Email no 2 - 12 March - You will surely become worn out, Presenters, Facebook and another bad joke

Each week, when the conference vice-chairs and I have a catch-up over Skype and a coffee, we include a slot for learning.  On Friday Zila talked about this week's portion of Yitro and the advice that Yitro himself gives to his son-in-law Moses who'd taken it upon himself to adjudicate every dispute among the Children of Israel.

Yitro says "The thing that you do is not good.  You will surely become worn out - you as well as this people that is with you."  Moses' insistence on doing things himself was good for nobody and he was advised to chose leaders to judge the people in all but the most difficult of cases.  If this applies to Moses, then, well you get the point.

Which brings us to ...

THE VOLUNTEERS' MEETING - WHAT MIGHT BE BROKE AND THE BIT IN THE MIDDLE

I'd really meant to drop you an email immediately after this meeting, so thank you for your patience.  It was an electric atmosphere and do keep a note of all the ideas that you keep having ... if you want to share them, then drop an email to conference2007@limmud.org.

There are a few points from the meeting worth noting and sharing with those who were not able to make it.

1. Judy Trotter revealed the results of her survey into 'it ain't broke'.  The challenges she set us were around:

- Loneliness.  This really stood out as something that is important but very hard to admit personally.  In the midst of all the excitement and inspiration of Conference and of being on the team, we realised that at times it's too easy to get lonely.  It affects us all - volunteers, first time participants, old-timers and presenters - especially at mealtimes.  We decided that this is not acceptable.  Although Conference is about learning, we agreed that we have a responsibility not just to put on a programme but also to make sure we all can feel at home.

- Programming.  This means thinking about pace, balance and what we get out of the programme.  Is it a 'personalised curriculum' or a series of 'sessions'?  How do we achieve political as well as religious balance?  What is the role of 'names'?  Should we change the type or quantity of sessions?

- Volunteers.  Let's spread the load, enjoy the year and not burn out.  We also need to remember that people volunteer for different reasons - to meet people, to put something back, to implement 'their' idea, to do something new.

- Young Limmud.  We need to make it relevant to all year groups, create continuity and make YL and Conference understand each other better.  I'm pleased that this year's YL chairs are really taking this challenge on (see below) under 'you said yes!'.

2. We agreed some principles for the team:

- Respect
- Co-operation
- Sharing/Brainstorming - any idea is worth listening to
- Fun
- Openness

3. And ideas for the Steering Group to discuss as themes:

- Wellbeing
- Consideration
- Standing Together - Unity
- Leadership
- Jewish Ethics
- Making the world Green forever

4. We talked about Conference being a journey that takes us from how we feel before the event starts (apprehensive, lonely, confused, expectant, curious, hungry unless we ate on the plane) to a different level (fulfilled, further along our Jewish journey, with new friends, more Jewish, full of knowledge, educated, inspired and wanting more).  Our task is to build that bit in the middle and to offer signposts on the way.

We should see volunteering in the same light with the support of the V Team - we have our own 'bit in the middle' over the next ten and a half months.

(Thanks Judy and Jessica for the notes.)

In the next few weeks, we're hoping to get together a timetable for all volunteers activities during the year including socials, meetings etc.

YOU SAID YES!

A few updates in more detail:

First, I'm pleased that David Hoffman has joined Asher Dresner as programming chair.  They'd like to advise their team that they will arrange a meeting shortly, but that in the meantime they are still looking for a few track co-chairs.  If you'd like to add your name to the list or have ideas to contribute, please email them at David Hoffman [davidahoffman@compuserve.com] and Asher Dresner [asherdresner@gmail.com].

Next, Young Limmud.  This is a significant conference in itself but those of us who aren't directly involved often have little idea what's going on.  I'm pleased that this year's chairs of Young Limmud share the ideals of linking as much as possible with the rest of Conference and of developing leaders for the future.

Third, I'd like to introduce Norma Yantin who was at her first Conference in December.  One of several first-time volunteers who came along to the meeting to find out more, she was matched with a role co-chairing Families.  Thinking about the challenge that Judy had set, what does she hope to get out of her 'bit in the middle' during this year?  She talked about enjoying the year by feeling involved and sharing the pride of putting the event together - what might elsewhere be called 'job satisfaction'.  If you want to tell me what you want out of volunteering, please email conference2007[at]limmud.org and I'll include suggestions in the next email.

STEERING GROUP WEEKEND

If you are on the Steering Group (see the Who's Who? below or email your Conference Vice Chair or Charles Darwish [charlesdarwish@hotmail.com] or Naomi Hass [naomihass@fastmail.fm] if you're not sure), then please put a date in your diary for a Steering Group weekend:

WHAT: Steering Group Weekend
WHERE: Brighton
WHEN: 5pm on 9 March to 1pm on 11 March
PRICE: £35 (with bursaries available)

More details will follow.

FACEBOOK

Thanks to Gil Petersil who has set up a Facebook group for Limmud.  http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=513191478&k=39c8b5560e.  If you're not on Facebook, it's an online community (click the link for more) where friends and their friends know when you're going to the dentist.

Limmud's tech team is also looking at online document sharing systems - I'll let you know more next time.

IT'S THE PROGRAMME, STUPID - PRESENTERS ARE SAYING YES!

The programming process hasn't yet begun properly, but we've given permission to make a few informal approaches.

The team is pleased to tell you that Peter Geffen will be at Conference 2007.  Peter worked with Martin Luther King, was active in the civil rights movement and has since launched a series of groundbreaking organisations worldwide and promoted understanding with the Arab and Islamic worlds.  He was inspired by Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great 20th century Jewish philosophers, the 100th anniversary of whose birth falls this year.  Hear Peter at http://www.onlyinamerica.info/geffen.shtml

Meanwhile, Jon Pam came along to our volunteers' event to ask if we'd be interested in a play especially for Conference 2007.  It's a yes all round and the plans will also involve Young Limmud.

If you have programming ideas while watching an Alain de Botton documentary, reading Geoffrey Alderman in the JC, listening to Matisyahu on your iPod, or reading the back of your cereal box, then please email David [davidahoffman@compuserve.com] and Asher [asherdresner@gmail.com].  We often miss the 'obvious' and the programming team will only work with the right combination of names, formats and people to make them reality.

JEWISH BOOK WEEK

Jewish Book Week takes place at the end of this month.  http://www.jewishbookweek.com/

As well as being an excellent event in itself, it's also an ideal opportunity for us to show presenters and participants what they could get out of coming to Conference 2007.  We've got to move quickly which is why I'm pleased that Danny Newman will be coordinating our presence there.  He's got a big task in the next fortnight that will involve a lot of us pulling together, including marketing, programming, volunteer and environmental teams.  If you are planning to go or would like to help out then I'm sure Danny will be pleased to hear from you at dannynewman1@gmail.com.

OTHER NEWS

Last Sunday, the team from Conference 2006 got together to talk about their experiences and to prepare to let go and pass on the baton to us.  We're hoping to have access to their online documents very soon.  It's important that we learn from last year with detailed handover meetings and by calling on their experiences from time to time.

WHO'S WHO?

A list of some confirmed roles (this is not meant to be everyone and programming in particular is not included so if you're not on there, look out in the next email; Steering Group roles are marked SG).  Thank you for saying yes to:

(List now updated elsewhere and not included online!)

As Yitro said, "if you do this thing ... then you will be able to endure and this entire people shall arrive at its destination in peace."

BAD JOKE

I was getting into my car to go out this week, and this bloke says to me, "Can you give me a lift?" I said, "Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for it."

So I got back, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and said, "Who's speaking please?" And a voice said, "You are."

Then I rang up my local swimming baths. I said, "Is that the local swimming baths?" He said, "It depends where you're calling from."

So I gave up and wrote this email.

Thanks to Tommy Cooper.

You're still invited to do better.

Best wishes

Kevin