SAVE THE DATE AND NOMINATE! EIGHT over ‘7. LIGHT 1 Jewish Apartments &services mi The Tikkun Olam Award recognizes eight senior adults and their lifetime commitment to the Jewish Community. Do you know a deserving older adult who... ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Is at least 80 years old? Has been a life long volunteer in the community? Is active and volunteering today? Is dedicated to maintaining strong Jewish values? Is an inspiring leader or mentor in the community? HOW TO NOMINATE: Write or email JAS describing the worthiness of the nominee. Please include (as applicable) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Name and age of nominee Duration of volunteer service (years, decades) Involvement in Jewish organizations and cau s es Leadership positions held Current accomplishments Letters and newspaper articles supporting nominee's accomplishments Also explain how the nominee's long-standing activities exemplify a commitment to the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). MAIL/EMAIL TO: Eight Over Eighty Jewish Apartments & Services David and Miriam Mondry Building 15000 W. Ten Mile Road Oak Park, MI 48237 Email: PWurdock@Jasmi.org or call: 248-592-1101 ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 15, 2009. Building Solidarity BBYO regional conventions puts chapters in high gear. Sam Gringlas Teen2Teen Staff Writer A s we gathered in the Jewish Community Center's parking lot in West Bloomfield, our chapter's regional convention coordi- nator shouted, "Get pumped, boys, for the best week of your life!" Bouncing on my toes, excitement building, I really was pumped and ready. Members of Rabin AZA get pumped up at the RC. After weeks and weeks of preparations and practices, nection to Greenberg and AZA. Throughout the week, participants I couldn't wait to get B'nai B'rith Youth from every chapter focused on the Organization's regional convention theme, "I believe tying it into chal- started. AZA and BBG chapters from lenges from the T-shirt design contest all over Michigan Region — 410 teens from 17 chapters — came together Dec. to talent show. Jewish teens had a great time cheering on their teammates in 21-26 for the annual competition, often the spirit of friendly competition. I simply called RC. even ran around with our giant green From sports like basketball and vol- and white flag during timeouts and leyball to major events like cheer, song half-times; and I don't think I've ever and talent show, groups participate in all screamed so loudly during our chant, sorts of exciting competitions. Sporting "Hidy Tidy:' during my entire time in our green sunglasses and T-shirts, my Greenberg. chapter, Greenberg AZA, overflowed As the talent show ended, the last with spirit like a shaken-up bottle of basketball game finished and the final pop. I was especially energized as it was award was handed out, RC came to a my first RC. I didn't really know what to close. Although our chapter didn't win expect, besides the fact that the conven- RC — winners were Savage BBG and tion would be a ton of fun. Shapiro AZA — it didn't matter so That first night played host to song competition, which this year held special much to me. But the convention did meaning for our chapter. Using music by have a huge impact on my relationship with my chapter and commitment to Jeff Grey, one of Greenberg's founding Greenberg. We became closer, and we members who tragically passed away bonded. We shared tears and we shared in a summer camp storm incident, we laughs. We created memories. commemorated his contributions to our When I first joined this order, I chapter and reflected on our own con- really had no idea what to expect. Now I see though, as a chapter we're like a family; and regional convention only strengthened this relationship. I think the words to our cheer put it best: "RC is a blast. It goes by way too fast!" 111 Sam Gringlas, 14, is a freshman at North Farm- Kulanu BBG members practice a cheer. C2 January 8 2009 ington High School.