn't think about it."
As an adviser to the Beth Israel
ith his gentle, quiet
chapter,
he was able to stretch the for-
but happy demeanor,
mat
to
fit
the members' growing sense
it might be hard to
of
community
responsibility. The kids
imagine that Arnie
raised
funds
and
organized a trip to
Weiner is a major part of the success
local orphans.
Tiger
Stadium
with
of a longstanding local branch of an
They also set aside time for wayward
international organization.
youths at the WJ. Maxey Boys
After seeing his feet clad in hip
Training School outside Ann Arbor
Birkenstock sandals and hearing his
-- at the time, a controversial activity
speech — peppered with teen-age
After graduation from U-M,
lingo — you might think he is a
Weiner
continued to lead the chapter,
member and not the senior executive
Arnie Weiner with hi s 1999-2000 presi-
even
after
he took a job helping to
director of the local B'riai B'rith Youth dents, 13BG's Leslee B erlin and AZA.'s
organize
block
clubs in Detroit's hous-
Organization. It's a position he has
Adam Schlesinger.
ing projects. One day, a client won-
held for the past 27 years of the 30
dered aloud why Weiner had chosen
years he has been with the group.
to
work
in
the
African
American community "He said,
As the longest-serving BBYO international field staff
'Blacks
should
be
working
in the black community. You, as
member, his responsibilities include not only managing the
a
Jew,
should
be
working
in
the Jewish community,
activities of the 28 chapters in Michigan but also overseeing
"I
had
never
thought of it that way."
re
Weiner
recalled:
the supervisors in Chicago, Milwaukee and Toronto.
c /\
Although the Detroit BBYO organization soon hired
Marla Parker, a Farmington Hills district court judge and
him as an assistant director, Weiner was unable to commit
BBG alumna, has known Weiner for almost his entire
himself completely to the job: he was high on the list to be
BBYO career. "Michigan Region BBYO is so lucky to have
drafted for action in Vietnam. That changed when a physi-
a person like Arnie Weiner, who has the skills and personali-
cal exam found him exempt because of poor eyesight.
ty to make the program so successful," Parker said.
"I have never been happier that I couldn't see very
She said Weiner has a lot of faith in people as well as
well,"
Weiner said.
the "tremendous people skills to be an executive director.
When
his director moved up to a position in the
He also has the foresight to let kids plan to make the
Washington headquarters, Weiner was the natural choice
programs work. He helps instill very valuable life skills,
to fill the top local spot.
.
skills I continue to use every day."
Steve Schanes of West Bloomfield, a former BBYO
Weiner, however, downplays his role. "It is not as
chapter
president and current board member, recalls
much work as it sounds like, but I like it.
Weiner
had the same amount of energy and enthusiasm
Weiner's affiliation with BBYO was prenatal. His
for
his
job
then as he does now.
father was one of the first members of the state's first
"He
is
one
of the most dedicated professionals that
chapter, Grand Rapids No. 5. Arnie Weiner joined the
you
will
ever
meet,"
Schanes said. He is the heart and
same chapter in high school, rising to the rank of presi-
soul of the organization, but he would never admit it."
dent. Being one of three Jews in a class of 263 students _
Allison Buchman, an associate director and a former
in high school, BBYO not only bestowed upon him a
BBG
chapter president, recently returned from a training
sense that he was part of a much larger Jewish communi-
conference
for next year's leadership where she saw
ty but also that not all Jews look the same.
Weiner
"in
his glory," interacting with the members.
"I didn't know Jews could be blonde before I went to
While
watching
him play hackey sack, she wondered
regional convention," he said, laughing. "I remember
where he got the energy to do the work he does.
thinking, 'Wow! Jewish girls are blonde. Oh my gosh.
"It is an honor and a pleasure working with him," she
Andlook, redheads.'" Because of his leadership position
said. "You have to admire that he has been doing this for
with the chapter, Weiner was recruited to serve on Gov.
30 years."
G. Mennen Williams' Youth Advisory Commission, a
Although current members revere him as their leader,
position that enabled him to view other religiously affili-
they
nonetheless consider him a contemporary, nicknaming
ated youth movements.
him
"Arndog"
and bestowing upon him spontaneous hugs.
Although his social-work studies at the University of
"Arnie
is
great,"
said Rachel Williams of Farmington
Michigan soon took his focus off youth activities, it was-
Hills, a four-year member of BBG starting the University of
n't long before he was tapped to mentor a BBYO chapter
Michigan. "He knows how to help you and he fits right in."
in Ann Arbor. A second-year grad student, he took the
Weiner said he has no plans to retire. At 54, he says it
job in part because its $50 monthly salary helped pay for
is
he
who needs BBYO to survive: "I get all of my energy
the gas he used to get to his social-work field assignment
from
the kids." Fl
in Windsor.

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

7)