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Teen Connection:
The bridge to Tomorrow

A decade ago Michigan BBYO and the Jewish Community Center got
together to see what more they could do to keep middle school, post
bar/bat mitzvah kids involved in an organized Jewish program. It was com-
mon knowledge in the community that many young teens were withdraw-
ing from formal Jewish education after the completion of the bar/bat mitz-
vah and therefore no longer had a Jewish place to call home. So BBYO
and the JCC got together to start Teen Connection, an opportunity for 7th
and 8th graders to stay involved Jewishly, meet other Jewish youth beyond
their school, neighborhood, temple, or shul, and attend well-planned, reg-
ularly-scheduled programs involving activities relevant to the age group.
From a meager beginning of 59 youth the first year to a ten-year high of
205 youth this year, Teen Connection has provided the bridge from bar/bat
mitzvah to high school youth groups. Each month TCers board the bus at
either the JPM JCC in Oak Park or at the Kahn JCC in West Bloomfield for a
day or evening filled with fun adventures. TC activity is also provided for
Washtenaw County youth out of the JCC in Ann Arbor. From dances at the
JCC to the R.O.P.E.S. course at Camp Maas, from a haunted house and
bonfire to Laser Quest and Whirlyball, from a day at the Fridge to the Red
Oaks Sports Village, from Hannukah in Hawaii to Cedar Point in Ohio,
more and more 7th and 8th graders have signed on for friends and fun and
have participated in the monthly events.
Teen Connection grads are the first teens to be called each spring to join
AZA and BBG chapters, to make that connection to the high school-age
youth program. "Keep Them Involved" are the bywords of our practice and
the BBYO/JCC Teen Connection is doing the job well.

Tzedakah from the Heart

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New 1313Y0 Board Leaders Installed

New officers for the Michigan
BBYO Board of Directors were
elected and installed at the
Board Annual Meeting, which
was held on May 19 at Beth
Abraham Hillel Moses. The new
executives, pictured L to R, are:
Vice-Chairpersons Sherry Kanter
and Jonathan Jaffa, Chairperson
Debbie Stern, Secretary Sharon
Schwartz, and Vice-Chairpersons
Pam Salba and Ilene Lubin.

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Michigan Region
B nai Writh Youth Organization
The Mickey & Debbie Stern
Outstanding TASC Performance Award

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Remembering Evan Shapiro

Ahavah 1313G Wins
First Stern TASC Award

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Aleph Godol Jonathan
Shaye & Gisbarit Rachel
Williams took a lot of
pleasure in presenting a
check in the amount of
$1,113.80 to Patricia
Milner Sachs, Director
of the Oakland Region
of the Karmanos
Cancer Institute at the
recent Council
Installation and
Awards Night. The
money was raised
throughout the year
as the youth taxed
themselves at their
three major
conclaves and
conventions.

The first presentation of the Mickey
and Debbie Stern Outstanding TASC
Performance Award was presented at
Council Installation to Ahavah BBG.
This award, which recognizes ongo-
ing community service, provides a
prize of $180 that the winning chap-
ter designates to their favorite chari-
ty. Pictured L to R are: Tali Zechory,
president, and Natalie Stern, MIT
Mom, of Ahavah BBG; Debbie Stern;
and Samantha Woll, BBG Council
Community Service Chairperson.

During this summer's International Leadership Study in Israel (ILSI) pro-
gram, the entire delegation of 110 traveled to Mt. Cheres to plant trees in
the BBYO Forest. However, due to the drought in Israel the past year, only
five trees were going to be able to be planted. This did not deter Leslee
Berlin, Michigan Region BBG N'siah, who was on ILSI thanks to the Evan
Shapiro Memorial Scholarship. Evan was a much-beloved Michigan
Region Aleph Godol, who lost his life to cancer. Leslee approached the
Jewish National Fund staff who were coordinating the tree planting to see if
she could secure one of the trees to plant in Evan's memory. Her assertive-
ness was rewarded, and she and several friends were able to plant their
tree and conduct a special ceremony in Evan's memory.

Pictured L to R are Carrie
Supowitz of Philly Region,
Tali Zechory, Michigan Region
BBG Aym Ha-chaverot,
Erica Berse of Nassau-Suffolk
Region, and Leslee Berlin,
Michigan Region BBG N'siah.

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