In This Issue
President's Message
Sisterhood Leadership Information Form
District Awards
Sip and Schmooze
District Virtual Events
Virtual Programming on Yammer
Good and Welfare
Virtual Convention
News from WRJ
Keeping You Informed
Greetings Ladies,

In this issue of The Candle you will find lots of exciting activities throughout the district that you might want to check out.

 If you have a virtual program that you would love to share, please contact Holly Plotnick at holly.a.plotnick@gmail.com and she will add you to the calendar. We are always looking for exciting ways to stay connected.

This is the season for the changing of the “guard” in your sisterhoods. Please be sure that you submit the updates to WRJ. 

This past weekend Marilyn and I were invited to attend a virtual installation at Women of Temple Solel, Bowie MD. We would be honored if you consider inviting us to attend your virtual installation. 

I am so happy to see sun and warm weather, I do believe we all are long overdue for sunshine. With things moving toward normal, I hope you stay safe and healthy.

Regards,

Lucretia 
Please fill out this form with your sisterhood's most up-to-date leadership and their contact information so that WRJ and your WRJ District can keep you informed with news, events, leadership tips, and more.

Due to limited space, you may submit the contact information of up to four leaders per form or you may upload your full Board list at the end of the form.

If you have any questions, please email leadership@wrj.org or call 212.450.4050.
District Awards

Did your sisterhood have an outstanding program that you want everyone to know about? Has your sisterhood been involved in a social action program that you feel deserves recognition? Do you have women who have stepped up to serve year after year? Do you have women who are
rising leaders?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should nominate your sisterhood and its members for recognition of programming and individual achievements. Awards will be announced in conjunction with the District Convention. 

Below is a list and descriptions of the awards and recognitions. Please click on the name to go to the nomination form. All nominations are due October 1 st , 2020.

Richard Sternberger Award – This award is presented to a sisterhood who has facilitated a unique or highly effective program or project in the field of social justice (hunger, homelessness, etc.) between July 1 st , 2018 and June 30 th , 2020.

Programming Award  – This award recognizes a sisterhood for an innovative, energizing, and original program that has occurred between July 1 st , 2018 and June 30 th , 2020.

Presidential Award for Programming – This award is given by the District President for programming based around a theme. This year’s award will go to a sisterhood which has held an outstanding virtual program that has occurred between July 1 st , 2018 and June 30, 2020.   

Woman of Valor Award   – This award recognizes one woman from each sisterhood who has demonstrated extraordinary service and commitment to both sisterhood and Judaism based upon criteria established by the sisterhood. Each woman nominated by her sisterhood to receive the Woman of Valor Honor will be recognized and given a certificate.

Emerging Leader Award  – This award will recognize several women from within the Mid- Atlantic District. A sisterhood may nominate a woman who has shown the skills, abilities and willingness to accept a leadership role in her sisterhood,
Mid-Atlantic District or WRJ between July 1 st , 2018 and June 30 th , 2020. This should be someone new to a leadership role.
Sip and Schmooze
Catch up with your district sisters every Wednesday night at 7:00 through the summer. Go to our WRJ District Board Yammer Group for more information.
Virtual Events Throughout the District

May 27th Trivia Night
In addition to our regular Wednesday evening Schmooze fests, sisterhoods throughout the district have planned activities that are both fun and educational. In addition to the events pictured below, make sure to join the Women of Temple Rodef Shalom for Thirsty Tuesdays Casual Happy Hour and a special district event "Let's Do Lunch" cooking event on June 19th. Visit the district Yammer page for links to these events.
Temple B'nai Shalom Sisterhood
Movie Night- 6/11/20
Women of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Wednesday afternoons throughout the summer
Mid-Atlantic District Book Club
Discover all of the virtual opportunities that WRJ has to offer by checking out the Online Programming Group on Yammer. The group posts a calendar of events that includes links to all activities. Districts are also sharing their book and film discussions, havdallah services and many other activities. If you are not yet on Yammer, you can send an email to leadership@wrj.org
Good and Welfare

Condolences to District V. P. Andrea Stillman on the loss of her
Uncle, Mel Calderon.
May his memory be a blessing.

Condolences to District 1st V.P. Marilyn Morrison on the loss of her
Mother-in-law, Mary Jo Fiser.
May her memory be a blessing.

Condolences to past district board member Linda Ferguson on
the loss of her husband, Earl Ferguson.
May his memory be a blessing.

Condolences to Past North American and District President
Helene Waranch on the loss of her father
Allan Hirsch Jr.
May his memory be a blessing.

Wishing refuah shlema to Past District President Ellen Wagner
as she recouperates from a broken wrist.

Mazel tov to District V.P. Andrea Stillman on the
recent engagement of her daughter Jessica.

Mazel tov to District Recording Secretary Holly Plotnick
on receiving her Master of Social Work degree from
The University of Denver.


Please send all Good and Welfare information to
Bernice Porrazzo PJPBKP@MSN.COM

Mid-Atlantic Virtual Convention 
September 23-October 23, 2020

Just because we all will not be schmoozing in person at the WRJ MAD convention this year does not mean that we will not be Schmoozing. Please join WRJ Mid-Atlantic for our Virtual MAD Convention, beginning September 23rd every Wednesday night leading up to a special weekend on Friday October 23-24, 2020.  Festivities will include a Special Schmooze session, guest keynote address, fun informative sessions and Havdalah Installations of officers.  And of course, the biggest and best YES FUND online auction you have ever seen!!!  

Sessions will include
  •  2nd Life career changes
  •  Creative ways to keep people engaged
  •  Improvisation through prayer 
  •  Advocacy & Civic engagements 
  •  Mah Jong as a Metaphor for life 
  •  Letting go of your Inner Jewish Mother. 
  •  Nominating committee and finding your next leader.
  •  Yoga, meditation and nutrition

But wait there's more!!!  All of this will be free to every Sisterhood member, potential member, and beyond.  Look for registration opportunities to begin in August.  

See you (Virtually) September 23-October 23, 2020!  



NEWS FROM WRJ
There are some fantastic Fried Women's Conference Extension programs coming up in June that are geared towards sisterhood leaders, please share widely! All of these programs will be recorded. If you did not register for the FWC, you can now access all of the files from the conference.

 
  • If you are interested in learning more about finances for your women's group, then the program on June 23 at 7:30 pm ET is for you: Let's Talk Money: Sisterhood Finance & Treasurers workshop. Whether you are the treasurer or a board member, you need to understand the financial workings of your sisterhood. We will discuss your sisterhood's financial obligations and reporting requirements to your congregation, as well as alternative dues models. You'll leave empowered to build a strong financial foundation for your sisterhood.
Did you know?

Did you know that you don't have to be affiliated with a Reform Congregation to be able to be a member of WRJ. If you know someone who is interested in being a part of this vibrant organization, click the link below for more information .

Keeping You Informed

You now have additional ways to stay on top of what is happening in the Mid-Atlantic District. Along with The Candle and  the website , follow us on Twitter @MidWrj. Do you have a Facebook account? Follow us on the WRJ Mid-Atlantic District page.

Join our district Yammer group.  If you are already on Yammer, you can look for it using the search bar or you can search for it in groups. Once you click on the group, you can read the messages and then click the button on the upper right side that says "join group". If you are not yet on Yammer, you can send an email to leadership@wrj.org
to request an invitation.

In addition to information pertaining to our district, you can join groups that include information on Judaica shops, membership, Israel, and many other interests.  
WRJ Mid-Atlantic District
madmarketcom@gmail.com