Sunday, May 1, 2016

HOBSON'S CHOICE?

 the choice of taking either that which is offered or nothing; the absence of a real alternative


So often you have called me or spoken †o me in confidence to tell me that the reason you have chosen to do nothing about the mess that is JFNA is that there is really no option -- it's the mediocrity and worse that we have or the collapse of the organization leaving us with nothing at all. This has been framed to me as a true Hobson's Choice. And, each and every time I have heard this, I have responded with the reasons that, if one thinks about them, transforming change is still possible.

I was advised a long, long time ago by a great Jewish leader: "Richard, just remember -- don't defend the indefensible or deny the obvious." I have tried to be true to that advice. It's time for surgery, not bandaids.


When Jerry Silverman first took office, there was some hope after one of his first acts was to bring a superb professional, Mindy Hepner, back into the JFNA fold. I complimented him on these pages for that "rehire." But since, as one of you recently observed:
"It is the awful organizational culture that we have allowed to become entrenched within JFNA, where even the best people are confronted with the reality of organizational politics that could easily compete with any power-centered, empire-building bureaucracy.

Is it any wonder that good people that are not willing to play these games either run away or are chased away so often - and usually under such unpleasant circumstances?
I'm sure the results of the recently completed staff survey will show that JFNA is a great place to work (because if not, the results will either be doctored or not released).

A great place to work for the bosses and their cronies and for the line workers who don't really understand how bad things really are.
We, on the other hand, should understand how bad things really are and, more important, we should be doing something about it.
And just how "bad" is it? 

  • Bad enough that there has been no Senior Vice-President FRD (or "Philanthropic Resources") for over six months;
  • Bad enough that there has been no senior professional leader of JFNA-Consulting Services for over six months;
Here are two of the most major JFNA functional areas servicing the federations themselves without senior leadership

But it gets worse: there is not nor has there been a community planning professional staff at JFNA since, I believe, Bob Hyfler left during Rieger's years. Thus, everything (or, make that "anything") that is done at JFNA is ad hoc.

Where is the outcry? Can the lay leadership even comprehend the waste that must be taking place? FRD has a budget of close to $15 million -- how is it being spent? On what? I find it hard to believe that Richard Sandler and Jodi Schwartz, two lay leaders of incredible and proven commitment, continue to sit by -- I can almost hear the fiddling here in Chicago -- as if they lack the power to do anything about it.

"How bad things really are?" Really, really bad. Make that REALLY REALLY BAD."


Doing nothing is not a Hobson's Choice -- it is no choice at all.


Rwexler






6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those lay leaders coming into power sign a secret pledge upon nomination, certified by pricking their index finger in blood, to "say nothing" and "do nothing" over their entire term.

Anyone have a better idea for the total lack of taking their responsibilities seriously?

Anonymous said...

Richard, you forgot the most important vacancy which is now going on 7 years (or maybe longer) a top qualified professional at the very top position. Note to JS - (if you are reading this) "How do you go to sleep at night knowing you are so worthless?"

Anonymous said...

There is always an alternative - probably more than one.
The problem is that we have to care enough to put some effort into deciding what to do and then doing it.
Do we care enough or are we paralyzed by our apathy and fear to assert ourselves and do what needs to be done?

Anonymous said...

Richard -- on a separate note...if you look at today's (5/2/2016) FedWorld email....under the JEWISH EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT section...you will find the following.


Marketing guru Seth Godin argues that the internet has replaced mass marketing with individual ‘tribes.’ Two articles review a new book that stresses the importance of relationship building over programming. Hillel outlines best practices for engaging young adults and creating a stronger Jewish community. Leading Jewish professionals offer one-line definitions of 'Jewish Engagement.'
• TED—Seth Godin on the Tribes We Lead
• Jewish Journal—The key to building community is social interaction, not ‘social networks’
• eJewish Philanthropy—Relational Judaism: The only experience left for Jewish community
• Hillel—The Hillel Model for Jewish Engagement
• Gina Schmeling—The zone of Jewish engagement

ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE ARTICLES IS OVER A YEAR OLD...THE TED TALK GOES BACK TO 2009...THE JEWISH JOURNAL ARTICLE IS FROM 2013...THE eJew ARTICLE FROM THREE MONTHS AGO...HILLEL MODEL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS...AND GINA'S ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN FEBRUARY 2015.

I GUESS THEY HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT TODAY WORTHWHILE!!! AMAZING. AND THEY PUT THIS OUT THERE LIKE SOMETHING NEW. SHAME ON THEM.

RWEX said...

Unreal -- even for this circus.

Bob Hyfler said...

"Relationship building over programing"? I am sure that if we explored the idea further we would find a great deal of confused jargon. I, and I'm sure many others, are all for relationship building: relationships with Holocaust survivors, the poor, the needy and the lonely; relationships with our special needs brothers and sisters; relationships with our history and our texts and efficacious ways of bringing justice and understanding to a broken world.

My unsolicited advice to those who control the agenda and the purse strings - spend a little less time and resources on marketing, faddish consultancies and "kiddush and kugel" outreach. Focus on what we were set up to do and promote and support efforts which change peoples lives for the better. By focusing on the tachlis of what really matters alienated Jews of all ages may once again begin to feel the burn of Jewish community.