Years ago, when I served on JFNA's Consulting Services Department Committee, I took issue with several of the federation Comprehensive Plans in which the Department participated (with, of course, a consultant...always, even then, a consultant). My issue was a simple one framed as a question: "What is JFNA's (it was "UJC" back then) responsibility to assure that basic federation principles are included in federation comprehensive plans in the preparation of which JFNA is engaged?" The answer was: "the customer is always right."
Is it? Is the customer always right? And, if the customer rejects, in these instances, basic federation principles, what is the obligation of JFNA, if any, to assert those principles? And, then, extend the question to those who conduct Federation CEO searches: are they just note-takers executing orders or do they have any obligations to the system and/or the profession (such as it remains today)?
I've been told, more than once, as indicated above, that JFNA must be responsive solely to the wants and desires of its customers. If the customer, the federation, wants to move away from the core principles upon which federation qua federation has been built, so be it. In the context of the CEO search processes if the community wants to move away from professionals trained in, steeped in and committed to the federation system, so be it.
But, really, is that it? Doesn't the umbrella organization of and by the federations have an obligation to stand up and be counted on behalf of the basic concepts underlying the construct of federation? Or, as in so many other things, is this JFNA nothing more than a bystander, a note-taker or, as JFNA likes to consider itself, first and foremost (and, some would say, only) a note-taker...a rubber stamp...for others. I can think of two instances of many where JFNA assisted local communities in comprehensive community plans that moved them far away from the fabric of federation -- one was Philadelphia (which has since certainly returned to the very bricks upon which community is built), whose "Plan" was so removed from the underlying tenets of federation that the then JFNA CEO demanded that his name and JFNA's be removed from the communal acknowledgments; the other, San Diego. These were two instances among many others. In none were basic federation principles ever articulated by JFNA or its vetted consultants.
Then there are the CEO searches. JFNA has made an investment in preparing and encouraging federation-trained professionals for communal CEO service. Yet, JFNA's CEO Search agent, at the Mandel Center for Leadership blah, blah, blah, has regularly acquiesced, if not encouraged, federations to search "outside the box" (that literally means today "inside the box" as, more and more, federation professionals who are aspirants for CEO positions are passed over for, e.g., camp or JCC directors) excluding those from inside the federations often completely. What, if any, responsibility...obligation...does JFNA have to the profession of Jewish communal service, to those excellent federation professionals who, if properly vetted, mentored, trained and presented would excel as federation CEOs? This used to not even be a question. Today, Silverman believes himself to be the paradigm -- and I agree (that's not a compliment).
I know great professionals, some sitting federation CEOs who wished to be considered for a new position who have been told that the federation Search Committee in question "won't consider a sitting federation CEO." Others have been counseled that they have been effectively "black-balled" by JFNA's CEO and should not apply. If the best and brightest of communal professionals are being excluded from CEO consideration for whatever the reason outside of their qualifications, then don't JFNA and its agent have a responsibility to the Jewish communal service profession to at least say: "Wait a minute; we think you should consider ______________ who has demonstrated great potential in (insert name of Federation here)?
Yeah, sure.
Rwexler
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19 comments:
"Give the customer what it wants" - now that sounds like a really great recipe for national Jewish leadership!
Don't they even listen to what they are saying over there?
Are there no mirrors in the JFNA Executive offices?
"What, if any, responsibility...obligation...does JFNA have to the profession of Jewish communal service, to those excellent federation professionals who, if properly vetted, mentored, trained and presented would excel as federation CEOs?"
They should start by explaining why the JPro Conference is separate from the GA. You would think that bringing together professionals with the system would be an obvious move. Guess again.
My CEO told me that he didn't even bother recruiting for the JPro conference. Said it was a waste of time.
To anon at 10:20 - what federation are you? Our Exec said the same thing to the Board.
FYI - JPro is a professional association for Jewish communal service; it is not a professional association specific to those working in Jewish federations. As federation and agency operating budgets are getting tighter and tighter, it is hard to promote the JPro conference and dedicated professional development conferences (e.g. JCCA conferences for JCC employees, iLEAD for Federation professionals, AJFCA or other human service conferences for JFS employees). JPro has done an excellent job at promoting local JPro networks. It promotes local programming - typically organized by the Federation - that brings together all Jewish communal professionals for professional development. I am told we are beginning this in our community.
Disappointed to learn that JFNA is cutting out 'talent acquisition' from its budget for next year. They already basically stopped assisting federations searching for sub-CEO position. Now they are going out of the CEO-search business. It has always been a comforting thought that our community would benefit from JFNA CEO-search assistance when needed...comforting when we discuss the JFNA budget/fair share/dues commitment.
Same thing with missions. I think I understand JFNA getting out of the mission business - in Israel - and limiting its mission itinerary planning. But I don't understand cutting back on mission consulting out of NYC/USA. Who is there to help Federations decide on what type/kind of mission to run? Who gathers mission marketing best-practices? Who can review with you how missions are organized in various cities, from collaborations with synagogues, to mega missions, to small boutique missions? As JFNA gets out of the community mission business, they are also getting out of the mission-knowledge business. And the for-profit companies in the mission business (Eshet, Kenes, Giant Leap, Keshet, Amiel, etc.) are not sharing information to strengthen Federation's abilities to develop and implement a mission program.
I'm not even sure why I'm here at the conference. It starts in a few hours and they haven't got their act together.
How many of these new CEOs are going to Jpro?
" JPro has done an excellent job at promoting local JPro networks." Hahahahaha in what universe?
I think anon above just proved the original point. Sure, Jpro isn't supposed to be "just" for pros working in Jewish federations. But the GA isn't "just" for leaders of those federations either. For Jpro to have its own show (I'm at it now and it's just as sad as the above commentator said) is a sad statement of being cut off from what we should be doing.
Why did JFNA agree to let JPro go?
Does JPro report to JFNA?
Time for you to do some investigating, Richard.
Name one example of where Jpro national has helped a local branch. Please.
" JPro is a professional association for Jewish communal service; it is not a professional association specific to those working in Jewish federations." Right. So by that logic federations shouldn't do anything that's not specific to their tasks? Federations shouldn't aim to help all community professionals?
Shouldn't federations be doing the task of Jpro?
Yes. Yes they should.
There are several cities where JPro has helped promote a local Jewish communal professionals network. One is St. Louis.
JPro is not new. It is dates back to 1899 as the Conference of Jewish Charities, Jewish Communal Service Association, Conference of Jewish Communal Service, etc.
I don't believe it was ever part of JFNA or its predecessors.
And yet here we are.
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