Federation volunteers, professionals hone skills at regional workshop

Kickoff JFNA 2010: Volunteers and professionals from the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties at the Orlando regional JFNA Campaign Kickoff workshop. (L-R) Back row: Jeanie Abelson, Lion of Judah Campaign Chair; Diane Sherman, Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair; Bonnie Friedman, Executive Director; Sarah Kessler, intern; Barbara Kessler, Women’s Campaign Associate; Melanie Bowman, Lifeline Division Chair; Randi Friedman, PJ Library Coordinator. Front, Dan Frenden, Young Adult Division Leadership Council Professional staff and volunteer leadership of the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties recently participated in the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Campaign Kickoff workshop and I-LEAD programs in Orlando.

Held at Disney World’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, the Kickoff was one of four regional events designed to help Federations across the country jump start their 2010- 11 fund-raising campaigns. Representatives from the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Joint Distribution Committee – overseas partners of JFNA – led an interactive panel discussion about the most urgent needs in the global Jewish community and strategies for addressing them.

Jeanie Abelson, left, and Diane Sherman, right, with National Women’s Philanthropy Chair Linda Hurwitz, who will be the guest speaker for Pinellas & Pasco Federation’s upcoming Lion of Judah Annual Luncheon. Kickoff participants heard from national marketing and development professionals, who recapped the trends of the past two years’ campaigns, and suggested how to utilize this experience to maximize results for the upcoming 2010-11 Federation Campaign.

“It is so inspiring to interact in person with other volunteers and professionals from throughout the Federation system,” said Diane Sherman, Pinellas & Pasco Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair. “Together with all these individuals who believe in the same mission, you draw so much energy and realize that while each one of us is a vital component, we are at the same time an integral part of something so much bigger.”

Following the kickoff, the JFNA Mandel Center for Leadership presented I-LEAD, a series of courses specifically tailored for Federation professionals — both new and experienced. Among the topics covered were, solicitation, marketing, “E-philanthropy,” multigenerational philanthropy and creating a legacy.

I-LEAD closed with the Disney Institute’s Training with Vision, a professional development program designed to teach best practices and — at this particular conference — how to apply them to achieve each Federation’s goals for their community. Participants had the opportunity to attend one of two courses: “Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence “ or “Disney’s Approach to Quality Service.”

The kickoff and I-LEAD events both stressed that the ultimate “why” of Federation’s ongoing mission and fundraising is because real people rely on it and benefit from it every day, in the local Jewish community and throughout the world.