jccs of north america biennial awards 2014

JCCs of North AmericaBiennial Awards

The Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award

The Frank L. Weil Awards

The Florence G. Heller Professional Award

JCCs of North America Excellence Awards

JCCs of North America

Contents These awards celebrate individuals or institutions that have made contributions to the JCC Movement on a continental level.

The Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award .............................................................................. 3

The Frank L. Weil Awards ...................................................................................................4–5

The Florence G. Heller Professional Award ..................................................................... 6

Nominations for these awards must be made via e-mail.Deadline for nominations is September 30, 2013.

These awards celebrate outstanding initiatives that have contributed to the success of individual JCCs and are adaptable by other JCCs.

The JCCs of North America Excellence Awards ......................................................7–11

Lay Leadership Excellence Awards ............................................................................... 9

Program & Operations Excellence Awards .................................................................10

Marketing & Communications Excellence Awards ..................................................... 11

Nominations for these awards must be made online at www.biennial.jcca.org/awards.Deadline for submission is November 1, 2013.

This booklet contains information about the JCCs of North America Biennial Awards to be bestowed at the Biennial Convention in San Diego, March, 2014.

Please take a few minutes to read through the booklet, as some guidelines have been updated.

Share the information with the appropriate staff and/or lay people so they can determine which awards to apply for.

?General questions about the awards or submission process may be addressed to:

Gabriella Lapkoff tel: (212) 786-5154e-mail: [email protected]

Biennial Awards 2014 | 3

The Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership AwardJCC Association presents the Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award biennially to an individual or an institution that has made a singular contribution to the enhancement of Jewish education in Jewish Community Centers and JCC camps.

Morton L. Mandel, JCC Association Honorary Chair, was the first to receive the award in 1998, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen Jewish education in JCCs throughout North America. In 1981, Mr. Mandel chaired the Commission on Maximizing Jewish Educational Effectiveness of JCCs (COMJEE). His leadership helped spur JCCs to strengthen their capacities to deliver effective Jewish educational services. Decades later, Mr. Mandel’s contribution to COMJEE continues to inspire the JCC Movement.

The Award was re-named in his honor in 2000.

Winners of the Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award

1998 Morton L. Mandel, Cleveland, OH2000 92nd Street YM-YWHA, New York, NY2002 JCCs of Chicago, Chicago, IL2004 The Melton School of the Hebrew University

The Florence Melton Adult Mini School

2006 Professor Barry Chazan2008 The AVI CHAI Foundation2010 The Marcus Foundation2012 Rabbi Alvin Mars

?Questions about the Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award should be addressed to:

Dr. David Ackerman tel: (212) 786-5110e-mail: [email protected]

A select committee chooses the Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award recipient. We invite nominations for the award from the JCC field.

Should you wish to nominate an individual or institution, please e-mail the following information to David Ackerman at [email protected]:

• Name of institution or individual nominated

• Please indicate the specific continental, regional and local contribution to the innovation and advancement of Jewish education in JCCs in North America made by the nominee. Include the quality and scope of leadership in the JCC field, as well as descriptions of the programs, activities, and efforts.

• Submitted by (your name)

• Your e-mail address

• Agency affiliation

Deadline for nominations is September 30 , 2013

the nomination:

MortonL.Mandel

4 | JCCs of North America

The Frank L. Weil AwardsJCC Association established the Frank L. Weil Awards in 1950 in the name of our leader who served with brilliant distinction as president of JWB from 1940 to 1950. These biennial awards recognize distinguished contributions to the three areas of JCC Association’s work: the Jewish Community Center field, the armed services field, and the advancement of North American Jewish education and culture.

Award ProcedureWe seek recommendations for awards on the local, regional and continental levels. Criteria for the selection of nominees for the awards are presented below. A jury, chaired by Ronald L. Leibow, JCC Association board member and past Weil Award winner, will consider all recommendations.

CriteriaDistinguished Contribution to the Jewish Community Center Field

1. The person’s record of outstanding service in the Jewish Community Center field.2. The quality and character of the person’s leadership in the Jewish Community Center field.

Distinguished Contribution to the Armed Services Field1. The person’s record of outstanding service in promoting the welfare of Jewish men and women

in the Armed Forces and Veterans Hospitals of the United States.2. The quality and character of the person’s leadership in the armed services field.

For Distinguished Contribution to the Armed Services Field

Winners of the Frank L. Weil Awards

For Distinguished Contribution to the Jewish Community Center Field

1951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621964

Louis Kraft, New York, NYGertrude Glogower, Detroit, MIFlorence G. Heller, Chicago, ILJoseph Goldstein, Rochester, NYMichael A. Stavitsky, Newark, NJJack Nadel, New York, NYLouis Stern, Newark, NYCecile Sands, New York, NYIrving Edison, St. Louis, MOHelen Dalsheimer, Baltimore, MDCharles Aaron, Chicago, ILGraenum Berger, New York, NYArthur S. Kling, Louisville, NY

196619681970197219741976197819801982198419861988

Alan J. Altheimer, Chicago, ILSolomon Litt, New York, NYJoseph Kruger, South Orange, NJLeon Kaplan, Miami, FLMorton L. Mandel, Cleveland, OHIsadore E. Millstone, St. Louis, MOEsther Leah Ritz, Milwaukee, WIJesse Feldman, San Francisco, CAMinnie Nathanson, New York, NYLeonard Kaplan, Boston, MADaniel Rose, New York, NYGerald Ostrow, Pittsburgh, PA

199019921994199619982000200220042006200820102012

Ambassador Leonard Rochwarger, Buffalo, NYLeonard Rubin, Tenafly, NJHarriet Rosenthal, Metro-West, NJJohn M. Wolf, Sr., Pittsburgh, PALester Pollack, New York, NYAnn P. Kaufman, Houston, TXPhilip M. Shiekman, Philadelphia, PAJerome B. Makowsky, Memphis, TNRonald L. Leibow, Los Angeles, CAEdward H. Kaplan, Potomac, MDStephen Reiner, New York, NYAlan P. Solow, Chicago, IL

195l1952195319541955195619571958

1959

1960

Milton Weill, New York, NYAlice Bachrach, Louisville, KYCharles W. Morris, Louisville, KYCol. Jesse C. Colman, San Francisco, CADr. David de Sola Pool, New York, NYJoseph F. Barr, Washington, DCRabbi Joseph H. Lookstein, NY, NYChaplain Joshua L. Goldberg,

New York, NYCol. Harry D. Henshell, New York, NYRabbi Nathan Witkin, Balboa,

Panama Canal ZoneElinor Bernheim, New York, NY

196119621964196619681970197219741976197819801982

Rabbi Max D. Davidson, Perth Amboy, NJ Rabbi Morris Leiberman, Baltimore, MDWalter D. Heller, San Francisco, CAAdele Ginzberg, New York, NYEvelyn & Daniel L. Stone, New York, NYBenjamin Sternberg, Frankfurt, GermanyRabbi Israel Miller, New York, NYJane Evans, New York, NYJacob Goodstein, Metropolitan NJRabbi Emanuel Rackman, Ramat Gan, IsraelJean Bloustein, New York, NYN. Brewster Broder, Detroit, MI

198419861988199019921994199619982000200220082012

Robert L. Adler, Chicago, ILRabbi Judah Nadich, New York, NYRabbi Herschel Schacter, New York, NYNorma Ackerman, Long Island, NYRabbi Barry H. Greene, Short Hills, NJRabbi Aaron Landes, Elkins Park, PAMarvin Pertzik, St. Paul, MNRabbi Abraham Avrech, Miami, FLJack Shaffer, Denver, CORonald L. Leibow, Los Angeles, CARabbi Phillip Silverstein, Columbia, SCNoreen Gordon Sablotsky, Miami, FL


?Questions about the Frank L. Weil Award should be addressed to:

Jerry Wische tel: (212) 786-5138e-mail: [email protected]

A select committee chooses the Frank L. Weil Award recipients. We invite nominations for the award from the JCC field.

Should you wish to nominate an individual or institution, please e-mail the following information to Jerry Wische at [email protected]:

A. The 2014 Frank L. Weil Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Jewish Community Center Field

• Name of nominee

• Indicate the specific continental, regional and local achievements and contributions that substantiate your recommendation. A detailed statement for each nominee should be added to this ballot.




B. The 2014 Frank L. Weil Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Armed Services Field

• Name of nominee

• Indicate the specific continental, regional and local achievements and contributions that substantiate your recommendation. A detailed statement for each nominee should be added to this ballot.





the nomination:


The Florence G. Heller Professional AwardThe Board of Directors of JCC Association established the Florence G. Heller Professional Award on January 21, 1968, to honor the memory of its president and beloved leader, Mrs. Florence G. Heller. This award is presented at each JCC Association Biennial Convention to a JCC professional.

Criteria1. The recipient’s contribution shall stem directly from a professional career in agencies or programs

directly related to JCC Association.2. The award shall recognize contributions that enrich the totality and breadth of professional

practice and knowledge.3. Current members of the JCC Association staff shall not be eligible for the award.4. Only one award shall be made in connection with each JCC Association Biennial Convention.5. The award shall not be given posthumously.

Winners of the Florence G. Heller Professional AwardFor distinguished professional service within JCC Association’s fields of work.

196819701972197419761978

Miriam R. EphraimIrving BrodskySanford SolenderEmanuel BerlatskyLouis SmithHerbert Millman

198019821984198619881990

William KahnAbe VinikWilliam GrossmanMurry ShapiroWilliam BuddBernard T. Rosen

199219941996199820002002

Samuel I. SorinBessie PineArt RotmanJack BoekoBurt GarrZev Hymowitz

200420062008200820102012

Jerry WischeLewis StolzenbergAvrum CohenSolomon GreenfieldArlene BarronLouis “Buddy” Sapolsky

A select committee, chaired by JCC Association board member Ronald L. Leibow, chooses the Florence G. Heller Award recipient. We invite nominations for the award from the JCC field.

Should you wish to nominate an individual or institution, please e-mail the following information to Jerry Wische at [email protected]:

• Name of nominee

• Information regarding this person’s specific continental, regional and local achievements, and particular contributions to the enrichment of professional knowledge and practice.





the nomination:

?Questions about the Frank L. Weil Award should be addressed to:

Jerry Wische tel: (212) 786-5138e-mail: [email protected]


Guidelines for Submission1. Only affiliated JCCs, YM-YWHAs, and independent overnight camps in good standing may apply.

2. Each JCC/Y/camp may submit one entry per lettered award category A – E and G – L, and up to three entries in category F (Programmatic Excellence and User Engagement). Following these guidelines, a JCC may submit up to 14 entries in total.

3. The initiative must have been started or significantly improved since November 1, 2011.

4. All entries should be submitted between July 22 and November 1, 2013, using the online application at www.biennial.jcca.org/awards.

You will be asked to submit the following information for each entry on the submission form. TELL THE STORY!

• Who was/is the lead staff person for this initiative?

• Indicate lay chair of the initiative (if applicable).

• In 75 words or less, describe the initiative in clear and compelling language. PLEASE NOTE: if your submission wins an award, this is the text that will be used to share your initiative with the world.

• WHY did you do it? What was the motivation behind this initiative? What was the problem, the challenge, the opportunity, etc., and what did you hope to accomplish for your JCC?

• HOW did you do it? What steps did you implement to solve the problem, meet the challenge, seize the opportunity? Please be sure to indicate the financial and human resources required, as well as key dates (when planning began, when program was launched, etc.).

• WHAT happened? What were the results? What has been the impact on your JCC, your staff, your community? Please provide metrics—the specific quantitative and qualitative criteria you used in evaluating the success of this effort—as appropriate.

• ADAPTABILITY: One of the key objectives for these awards is to provide resources for other JCCs to implement high quality programs and services already demonstrated successful in another JCC. Therefore those award submissions that more clearly articulate how their programs can be easily adapted in another JCC will be given stronger consideration.

Outstanding achievements help JCCs of North America build meaningful Jewish community. The JCCs of North America Excellence Awards honor exceptional efforts, and hold them up as examples so that all JCCs may learn from them.

The creativity and resourcefulness embodied in these achievements serve as an inspiration to all of us, and embody the vitality of the JCC Movement.

Judges will honor winning entries with one of the following award levels:

Zahav (Gold Standard)Truly outstanding, visionary initiatives with maximum impact or potential for change.

Kol Ha Kavod (Honor to You)Exemplary initiatives that can be adapted by other JCCs.


5. All fields are mandatory.

6. Submission instructions:

• All materials, including any supporting files (video, photos, PDFs, etc.), must be submitted electronically.

• All award submissions are encouraged to submit hard copy collateral and supporting material via snail mail as well, if it is important to the program/service, and/or strengthens the submission.

• All Marketing submissions MUST snail mail (2) copies of submitted material, wherever applicable (printed materials, swag, and the like).

• When submitting hard copies, entrants should print their e-mailed receipt from the electronic submission, and include it with hard copy to ensure easy identification.

Please mail any applicable collateral, supporting materials, and/or marketing materials, along with a print of the e-mailed receipt from your electronic submission to:

Biennial AwardsJCC Association520 Eighth Avenue, 4th FloorNew York, NY 10018

Must be postmarked by November 1, 2013.

7. All entries become property of JCC Association and may be used to promote JCCs of North America.

Criteria1. Clarity of objectives

2. Strategic excellence

3. Connection to Jewish Life — priority will be given to initiatives that further the JCC’s primary purpose, as detailed in the JCC Movement Vision & Statement of Principles for the 21st Century. Visit www.jcca.org/commentary/ for the complete text.

4. Effectiveness – please include as many metrics as possible

5. Adaptability for use by other JCCs

6. Branding (where appropriate): the extent to which any collateral materials reflect the JCC Movement brand.

FAQsWho will be judging my entries?JCC Association staff. Your entries will be held in strict confidence.

How many entries may I submit?Each JCC, YM-YWHA, or independent overnight camp may submit up to 14 entries. You may submit one entry for each of the lettered categories A-E and G-L, and up to three entries for category F.

How can I make sure you have received my entries? If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail following your submission, please e-mail [email protected].

When and how will the winners be announced? Winners will be notified in February, 2014 and honored in March at Biennial 2014 in San Diego. Zahav award-winning entries will be featured at the Biennial and at the 2015 JCCs of North America Professional Conference. Zahav award and Kol Ha Kavod award-winning entries will be listed on the 2014 Biennial website and on JCCA.me.

All award winners will receive certificates at the Biennial and your delegation can be photographed with them by the Biennial photographer.


Lay Leadership Excellence AwardsYou may submit one entry per lettered category, A – D.

Submit entries online at www.biennial.jcca.org/awards/layleader

A. Philanthropic Leadership – How have your JCC’s board members taken responsibility for leading the fundraising efforts of the JCC in all or any of the following areas?

• Planned giving programs and bequests

• Major donors

• Fundraising events

B. Lay/Professional Partnerships – How has your board collaborated with the executive director and staff team to create an excellent JCC in all or any of the following areas?

• Hire, supervise, and support the executive director

• Develop strong collaborative relationships with the staff team

C. Strategic Oversight – How has your JCC ensured the financial well-being of the JCC and positioned it for success in all or any of the following areas?

• Strategic planning, business planning

• Financial oversight/fiduciary duty

• Advocacy beyond the JCC walls

D. Board Cultivation – How has the JCC recruited, trained, and developed a strong and effective board in all or any of the following areas?

• Orientation and training, ensuring that board members understand their roles and responsibilities

• Mentorships

• Representation from the full spectrum of stakeholders, including young leaders

• Nurturing a strong connection to the Jewish mission/values of the JCC, to Israel, and to the Jewish people


Program & Operations AwardsYou may submit one entry per lettered categories E, G, and H, and up to three entries for category F. Programmatic Excellence and User Engagement.

Submit entries online at www.biennial.jcca.org/awards/jccexcellence

E. Jewish Impact – How has your JCC impacted your members, the Jewish community and the general community in all or any of the following areas?

• Programs, activities and experiences that foster Jewish identity

• Programs, activities and experiences that enhance Jewish knowledge and commitment to Jewish life

• Initiatives that foster intra- and inter-agency collaborations, support and development to strengthen Jewish life in your community

• Programs, activities and experiences that enhance the Jewish ambiance and environment of the JCC

• Programs, activities and experiences that build bridges with Israel

F. Programmatic Excellence and User Engagement – What programs has your JCC developed that are succeeding in a competitive marketplace in terms of quality and value? In what ways do these programs project a sense of connection to the community? (You may submit up to three entries in this category)

• Adults, Arts & Culture, Day and/or Overnight Camp, Early Childhood Education & Family Engagement, Israel, Social Action, Sports & Wellness, Teens, etc.

G. Attracting and Retaining the Best Staff – How has your JCC recruited, trained, and developed a strong and effective staff team in all or any of the following areas?

• Recruitment

• Orientation and training, ensuring that staff members understand their roles and responsibilities, building a sense of team

• Mentorships, staff development

• Compelling opportunities for professional growth

• Nurturing a strong connection to the Jewish mission/values of the JCC, to Israel, and to the Jewish people

H. Maintaining Financial Sustainability and Growth – How has your JCC developed and/ or implemented a plan for financial sustainability and growth, using strategies in all or any of the following areas?

• Development of strategic or business plan (including impact on operating results)

• Membership models/other revenue plans

• Investment plans and/or endowment plans

• Capital planning, funding depreciation


Marketing & Communications Excellence AwardsYou may submit one entry per lettered category, I – L.

Submit entries online at www.biennial.jcca.org/awards/marketing

I. Planning – What strategies have you used to plan the marketing of your JCC to ensure its success?

• Developed marketing plan (strategy, budget, SWOT, etc.)

• Used marketing lay committee

• Media plan — coordinated approach to promoting a program or event(s)

J. Brand Strategy – How has your JCC developed and/or implemented a branding plan to ensure consistent and appropriate messaging to members, the Jewish community and the general community in all or any of the following areas?

• Staff/board buy-in and training

• Consistent messaging/language

• Positioning the JCC in the community and the marketplace

• Look and feel

• Brand voice

• Signage/facility

• Implementation at every touch-point

K. Interactive/Social Media – How has your JCC used interactive channels to ensure the success of your JCC and its initiatives in any of the following areas?

• Blog

• Cross-selling campaign for JCC programs & services

• E-commerce/merchandising campaign

• Facebook

• Pinterest

• Search engine optimization (SEO) strategy

• Twitter

• Video/YouTube channel/Vine

• Word of mouth

L. One-way/Push Media – How has your JCC used one-directional media to ensure the success of your JCC and its initiatives in any of the following areas?

• Broadcast (TV/radio)

• Cross-selling campaign for JCC programs & services

• Direct marketing campaign

• E-newsletter

• PR campaign

• Print

• Web advertising

• Website

Paula L. Sidman Chair

Allan Finkelstein President & CEO

Robin FrederickBiennial Chair

Robin Ballin Biennial DirectorSr. Vice President, CMO

520 Eighth Avenue | New York, NY 10018 (212) 532-4949 | biennial.jcca.org

jccs of north america biennial awards 2014

Documents

jewish community centers

ny2002 jccs of chicago

success of individual

jcc movement

jcc camps

weil awardsthe florence

jcc association honorary

biennial convention