PRIORITIES?

When the Federation Leadership Institute concluded in Florida in 2009, the then UJC lay leadership (which, of course, included the JFNA leadership of today) concluded there was a "mandate" for a whole slew of things in which, it turned out, the Federation leadership had little if any interest. Turning Santaya's maxim on its head, the JFNA leaders have decided that rather than learn from the mistakes of the past, they will repeat them. So, after the Dallas Board meeting JFNA's leaders have announced "...we have evaluated the wealth of feedback you gave us along with feedback we have received from the Federations" and, apparently, "we" have concluded that the following will "set the right course for our organization and deliver direct services with maximum value to Federations."

And just what is the "right course" that justifies a $30,300,000 (+/-) federation investment? This is it:

"Legislative and Collective Responsibility

~ Emergency response


~ Convening -- General Assembly, regional meetings


~ Public policy -- D.C.


~ Consulting on merger and leveraging (donor management system)


~ Advocacy on major Jewish initiatives, e.g., Iran





Positioning for the Future

Building the Base:

~ Branding -- advertising, messaging, marketing


~ Web capacity and social networking


~ Aggressive public relations and messaging (only Federations)


~ Engagement of emerging adults



Talent

~ Succession planning -- identifying strengths and holes


~ Talent acquisition and retention


~ Career path/culture shift for women professionals


~ Professional/volunteer relationship training



Israel & Overseas

~ Global planning -- priority setting and needs assessment


~ Aggressive education on the I & O agenda and opportunities

Financial Resource Development

~ Annual Campaign -- reenergize -- vitalize - research


~ Leadership philanthropy engagement -- current, lapsed and new


~ Affinity group assessment and strategy issues


~ e-philanthropy


~ Engagement of emerging adults"

Does this read (even giving credit for the items that are inexplicable in Kathy's and Jerry's recitation of these in their Passover Greetings and Report on March 29 -- [more on that below]) like the "areas of focus" of a $30 million organization? Of a serious organization? Of an organization that has a clear focus on federation priorities? Read these and compare them with JFNA's Draft "Budget" (more on that in the coming days) and ask yourselves these questions.


From my reading, JFNA remains an organization adrift. One which is getting no leadership from its Chairs who seem to be trying to say, without much success if any, that you have chosen these paths down which JFNA will now take you. "Paths" chosen during a single day in January at a set of tables at which sat representatives of maybe...maybe...half of the federations. Now Silverman has to fit these square pegs into the round holes of his "five areas of focus." Please, Jerry, a little more push back at this nonsense.

A few days ago I received an Anonymous Comment that was extremely critical of Jerry and the JFNA Board -- so filled with vitriol toward Jerry that I rejected the idea of printing it. The writer did conclude that it is doubtful that JFNA can "survive" the lay leadership that it has. If that was all that that Anonymous writer had written, I would have published the Comment. Jerry has to understand by now -- you're not in Campland any more.

Rwexler