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Dear WRJ Central District Sisters,
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First, our virtual convention will run Friday, November 6 from 1:30-5:45, Saturday November 7 from 2:30-6:30 and Sunday from 1-4. (The plenary session to vote on the proposed Constitutional revisions, the 2021-2022 budget and the slate will be held the Sunday before the convention).
Second the virtual convention is free, however we are always happy to accept donations for those who wish to support the district. Opportunities to support WRJ and the district will be available during registration. Yes, it’s free! But in order to join us you must register to attend. ( Register Here!)
Thirdly, in addition to all the fabulous learning and sharing experiences we will be having, we do have the business of the district to conduct around the convention. We will be holding the plenary session to vote on the business of the district on Sunday, November 1
at 7 p.m. Details on how to register for the plenary session will be sent to sisterhood presidents in October. We will be voting on:
- The slate of nominees for the board. You can find the slate in the article below.
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The proposed constitutional revisions. You can find my letter explaining the substantial revisions here. A full copy of the proposed constitution here, and side by side of our current constitution and the proposed constitution here. We encourage all sisterhood presidents, leaders and individual members to attend our Proposed Constitutional Revisions Webinar on Sunday, October 4 at 7 pm. Please register for the webinar here.
- The 2021-22 budget. The budget will be posted and shared on or about October 2. We will hold a webinar to review the budget, date and time to be announced.
In order to follow our constitutional provisions for voting it is important that all sisterhoods make sure their information is up to date. If you are a sisterhood president or are leading a sisterhood please be sure to complete the WRJ Sisterhood Leadership form as soon as possible even if nothing has changed since you last filled it out. You can find the form here.
I look forward to seeing you all at the plenary. Magic happens when women build community!
L'Shana tova tikateivu v'teichateimu. A good year and may you be inscribed and sealed (for blessings in the Book of Life).
Alison Auerbach
WRJ Central District President
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Central District Virtual Gathering 2020: November 6 - 8 |
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Creating community in the era of COVID has been a struggle for all of us. We are excited to bring the women of WRJ Central District together Nov. 6 - 8 for a Virtual Gathering to build and nurture our sacred community.
Expanding on the theme of "Magic happens when women build community," the Virtual Gathering will encompass all of your favorite parts of Central District Convention: Kabbalat Shabbat, Torah study, workshops, Havdalah, sharing sessions, and a keynote presentation by WRJ President Susan Bass!
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Registration for the WRJ Central District 2020 Virtual Gathering is free and will be held via Zoom beginning the afternoon of Nov. 6 and continuing through Sunday afternoon's closing plenary session. You can attend all of the offerings, or pick and choose from your favorites, as your schedule allows. The registration form will have all the details including the full agenda of workshops and speakers.
Mark your calendar and save the dates today: Nov. 6 - 8, 2020 online! You can register here!
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YES Fund, District Convention and YOU! |
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We are counting down to the WRJ Central District Convention. Be sure to mark November 6 – 8 on your calendars. Magic will happen as we learn, pray and share together in our first ever virtual convention.
Convention reminds us to count the many blessings in our lives – family, friends, sisters, a warm home, food on the table, and health. It is a time when we come together as a community to help others by donating to the WRJ Yes Fund. By being a part of WRJ we can do more together than separately. As individuals and sisterhoods, we have an opportunity to help strengthen Reform Judaism in our congregations, in North America, and around the world.
You will have an opportunity to be a part of WRJ’s philanthropic work by donating to the YES Fund. There will be many chances to do so. First, you will be able to donate by completing the new WRJ Virtual Pledge card. It will be posted with your registration as well as other places throughout the convention weekend. You can purchase products such as YES note cards and Uniongrams for yourself or your sisterhood. It is a great way to acknowledge a special person or occasion while simultaneously supporting the YES Fund. Finally, you can pledge or purchase a Lifeline Pin or upgrade to the next level of the Lifeline Pin.
Thank you to so many of our Sisterhoods who are the 2019-2020 YES Fund Honor Roll Recipients. From Central District we want to acknowledge:
Roll of Chai Honor ($18 per member)
Beth El Temple Sisterhood – Muncie, IN
Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood – Lexington, KY
Temple Israel Sisterhood – West Lafayette, IN
Women of Temple Israel – Columbus, OH
Roll of Special Merit ($10 per member)
Congregation Beth Shalom Sisterhood – Carmel, IN
Temple Israel Sisterhood – West Bloomfield, MI
Temple Kol Ami Sisterhood – West Bloomfield, MI
Roll of Honor ($5 per member)
Temple Israel Sisterhood – Akron, OH
Temple Beth El Sisterhood – Knoxville, TN
Temple Beth Emeth Sisterhood – Ann Arbor, MI
We look forward to seeing you soon. In the meantime, please stay safe and wash your hands!
Lisa Singer and Carol Friedman
WRJ Central District YES Fund Co-Chairs
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WRJ Central District
2020-2023 Executive Committee
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The WRJ Central District Nominating Committee proudly presents the Slate of Officers, Executive Committee, and Chairs for the 2020-2023 term of office. The election will be held at the virtual plenary session on November 1, 2020 via Zoom. Kol Hakavod - all the honor - to these women who are accepting the mantle of leadership in the coming term!
Todah rabah to the members of the 2018-2020 WRJ Central District Nominating Committee: Sheilah Abramson-Miles (Chair), Sandy Adland (Vice Chair),Trina Miller, Brenda Bush, Rachel Lambermont, Jackie Randall, Audrey Baker, and Jen Smilg.
WRJ CENTRAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2020-2023
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President :
Immediate Past President:
Lead Area Directors:
Multi-Area Interim Facilitator:
VP Development and Special Projects:
VP of Marketing/ Communications:
Recording Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
Membership Secretary:
Treasurer:
Bulletin Editor:
Parliamentarian:
Area Directors
Eastern Michigan:
Central Ohio:
North East Ohio:
Northern Ohio:
South:
Southwest:
West:
Western Michigan:
Chairs
Affiliates Chair:
YES Fund Chair:
Speaker’s Bureau Chair:
Awards Chair:
Advocacy Chair:
Electronic Communications Chair:
Electronic Communications Co-Chair:
Nomination Chair:
Nomination Vice Chair:
Finance Chair:
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Liz McOsker
Alison Auerbach
Wendy Kohlenberg and Susan Singer
Beth Lande
Pamela Feldman-Hill
Marcia Persin
Nayda Schwartz
Jackie Randall
Sandy Flaksman
Jan Goldstein
Chris Zimmer
Appointed position TBD
Wendy Kohlenberg
Donna Gantner
Robin Rosen-Sharp
Shelley Schweitzer
Sheilah Abramson-Miles
Sue Voos
Sharon Karp
Susan Singer
TBD
Sandy Adland
Karen Sim
Susan Glazer
Hillary Handwerger
Hillary Handwerger
Emily McOsker
Alison Auerbach
Sheilah Abramson-Miles
Alison Auerbach
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WRJ Central District Constitution Revisions |
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Central District will be revising our constitution in order to maintain uniformity across all of the WRJ districts and make sure we are all following current policy and best practices. Many thanks to Dr. Hilda Glazer and the Constitutional Revisions Committee for their time reconciling our current constitution and practices with the template from WRJ.
The major changes in the proposed constitution are the following:
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Moving the district to three-year terms. NOTE: This change does not affect our affiliated sisterhoods, which can be on whatever cycle works best for them.
- Changing the voting on the budget to be done by the executive committee.
- Changing the number of vice presidents to be "up to four" excluding the first vice-president.
- Granting chairs vote on the Executive Committee, as is current practice in the district.
- Removing language that should be in policy and procedures.
Drafts of the proposed changes are available on our Central District website, and can be found here:
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Explanatory letter here
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Draft of Revised Constitution here
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Side by Side Comparison highlighting Revisions here
All sisterhood presidents , leaders and individual members are encouraged to attend our Proposed Constitutional Revisions Webinar on Sunday, October 4, 7 pm. Please register here.
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WRJ Central District Zoom Book Club: Sunday, September 20 at 7:30 pm |
The WRJ Central District book group has chosen Sinners and the Sea, The Untold Story of Noah's Wife by Rebecca Kanner as our next read.
"Kanner does a masterful job of penetrating the depths of the Biblical Flood narrative and weaving in the complicated reality of challenging relationships and longings for personal fulfillment. Her desire to go beyond the traditional understanding of the lives she explores introduces us to a courageous and insightful young writer whose first book will take its place alongside other exciting modern re-readings of the ancient Biblical text.”
Rabbi Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Contact Hillary Handwerger at hillaryh@ix.netcom.com, to be added to the group for our discussion Zoom calls and to receive the zoom link. We can have up to 50 women on the discussion at a time, which means seeing all our faces and expressions, and having a real discussion…. something too look forward to in this time of isolation!
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"Kibbitz and Kvell" with your District Sisters |
For the past three months, WRJ Central District has hosted "Kibbitz and Kvell", a group gab session open to all members of the WRJ Central District. We have enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Please join us for our future WRJ Central District Social events with exciting different themes on the 2nd Wednesday of the month through December (November will be on Monday.)
- Wednesday, October 14, 2020 (inside your Sukkah)
- Monday, November 9, 2020
- Wednesday, December 9, 2020
RSVPs required. Email Jan Goldstein at jangoldstein1@gmail.com to RSVP. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the event.
These events are open to all women in WRJ Central District, so be sure to share with your Sisterhood members and friends! We look forward to seeing you there!
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Join the Religious Action Center’s Civic Engagement Campaign (RAC.org/cec) by phone and text banking every Wednesday through October. This can be done right from your own home and computer, with training and instructions included each week! Register for action Wednesdays at rac.org/everyweek
Once you register, the link will work for every week.
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WRJ has wonderful programs coming up during the first full week of October:
"Welcome to WRJ Today!”
Will you be a First-time WRJ District convention attendee, or would you like a refresher on WRJ?? Please register to attend a special webinar on October 28 called Welcome to WRJ Today! Learn more about Women of Reform Judaism, who we are, what we do and the resources available to you as a member. It’s the perfect opportunity to hear more about WRJ and prepare yourself to gain even more out of your experience at your Virtual District gathering.
The October 28th date will feature Central, Northeast, & Southwest Districts. This webinar starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Here is the link to register:
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Summer Lilith Salon on October 5th at 8:00 pm Eastern:
Virtual Lunch in the Sukkah on October 8th at 12 pm Eastern and 12 pm Pacific
The full October calendar will be available in WRJ Yammer On-line programming group.
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Join us on Yammer! Looking for Advocacy Alerts? Programming Ideas? They are all on Yammer. J oin the new Yammer Group “Online Programming” to hear about the wealth of WRJ programming available to you via Zoom! It is an invaluable tool for anyone connected to a sisterhood and WRJ. Send your name and email to: Leadership@wrj.org
You can send flyers about your programs to Hillary at hhandwerger@yahoo.com and they will be posted on Facebook.
You can also share your successful programs via Isha L'Isha with articles and pictures. Send your information and attachments to ishawrjcentral@gmail.com.
Finally, encourage all your sisterhood members to sign up to receive Isha L'Isha directly. There is a link to be added to the mailing list on our website:
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We have compiled a Resource Document for your reference. Click here to access the full list of resources. Here are just a few ways that Central District can help your organization grow and thrive!
Programming Grants
Affiliated Central District sisterhoods and women's groups in good standing from Central District are encouraged to apply for a grant for up to $500. These grants are meant to support programs which otherwise would not have the financial resources to take place.
Speaker’s Bureau
Provides knowledgeable speakers for your events. Sisterhoods are eligible for a WRJ speaker every other year and a Central District speaker in the off years. Click here.
Advocacy/Jewish Family Concerns
Our District Chair is extremely knowledgeable about Reform Movement initiatives and can help you add social action into your programming.
YES Fund
Our YES Fund Co-Chairs can provide ideas for sisterhoods to support and educate their members about WRJ’s primary philanthropic effort.
Executive Committee
To view a list of current Executive Committee members, click here.
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September 20, 2020 @ 7:30 p.m. WRJ Central District Book Club
Join us via Zoom to discuss Sinners and the Sea,The Untold Story of Noah's Wife, by Rebecca Kanner. Contact Hillary Handwerger at hillaryh@ix.netcom.com to receive your Zoom invitation link.
October 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Webinar on Proposed Constitutional Changes
October 28, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Welcome to WRJ Today webinar for first time convention attendees. Register here.
November 1, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Plenary Session
Information will be forthcoming in a letter to the Sisterhood Presidents.
Nov. 6 - 8, 2020
Central District Virtual Gathering
Expanding on the theme of "Magic happens when women build community", the Virtual Gathering will encompass all of your favorite parts of Central District Convention: Kabbalat Shabbat, Torah study, workshops, Havdalah, sharing sessions, and a keynote presentation by WRJ President Susan Bass! You can register here.
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The Youth, Education & Special Projects (YES) Fund |
Participating in the Youth, Education and Special Program (YES) Fund broadens and deepens the impact of your investments in Reform Judiaism.
YES Fund grants provide Reform Jewish institutions and individuals worldwide with tools for religious, social, and educational growth and promote and enhance Jewish life.
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