August XX

You’re all invited to keep an eye on the action via the August Execs Body Blog:
http://bbyo.org/augustexecs10.
The blog will be updated throughout the conference with all handouts, materials, agendas and business meeting items. This year’s business agendas are exceptionally full of motions and resolutions that can serve to further strengthen BBYO’s position as the premier Jewish movement serving teens worldwide.

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August XX
by Lexi Knopf and Josh Winik

International Exces was the weekend of August 12^th to the 15^th. 84 top leaders of our international order came together to increase our knowledge on leadership and of course, see friends from summer programs. We started off the weekend by getting to know our international counterparts through fun and exciting ice breakers. Along with participating in the installations of the international board, we listened to Arielle Braude and Jeremy Sherman, our international Godol and N’siah, give an address about pushing us to our boiling point and empowering us for the year ahead.

On Friday we started off the morning learning about the new efforts our organization is working toward to help our order improve. We focused on StandUp and talked about expanding the Jewish teen experience out of our country and into Bulgaria, Turkey, Argentina, Serbia and other places. We then had a joint business meeting were we passed different motions ranging from joining forces with other youth groups, in supporting the release of Gilad Shalit to pledging to raise over $20,000 for Jewish teens outside of North America.

Friday night we all came together to start Kabbalat Shabbat and then separated into AZA’s and BBG’s. We were then able to choose if we wanted to have a song session or story telling for the rest of Friday night.

Saturday we had services and had programs that made us look at our own regions with our counterparts. We analyzed our regions programming and how it affects our membership, and used the data to come up with strategies on how to improve NER. We then had separate business meeting where we talked about logistics for BBG/AZA Shabbat. We finished the night with Havdallah and had separates in the heart of D.C by the monuments.

It was very helpful to be with all the other regional Nisiot and Gidolim because we were able to discuss our regions together and take things from each other to bring back home and improve our own regions. Ending the weekend with separates session and spirit, right in the middle of city, was special because it showed us how great it is that we are able to practice Judaism so freely. BBYO is such an amazing place to do that.

CLTC 4 2010... AMAZING!

Attending CLTC was without a doubt the best part of my summer! I attended Chapter Leadership Training Conference at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, NC. While spending the most amazing twelve days of my life there, I learned leadership skills and creative programming that I will be able to share with my chapter. The skills learned at CLTC will be beneficial not only in BBYO chapters but also in the real world. All of the leadership skills were taught through interactive programming, and these hands-on experiences were always challenging and fun. CLTC teaches the history of BBYO, and it opens the door for teens to really get involved and make an impact in this movement. Most importantly, I learned a lot about BBYO and becoming a leader, while having the time of my life.

At CLTC everyone was welcoming and friendly, and by the twelfth day we all felt like we had known each other for years. Strong bonds were formed due to our common love for BBYO. We all got the experience of working together towards a common goal. It was a great feeling to have accomplished something at the end of each day. Meeting BBYO teens from all over the country was a great experience, and I was able to learn a lot from them by talking about how their chapters work compared to ours. CLTC was inspiring and can really impact a person’s life. I was able to experience so many things for the first time. I learned a lot about myself including my strengths, weaknesses, values, and who I want to become.

CLTC helps a person to gain confidence to try new things and puts teens in the mindset to believe in themselves. There were many times during the session when I thought to myself “it doesn’t get any better than this.” Everyone joining together for song sessions, spirit, and inductions into the International Order of BBYO are some of my favorite memories. During all three of these instances there was a unique and special feeling among the group of teens that is indescribable. Overall, the campus was beautiful, the lessons were valuable, the programs were inspiring, the friendships were strong, and the memories will never be forgotten.

by Lindsay Goodman of LeOlum BBG