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The 2007 Biennial is Over But Not Forgotten by Judy Fisher
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The 2007 Biennial is Over But Not Forgotten
by Judy Fisher
It has been a thrilling experience during the past year to co-chair the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2007 Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Convention held at the San Diego Convention Center December 12-16.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the URJ, commented during his welcome speech that all Biennials are special, but this one has been one of the most special.
One of the components that made this Biennial so special was the amazing local volunteer effort before and during the Biennial from the ten host synagogues in San Diego and Orange Counties. Of the 575 registered volunteers from these synagogues, CBI provided 177 volunteers each of whom worked at least one three-hour shift. Many of these volunteers worked multiple shifts on multiple days.
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Special recognition goes to these CBI members, staff and clergy:
Betty Byrnes, chair of Recruitment, who also worked many hours in the volunteer office
Lynette and Sherwin Chasen, co-chairs of the Training Committee, who developed training materials and coordinated three sessions to train our almost 600 volunteers
Joanne Gimbel, CBI liaison to the Local Arrangements Committee and co-chair of the Volunteer Office, who recruited volunteers, promoted the Biennial to CBI members and worked many hours setting up and coordinating volunteers in the Volunteer Office
Marsha Janger, chair of Scheduling and Placement, who worked to get volunteers placed and confirmed and also volunteered as a floater for countless sessions during the Biennial
Beverly Miller, co-chair of the Volunteer Office, who worked to organize and set up the Office and worked countless hours during the Biennial to keep the Volunteer Office running smoothly
Vicki Raun, chair of the San Diego and Orange County History Exhibit, who gathered pictures from the 10 host synagogues and designed the beautiful tallit with strips from each of the host synagogues
Eric Whinston, chair of the Information Desk and Message Board, who worked countless hours "manning" the information booth
Rabbi Michael Berk led a Torah Study Breakfast on Shabbat Morning and served on the President's Speech Committee
Rabbi Glenn Ettman led a Torah Study Breakfast on Shabbat morning.
Cantor Arlene Bernstein led the music for the Wednesday Ma’ariv Service: Ma’ariv Minyan: Worship of the Future?
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CBI Staff and CBI Board Members also participated in workshops:
Tammy Vener, director of the CBI Preschool and Gladie Jaffe, CBI Board Member were presenters for the workshop: The Sooner the Better: How to Turn Early Childhood Families into Temple Members
Judy Fisher was also a presenter for: Putting Hebrew on the Curriculum Map
Bonnie Graff, CBI program director was a presenter for: Visioning for Lifelong Jewish Learning: Creating a Committee Structure
CBI Members participated in the volunteer choir
Susie Elden, Bayle Goodman, Herb Hein, Tracy Hirschfeld, Cindy Schairer and Debbie Skomer participated in the Biennial Choir and Abbi Hirschfeld, Lou Rosen and Myla Wingard played in the Biennial band.
I would like to thank everyone at CBI who supported, volunteered at and attended the Biennial to make it one of the most successful ever. Now, I hope the entire CBI community will benefit from the knowledge gained at the Biennial as we share our insights and continue to grow. It was a pleasure to watch CBI shine!
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