To: Our Readers
From: Our Leaders
"Hello, I must be going. I cannot
stay, I came to say, I must be going. I'm
glad I came, but just the same, I must
be going." I hope that you'll forgive me
using one of Groucho Marx's famous
songs as I write this last message to you
all as Michigan BBYO Director. It seems
like only yesterday that an idealistic
young man left the School of Social
Work at the University of Michigan to
come to BBYO as Assistant Director to
work with Jewish teens and fulfill a
commitment of giving back to the Jewish community. I hope
that you all know that I didn't intend to stay for 39 years. Yet,
the work was so fulfilling that I just found it too hard to leave.
Some will say that Michigan BBYO is reflective of who I have
been as a professional. I once attended a Federation retreat for
agency directors in which my generation was characterized as
"the connecting generation." We connected the pre-World War
II generation to the Baby Boomers. I really relished that role and
enjoyed combining continuity and tradition with innovation
and change to build the program of which we are all so proud.
I didn't do it alone. We were able to gather together many
people of vision and good will, who saw the future leadership
of our community within the Jewish youth whom we served.
As I look around our community, I see that that vision has come
true. Former BBYOers are now rabbis and synagogue/temple
leaders, Federation and agency execs, legislators and jurists, and
many many more found their Jewish identity in BBYO. There are
lots of people to thank: parents who helped to direct their teens
into BBYO (some against their will), advisors who gave so much
time and love to the kids for whom they volunteered,
Board/Commission members who worked so hard to raise the
dollars that allowed us to operate so effectively, staff members
whose dedication translated year after year into long hours of
nights and weekends, and, of course, the youth themselves, who
put so many hours of dedication and enthusiasm into a program
that was truly youth-led, if, at times, staff-inspired.
It's not a bad volume of work, but it's time to close this
volume and move on to the next. May BBYO go from strength
to strength. I will be watching with pride.
My tenure as BBYO Commission chair has
been a time of change and progress for
Michigan Region BBYO. One of the region's
most important achievements was the
dedication of the beautiful new David L.
Bittker Conference Center. This facility, located
on a beautiful wooded site adjacent to Camp
Maas in Ortonville, provides a great setting for
chapter retreats, leadership training, Jewish
immersion weekends and other events.
We are grateful to the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and the Fresh Air
Society for helping Michigan BBYO to acquire the property. Many
dedicated BBYO Commission members participated in the planning,
construction, fundraising and dedication of the Bittker Center and I
want to thank all of you for a great job. This is a wonderful legacy
for David Bittker's devotion to BBYO.
I am pleased that BBYO has undertaken new fundraising efforts so
that our great programs can continue and expand to serve even
more Jewish teens. The 2006 Regional Convention was the first to
have sponsors and an ad book, which helped to raise funds for
BBYO. Fashion Unleashed, now entering its 3rd year, is a great way
to raise money and for BBYO members to have fun. Last fall we
expanded our fundraising efforts to include BBYO event sponsorship
packages, including recognition at both RC and Fashion Unleashed.
Response has been positive and I appreciate the Commission
members who have taken this project on.
This Regional Convention was special because it was the last RC with
Arnie Weiner as BBYO's Senior Executive Director. Arnie has had such a
positive impact on so many Jewish teenagers, now many of them
grown and serving in leadership positions here and in other cities. For
Arnie, BBYO is always about the kids. His total dedication to them and
to the core values of BBYO has made Michigan Region one of the
strongest in the country. We are so grateful to Arnie and look forward
to his tribute on March 15th in conjunction with Fashion Unleashed.
We are pleased that Eric Adelman has joined BBYO as Senior
Programming Director while Arnie continues as Senior Regional
Executive Director. Eric will become BBYO's Regional Director on July
1, 2008. Eric has worked in the Jewish community since college
graduation and has a deep and personal background in BBYO.
We welcome him back to BBYO.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Arnold J. Weiner, MSW
Barbara Horowitz
Senior Executive Regional Director
Chairperson, BBYO Commission
BBYO
Feb. 29-March 2
Lawrence Hyman Young Leadership Conclave II
Bittker Center, Ortonville
March 9
Membership Kickoff Day
Bonaventure Family Skating Center, Farmington Hills
March 30
Teen Connection at Laser Quest
Madison Heights
April 29
BBYO Commission Annual Meeting
Adat Shalom
May 4
Jewish Heritage Night #3 TBA
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March 15
FLANS
Fashion Unleashed & Tribute to Arnie Weiner
Orchard Mall, West Bloomfield
May 18 20
Elections Training Conclave
Camp Maas, Ortonville
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