NCJW June 2022 News and Events |
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Dear Chicago North Shore advocates and volunteers:
As I sit down to write this – my final President’s message – the first two lines of “We Are Family” pop into my head: “We are family/I got all my sisters with me.” In this refrain, Sister Sledge sums up what I love about NCJW and the women of our section. When I joined NCJW, I found my sisters –likeminded women who want to better the lives of other women and their families. Some of you, my NCJW sisters, do this through community service and others put your energy into changing the system by advocating for legislation. Together you are a formidable force!
Your work is not easy. It has been a difficult three years but walking away and letting someone else continue the fight never enters your minds. And though change is slow, and setbacks are discouraging, you lift each other up and rally. And to paraphrase Sister Sledge, I have “high hopes for the future” because “I have faith in you and the things you do.”
Being President of NCJW CNS has been a privilege and being a member of this amazing family has been life changing. I thank each of you for the role you play in NCJW’s important work. And if at times you need to be lifted up, here’s the inspirational Sister Sledge – We Are Family.
Debbie Vietinghoff
President
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NCJW Chicago North Shore Bylaws
The NCJW Chicago North Shore Section Bylaws must be periodically reviewed. This year, a dedicated group of volunteers amended and updated our Bylaws. The proposed revisions to the Bylaws were approved by the NCJW, Inc. Committee on Bylaws and Policy & Procedures and approved by our Section’s Board of Directors. The final step is to present the revised Bylaws to the Section membership for approval.
The proposed Bylaws are available for review online at HERE.
Please note that all the highlighted items are revisions to the Bylaws.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Only members in good standing can vote.
- Each member is allowed one vote.
- If you choose not to vote, your vote will be counted as an affirmative vote.
- Votes must be submitted by June 10, 2022, at 12:00pm.
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NCJW CNS 2022
Volunteers of the Year
We are honored to announce Marsha Swetin and Barbara Dolinger as the NCJW CNS 2022 Volunteers of the Year!
Mother’s Day Baskets, one of our section’s signature programs, represents the commitment our section has to women who are survivors of domestic violence. Year after year, Marsha and Barbara bring to this important program the creativity and dedication that have made it a success. We thank Marsha and Barbara for their commitment to this work!
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NCJW CNS 2022 Advocate of the Year
We are honored to announce Sarah Hirsen as the NCJW CNS 2022 Advocate of the Year. Reproductive Health Access has always been the centerpiece of our advocacy. As NCJW strives to be the Jewish voice for safe, accessible abortion, Sarah's guidance and leadership on the Illinois State Policy Advocacy Committee, the Reproductive Health and Access Coalition, and as our 73Forward Captain have been indispensable. We thank Sarah for her commitment to both our Section and to this critical advocacy issue.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to present the Volunteer of the Year Recognition Award to Marsha and Barbara and the Advocate of the Year Recognition Award to Sarah at the Outgoing/Incoming Board of Directors Celebration on the evening of June 23.
Please Save the Date!
Congratulations, Marsha and Barbara! Congratulations, Sarah! We look forward to celebrating you!
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Once again, like a recurring nightmare, we have borne witness to our country’s sick love affair with guns and specifically to assault rifles. The handwringing and the sending of thoughts and prayers on the part of many of our government officials is simply not enough and will not prevent the next mass shooting. The knowledge that the only way for many of these innocent children in Uvalde to be identified was through DNA testing should shake each of us to our core.
Channel your anger and become a disrupter: write or call your elected officials, march, attend a local WEAR ORANGE EVENT this weekend, don’t rest until our leaders do what 89% of Americans want – PASS SENSIBLE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEGISLATION!
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Let's Celebrate some June Birthdays!
- Sara Belkov, Harriet Choice, Joan Fragen, Rachel Friedman, Ronni Graff, Darlene Grossman, Lottie Isaac, Peggy Kreisman, Tracy Madansky, Ellen Royce, Ruth Spiro, Terry Vismantas
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You can honor and celebrate a special event in you or a loved one's life by purchasing an NCJW tribute. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and personal wins - big or small - are all great ways to honor and celebrate those we love and are most proud of.
To order a tribute, visit our donate page where you can use the donate form to indicate that you would like a Tribute card be sent. You will also find a link there to order packages of Tribute cards to have on hand for any special occasion. |
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To: The NCJW Chicago North Shore 2021-22 Board of Directors
From: Debbie Vietinghoff
Thank you for your commitment, hard work, and passion this year!
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To: Eydee Schultz
From: Debbie Vietinghoff
In honor of your birthday.
Happy Birthday! Debbie
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Women of Vision Awards Dinner
Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 6:00 pm CT
East Bank Club, 500 N Kingsbury, Chicago
Join us as we celebrate and honor three amazing women: Jane Ramsey, Hannah G Solomon Award Recipient; Betty Magness, Jane Addams Award Recipient; and Donna Fishman, Innovative Leadership Award Recipient. Our moderator for the evening will be renowned journalist Laura S. Washington.
Proceeds go towards continuing the social policy and activism work of NCJW Chicago North Shore.
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Spotlight: Anti-Hate -- Be Part of the Solution
Monday, June 20, 2022, 7:00 pm CT
In this Spotlight, we investigate the root causes of hate crimes and discuss the tools needed to combat discrimination.
Featured speaker: Jim Bennett, Illinois Department of Human Rights Director and Chair of the newly reinstated Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
With Special guest: David Goldenberg, Midwest Director of the Anti-Defamation League, will focus specifically on Anti-Semitism.
For more information and to register for this Zoom event, click here. |
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NCJW Soup Kitchen at First Methodist Church
Thursday, July 21, 4:00 - 8:00 pm CT
First United Methodist Church, 516 Church Street, Evanston
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Did you miss a program or wish you could rewatch or share it with a friend? Visit our YouTube Channel for recordings of many of our Zoom Programs from the last year. |
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NCJW Gives Back in May: Pack the Plane to Ukraine
Our Pack the Plane to Ukraine project wrapped up this past week. NCJW collected over 80 Target-sized bags of first aid, nutrition, and hygiene items at our 9 city and suburban drop-off sites! Thanks to local organizers Natasha and Dr. Vitaliy Poylin, these items plus medical supplies will be flown directly to Ukraine to aide to women refugees and displaced families. Thank you to all our drop-off donors and cash contributors.
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Photo: NCJW's Robbie Schreiber (left) and “Pack the Plane” organizer, Natasha Poylin, (right) and the 80+ bags of humanitarian goods collected by NCJW volunteers.
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Washington Institute 2022 -
Amazing and Awesome!
Chicago North Shore was well represented at Washington Institute. Beverly Copeland, Jan Schwartz, Jill Lexier, Donna Gutman, Shoshana Frank, Amy Weisberg, and Debbie Vietinghoff traveled to Washington DC and came home inspired and energized! It was a nonstop two days of workshops on leadership, advocacy, and community service. The plenary speakers were dynamic and included Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Elissa Slotkin, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt, and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova to name just a few. The culminating event was the Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice held near the Capitol. Over 1000 advocates and 150 sponsoring organizations raised their voices in unison to exclaim that abortion access is a Jewish value! Watch this video and feel the infectious energy of NCJW advocates from across the United States.
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Greater Chicago Jewish Festival
Sunday, June 12, 11:00 - 6:00 pm CT
St. Paul Woods, 6594 Oakton St, Chicago
The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival celebrates the large Jewish community of the Chicagoland area with a day of entertainment, nosh, and crafts. The event is open to the public and features over forty artists and crafters displaying their one-of-a-kind works, twenty traditional and contemporary Jewish musical acts, authentic dishes, and photo contests as well as inflatables and a petting zoo for the kids. The Festival is the largest Jewish cultural event in Chicago and the largest ongoing Jewish festival in America. NCJW CNS is a sponsoring organization and will have a table at the Festival — stop by and visit us! Please check here for details as they become available. |
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NCJW Soup Kitchen at Beth Emet Synagogue
Wednesday, June 22, 4:30 - 7:00 pm CT
Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St., Evanston
Join us in providing meals. We need both volunteers and financial contributions to cover the cost of meals.
At-Home Volunteers
At-Home volunteers are needed to help make 3 large salads, 55 sack lunches, and 3 dozen nut-free dessert servings at home, and bring these to the synagogue by 4:30 p.m. on the assigned date.
On-Site Volunteers
5 adult volunteers are needed to help on-site 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. with packaging the prepared meal into individual boxed servings. Approximately half of these individual boxed dinners will be served to our guests at socially-distanced tables; the remainder will be picked up for take-away at the door.
Your voluntary contributions will help offset the $350 cost of the meal. Donate at Donate - Chicago North Shore (ncjwcns.org)
If you have any questions or you would like to volunteer for this soup kitchen date or for other future soup kitchen dates, contact Ellen Hall at Ellenyhall@aol.com.
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Hanger Project Reproductive Justice Charms
Abortion is a racial justice issue. It is an economic justice issue. It is a public health issue. We must continue to advocate for access to abortion so that everyone, not just those in positions of privilege, can make their own health care decisions with dignity. NCJW has been advocating for reproductive rights, health and justice for over 125 years. And for any donation of $36 or more, we will will send you a Hanger Project charm to symbolize the desperate acts women will take when they don’t have access to safe abortion care. No woman should EVER have to resort to a coat hanger in place of safe, quality healthcare. Click here to donate. |
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Membership - Are you up to date?
Annual Member? Most NCJW annual memberships expired on June 30? Click here to join, renew or gift a membership online. If you prefer to mail a check, please send your membership donation to the NCJW Chicago North Shore (NCJWCNS) to: NCJW Chicago North Shore, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062. Your annual membership donation is only $50 but it helps us make such a difference! And for those 36 and under, we offer a special double chai membership rate of just $36!
Life Member? You're not just a life member because you made that life member donation back in the day - you are a life member because you are the heart and soul of our section! Is there someone in your life that you think would enjoy being a part of our group of motivated, fun, and thoughtful women? A collective of folks connecting with each other and learning together as a community of progressive change-makers. If you do, why not gift them a membership!
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Chicago North Shore has several new ways to support our section. As always, you can make a one time donation or purchase a tribute (links are below), you can even purchase an NCJW star necklace or hanger charm or become a monthly donor!
NCJW is recognized as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Contributions to it are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
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