NCJW BCS FIRST ANNUAL BOARD RETREAT VOTED “A REAL TREAT”

The mantra “Honoring the Past – Moving into the Future” was the theme running through NCJW BCS’s inspiring and informative first annual board retreat, an all-day event held at the charming Clinton Inn in Tenafly on Tuesday June 13, 2017.

Among the guest speakers enjoyed by 65 attendees, comprising NCJW BCS board members and invited guests, were Rabbi Jordan Millstein of Temple Sinai of Bergen County in Tenafly, who delivered a stirring Invocation;  Beatrice Kahn, national president of NCJW Inc. whose rousing topic was “Looking to the Future”;  and New Jersey Assemblywoman and NCJW Life Member Valerie Vainieri Huttle, who extolled the virtue, significant power and influence of the members of NCJW Bergen County Section who, for many years, have successfully advocated for, and supported her efforts to enact vital legislation in the NJ Assembly for the benefit of women, children and families. Past President and “Woman of the Section” awardee, Elaine Pollack, reminded all present of the section’s past successes in her topic “Still Going Strong After 94 Years.”

Adeptly chaired by Past President Marcia Levy, and co-chaired by recently installed Co-Presidents Jane Abraham, Elizabeth Halverstam, and Ruth Seitelman, the retreat featured lively interactive break-out workshops led by Beatrice Kahn and the Co-Presidents on Leadership and Volunteers’ Role, and department meetings on Advocacy/Education and Community Service.

The icing on the cake was when eight brilliant young Jewish women who are graduating from Bergen County public high schools this year were each awarded $1,000 through NCJW BCS’s endowed scholarships. When presenting the awards, Scholarship Committee Chairperson, Evalyn Brownstein stated, “Among the scholarship criteria were each candidate’s academic record, meaningful participation in school and/or community activities, and financial need. This year’s recipients raised the bar in every way.”

An evaluation form was distributed and the resulting consensus was that the Retreat was motivational, informative, educational, inclusive and an important networking and brainstorming opportunity.  It was a wonderful, inspiring way to start our new year.

Click photos to enlarge.