Annual Report 2013-2014 National Council of Jewish Women
Rockland Section
National Council of Jewish Women
Rockland Section
July 31, 2014
www.ncjwrockland.org
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Executive Summary
The membership year 2013-2014 was an excellent year for National Council
of Jewish Women, Rockland Section.
Over a dozen long-standing Community Service projects continued to
provide emergency services and aid to people in need, including toddlers,
children, teens, seniors, and women who are victims of abuse. Newer
projects also grew in size and participation.
Eight high quality General Meetings were held with outstanding speakers
and attendance—one meeting with over 80 people! New this year was a film
and discussion meeting about hunger.
Our State Policy Advocacy was highlighted by a trip to Albany in support of
the Women’s Equality Act. Several state senators and assembly members
were visited. Other state-wide meetings were attended.
Fundraisers were very successful this year, including the Shalach Manos
project, Theater Party, Pool Party, Book Clubs, Tributes, Yad B’Yad Cards,
Calendar Journal and Script. New this year was the Military Bridge dinner
which was well attended and lots of fun!
Membership increased by over 10% this year, due to both the gift
membership opportunity and excellent outreach efforts like the Meet and
Greet evening.
On a less positive note, the NCJW Replay Thrift Store closed after 38
years of operation in Nyack. A commemorative event is planned to honor
Thrift Shop Manager Addy Frankel and Salesperson Celine McKenna. In
addition, we will honor all of the thrift shop volunteers.
With excellent administrative support provided by our Secretaries and
Treasurers, and a strong group of 2014-2015 Officers, Directors and
Committee Chairs provided by the Nominating Committee, the Rockland
Section is well positioned for a bright future in the coming year.
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Contents
Executive Summary ………………………………… 1
Contents ………………………………………………….. 2
Community Service ………………………………… 3
Programming ………………………………………….. 5
State Policy Advocacy (SPA) ………………….. 7
Fundraising ………………………………………………. 8
Membership …………………………………………….. 10
Thrift Shop Operations …………………………… 11
Administration ……………………………………….. 12
Appendix A—Collaborating Organizations. 13
Appendix B—2013-1014 Board Members .. 14
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Community Service Co-Vice Presidents: Brenda
Greenberg, Merri Rosenbaum
This encompasses a large number of
projects that enrich our community.
Each project is chaired by a member
of NCJW, who often leads a group of
members to undertake the particular
job.
Busy Boxes, Chair Leslie Ratner:
Originally started to help children who
accompany parents to social service
appointments, these boxes are decorated and
filled with various small toys and educational
materials. This year thirty-five (35) Busy
Boxes were delivered to the Department of
Social Services for children in emergency
shelter and foster care.
Camperships, Chair Judy Greenberg: To make summers better for children
in need, we work with camps in Rockland County who donate a month or two
of camping experience for children, who we screen to fit certain criteria
demonstrating need. This summer five (5) camps have accepted a total
of 27 campers.
Camp Scholarships, Chair Sandra Platzman: NCJW offers direct financial
aid in the form of scholarships to families in need of help to pay for summer
camp. This summer six (6) children were awarded scholarships of
$500 each to attend one of three (3) camps.
Food Pantry, Chair Rhoda Appel: Money donated by members attending
General Meetings is used to purchase food staples for non-sectarian food
pantries. This year, the chair accompanied a pantry director to purchase
$300 worth of food items that were most needed.
Helping Hands, Chair Minna Kaufman: Not only NCJW members, but
women residing in retirement communities are welcome to assist with this
project. They knit hats, scarves, gloves, mittens and baby blankets, which
are donated to the homeless and underprivileged groups in our community.
This year over 150 hats and scarves were created and donated.
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High School Service Awards, Chair Judy Gerstenhaber: Graduating High
School students, with outstanding community service experience and
excellent recommendations, are given a monetary award
to help with college expenses. This year two
outstanding students from different high schools
each received $500.
Jog for a New Beginning, Chair Natalie Plaut: New
sweat suits are purchased and provided to women who
are victims of domestic abuse, often at a hospital or
shelter with only the clothes on their back. They leave
the hospital or shelter in clean clothes and with dignity.
This year 8-10 sweat suits were donated.
Luggage for Freedom, Chair Audrey Kirschenbaum: Gently used suitcases
are packed with linens for bedrooms,
kitchens and bathrooms, and provided to
women who are leaving shelter to start a
new home. Items are collected year round
and packed in the spring. This spring 25-
30 filled bags of luggage were
donated.
Spirit of Rockland Book Donation, Chair
Janet Burton: Gently used books are
collected and then donated to the Special
Victims Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital. Books are for youngsters and
teens to keep them occupied, while either they or their parents receive
services from medical and police personnel. Over 200 books were
donated this year.
Survival Kits and Wash Your Troubles Away
Cleaning Supplies, Chairs Ilse Spatz, Judy
Greenberg, Elissa Nuremburg: Members collect
small toiletries, soaps, lotions, etc. which are
given to the shelter for use by clients. In addition,
we shop for and provide buckets filled with
cleaning supplies for women who are starting
anew in a new living situation. Hundreds of
toiletries and 15 supply-filled buckets were
provided this year.
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Tales for Tots, Chair
Marcia Scheer:
Volunteers read to
young children in
daycare and early
childhood centers. This
year NCJW volunteer
readers provided 104
hours at four (4)
different pre-schools.
Wrapped in Love Fleece Blankets, Chair Susan Steinfink: NCJW
volunteers create
cuddly fleece
blankets for
children in
Emergency
Shelter. This year
27 blankets were
created and
donated. With a
grant from the
JCC Teen
Leadership
Initiative, the
program will be expanded next year to include hand-made teddy bears and
blankets for teens.
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Programming Program Chairs: Natalie Plaut, Susan
Steinfink
NCJW Rockland provides its members with
a schedule of very diverse General
Meetings with topics of great interest.
This year’s speakers and programs
included:
Beatrice Kahn from our National
organization speaking about the history and current focus of NCJW.
Rabbi Paula Mack Drill teaching about women of the Torah
Marty Cohen addressing us about the U.S. Presidents from 1872 to the
present.
A film, A Place at the Table, about the hunger problem in the U.S.
A program featuring four writers in our section, Ellen Belitsky, Jenny
Kalsner, Ann Letzter, and Arlene Shapiro.
The fascinating true story of Persian Jewish Immigration to the U.S. as
told to us by Dr. Sam Wiseman.
Marty Schneit entertaining us with an armchair tour of Jewish Harlem and
the famous people who lived there.
The Installation Dinner, featuring our Installation Program and music by
“Vintage Vibes” Mike Frank and John Grunberg.
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.
State Policy Advocacy
(SPA) Co-Vice Presidents State Policy
Advocacy (SPA): Rhoda Appel,
Barbara Etelson
SPA Activities were focused in
two main areas this year—
Women’s Equality Legislation
and Human Trafficking.
A trip to Albany was organized
by SPAs in NY State to lobby for Woman's Equality Legislation. Five members
of our section attended and met with state Senators David Carlucci and Dean
Skelos; Assembly members Ellen Jaffee and Kenneth Zebrowski; and
representatives from Asssemblyman Silver’s office. Legislators were urged to
pass all ten parts of the Women’s Equality Act (WEA). Planning and wrap up
reports were prepared. Calls were also made to our local legislators’ offices
when we returned home, to once again urge them to pass this important
legislation for all women in NY State.
NCJW was represented at two separate community awareness meetings
about Human Trafficking; one organized by law enforcement in advance of
the Super Bowl and another organized by Jewish Clergy and the Center for
Safety and Change. In addition, we co-sponsored a special showing of a film
about Trafficking. One of our book club meetings focused on human
trafficking and we met with the author to understand more about his
research on this issue.
Articles were written for NCJW’s monthly bulletin about trafficking, voting
rights and of course the 10 parts of the WEA. Members were urged to contact
both state and
federal officials
about these
issues.
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Fundraisers Co-Vice Presidents Fundraising: Judy
Fishlin, Marsha Milich
A number of successful fundraisers were
planned by wonderful committees and
attended by many members and guests:
Pool Party in the summer with catered
lunch, raffle prizes, fashion show,
vendors for shopping, games,
swimming and relaxing with friends.
Military Bridge in the fall with buffet
dinner, prizes, fun and a good time had
by all.
March brings Purim and our
wonderful
Shalach
Manos event
which
involves
shopping,
packing and
delivering
these bags
to members.
A number of
bags are
also donated to people at the Rockland
Psychiatric Center.
Antrim Theater Party in the spring where we
see a show and enjoy the performance.
Monthly Book Club meetings where pot-luck
lunch and book discussions take place.
Nominal donations are used for Yad B’Yad Israel granting programs.
We’re always looking for new and enjoyable fund raisers to support the many
programs our section supports.
Additional funds come from Membership Dues, Calendar Journal, Tributes
and Yad B’Yad cards, donations for annual giving/program support, and food
pantry collections at General Meetings.
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Figure: Percentage of Funds that come from Larger Individual Fundraisers
Our Fundraisers are Multi-Dimensional!
Shalach Manos Theater Party Pool Party Military Bridge Comradery
Community
Service
Jewish Heritage
Entertainment
Fund Raising
Cultural
Recreation
Raffles
Food & Vendors
Fun & Food
Money for
Causes
Socializing
0 20 40 60 80 100
Calendar Journal
Military Bridge
NCJW Afternoon
Pool Party
Shalach Manos
Theater Party
2012-2013
2013-2014
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Membership
Co-Vice Presidents Membership: Judy
Greenberg, Minna Kaufman
Current Membership totals 278, of which
178 are regular members and 100 are life
members. NCJW Membership activities for
2013-2014 included:
Created and mailed membership dues letter with information about NCJW
Sent out Happy New Year card with list
of meeting dates
Wrote articles for monthly bulletin
Sent packets with NCJW information to prospective members
Maintained list of new members, address changes, and deletions
Coordinated lists of "snow birds" and "snow flakes" Planned a “Meet and Greet” get together to welcome new, newish and
prospective members
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Thrift Shop Operations Vice President: Claire Tashker, Thrift Shop Manager: Addy Frankel
NCJW Replay Thrift Store operated at 145 Main Street, Nyack, NY for its 38th
year. Addy Frankel and sales
person Celine McKenna staffed
the store 6 days a week, with
volunteers staffing the store
every Saturday. Several
months saw wonderful
donations and sales. Some
months, especially in the
winter, experienced lagging
sales due to unusually cold
and snowy weather.
Ultimately, the building owner
requested that we vacate the
property, which he had rights
to do, because he had other plans for the space. After much discussion about
the state of the business and potential alternatives, it was decided to close
the store on July 11, 2014. Brisk business took place during the final month
of June.
A celebratory event will take place to honor Addy, Celine and all the
volunteers.
1998 2014
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Administration Administrative Secretary: Devra Kanter
Financial Secretary: Estelle Horvitz
Co-Treasurers: Helene Leibowitz,
Rhoda Lonow
Bulletin: Iris Kramer
Email: Janice Beibin
Website: Susan Grill, Rochelle Welsh
With the change in procedures this
year, many of our members are
receiving the monthly bulletin
through email, thus saving our
section the cost of printing, paper &
postage. Currently there are
approximately 100 members who still
receive a hard copy bulletin but we're trying to GO GREEN!
Monthly Bulletins and email communications were regularly created and
delivered. Website was updated regularly.
With many members spending time in Florida during winter months, keeping
track of temporary addresses, start and end dates, has been quite a
challenge.
For the upcoming 2014/2015 program year, our members are requested
to communicate temporary change of address to Devra Kanter
through either email: [email protected] or phone: 845-638-1691.
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Appendix A – Collaborating Organizations The following list represents organizations that NCJW Rockland collaborates
with or donates to.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Town of
Ramapo, Town of Haverstraw
Camp Scholarships
Center for Safety & Change
Luggage for Freedom
New Beginnings
Survival Kits
Cleaning Supplies
Child Care Resources of Rockland
Tales for Tots
Dept. of Social Services, Children &
Family Services
Busy Boxes
Fleece Blankets
Teddy Bears
County Emergency Services
Clothing & Necessities
Helping Hands
Homeless Necessities
Meals on Wheels
Covered Cupboards
Ramapo Senior Center
Jewish Community Center
Teen Leadership Initiative Grant
NY Regional Food Bank & other
Rockland Food Pantries
People to People
Personal Hygiene
Rockland County Day Camps:
Deerkill, Gate Hill, Ramaquois, Blue
Rill, Deer Mountain
Camperships
Rockland Psychiatric Center
Shalach Manos
Rockland County Public Schools
High School Service Awards
Adopt-a-School
Rockland District Attorney, Special
Victims Unit
Book Donations
Yad B’ Yad Program of NCJW
At-risk Children in Israel
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Appendix B – 2013-2014 Board Members
President Rochelle Welsh
Co-Vice Presidents, Community Service Brenda Greenberg
Merri Rosenbaum
Co-Vice Presidents, Fund Raising Judy Fishlin
Marsha Milich
Co-Vice Presidents, Membership Minna Kaufman
Judy Greenberg
Co-Vice Presidents, State Policy Advocacy Rhoda Appel
Barbara Etelson
Vice President, Thrift Shop Claire Tashker
Administrative Secretary Devra Kanter
Financial Secretary Estelle Horvitz
Recording Secretary unfilled
Co-Treasurers Helene Leibowitz
Rhoda Lonow
Directors Janet Burton
Marsha Fixler
Susan Grill
Audrey Kirschenbaum
Janet Stravitz
Immediate Past Co-Presidents Niki Plaut
Susan Steinfink
Honorary Board Member Addy Frankel
Committee Chairs (not listed above)
Iris Kramer, Janice Beibin, Leslie Ratner, Sandy Platzman, Billie Kahn,
Carol Zane, Judy Gertenhaber, Ilse Spatz, Marcia Scheer, Ellen Levine,
Jackie Solomon, Gwenn Canfield, Sharyn Bobroff, Arlene Lander,
Edythe Carr, Rickie Werfel, Shelly Berger