Just a Youth Group?
I Think Not

In the course of my four years in
high school, I have participated in
many extracurricular activities. I've
tried them all, it seems -
humanitarian club, language clubs,
SADD, band and orchestra,
marching band, musicals, debate,
you name it. But one in which I
have maintained an active
participation (and more importantly,
a happy one), is certainly BBYO. I
wrote one of my college essays on
BBYO and the impact it has had on
me. I could only write two essays
for college and only one on an
extracurricular. There was no
question in my mind that BBYO was
the one I would choose. In the next
few paragraphs, I have attempted to summarize the essay. Hopefully
while reading it, you can get a picture of what this organization has
done for me and maybe even what it is doing for others as well.

The B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) is truly a youth led organization.

-

Girls worldwide join chapters of roughly 40 members and serve on
exec boards, plan programs, run meetings, take minutes, and
balance checkbooks. Chapter members involve themselves in the
community, take a stand on societal issues, and discuss their views
with other concerned Jewish teens. BBG has allowed me to
appreciate my Jewish heritage and traditions, even though I don't
belong to a synagogue.

The opportunities this organization has afforded me have
significantly shaped my character and have rendered me a more

capable, ambitious, and well-rounded individual. I have participated
in democratic elections, given speeches, and prepared platforms. I
have run more than 15 chapter meetings, gavel and all, as President.
In the course of planning programs, I've arranged hotel banquets,
worked out catering, and calculated costs. As Michigan Region's
Newspaper and Website Editor, I participated in a meeting with staff
of The Jewish News, our regional website sponsor. I've shaken hands
and spoken with adults as equals.
Through BBG, I have experienced a breadth of leadership
unusual for the average high school student and have learned
countless lessons. There are so many skills that a leader must possess
— acute sensitivity towards the individuals he or she is leading,
ability to command respect, and resolution of purpose. I have
learned that leadership is an art, much like painting or poetry. And
much like an artist molding a sculpture or a poet composing a
sonnet, a leader must shape the group of individuals he or she is
leading into a masterpiece. One of the most important aspects of
leading is sharing the responsibility with all members. Personal
responsibility fosters personal commitment to the organization, and
that is what makes bodies of individuals strongly and passionately
dedicated to their purpose.
BBG has taught me all of this. But even better, BBG has taught a
lot of other girls, too. This organization is providing young women
across the world with the leadership skills, ambition, motivation, and
real-world know-how for the future construction of a society based
on equality between the sexes. The leadership skills BBG provides

HAVE YOU HEARD* 0 0

Josh Polsky, Herzl AZA (1985-90), graduated from the University
of Toronto Medical School in 1996 and did his residency in
Obstetrics at the University of Western Ontario through 2001.
He is currently a practicing OB in Windsor, where he lives with
his wife, Elise Milrod (originally from Toronto).
Richard Bernstein, Brandeis/Strauss AZA (1988-91), was elected
in fall 2002 as a member of the Wayne State University Board
of Regents on the Democratic ticket.
Amy Malowitz, Yachad BBG (1991-96), recently graduated from
Tufts University with a Master's Degree in Education. She is now
living in Quincy, MA, where she teaches high school biology.
Danielle Gutter, Aliyah BBG (1989-91), is living in
Wilmington, Delaware, where she serves as an Assistant Vice-
President of Capital Trust.
Eric Roth, Jolson AZA (1989-93), lives in Southern California
and works for Boeing Satellite Systems, the world's largest man-
ufacturer of geo-synchronous communication satellites. His role
is as an engineering project manager, and he's currently working
on a program for Space Communications Corporation of Tokyo,
with their satellite scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral
late this year. He also just became an Instrument-Rated Private
Pilot, having passed his FAA "checkride". That means that he can
now fly in weather conditions where visibility is zero (like in
clouds). Eric has had his private pilot's license for four years.
Heidi (Levin) Kalman, Ruach BBG (1995-99), is living in
Chicago with her husband, Eli, and baby son, Gadi. This fall,
Heidi will enroll at Dominican University in Chicago to begin
work on a Masters Degree in Social Work.
Jeff Kirschner, Akiba AZA (1982-87), is practicing law in
Southfield as a partner in the firm of Grant, Busch & Kirschner.
He is married to Jayme Leib, Golda Meir BBG (1983-86), who
owns Imelda's Closet, a women's shoe store in Birmingham.
Karen Gold, Aliyah BBG (1984-88), is a Senior Vice-President at
Fleishman Hillard in Chicago, the largest international public rela-
tions firm. She is responsible for the Gatorade account there. Karen
will be married this August to Nathaniel Stillman, who is the
director of business development for Career Sports Management
in Chicago. Karen is a past Michigan Region BBG N'siah.
Marci Finkelstein, Zahav BBG (1983-87), is a graduate of
University of Michigan Law School, after spending a year of
study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Marci is currently
employed as an attorney with the National Labor Relations
Board in Washington, D.C.

TCers Visit CJ Barrymore's

young women will help girls of my generation to compete
effectively with men as we come of age — and that will be a positive
change for both men and women.

Julie Swerdlow, BBC Council Orechet (Reporter)

Julie is a past president of Ahavah BBG and will be a freshman at
Yale University in Fall 2003.

10

On Sunday, May 4, a group of excited Detroit TCers traveled to Clinton
Township for fun and friends at C J Barrymore's. On tap for the day
was a choice of mini-golf, go-karts, climbing wall, bumper boats, laser
tag, batting cage, and an arcade.

0 BBYO B°YACHAD 0 TOGETHER 0 BBYO B°YACHAD 0 TOGETHER o BBYO MACHAD o TOGETHER 0 BBYO InACHAD 0 TOGETHER

