Friendship Circle Leaders Meet

80 Shluchim, Shluchos and Friendship Circle coordinators participated in a two-day conference at the Dolce Resort in Norwalk, CT last week. The participants represented a surprising demographic, even including several Australian representatives.

The underlying theme of the Kinus this year was Friendship City with a focus on simple steps that could be taken to make an entire city friendly to individuals with special needs.

On display were exhibits offering tips and ideas, including a mini synagogue, Hebrew school, library, restaurant, therapy garden, grocery store, newsstand and a social media wall each outlining what can be done to become more accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Some of the highlight presentations included an address by Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe who outlined the Rebbe’s approach to people with special needs and Ailene Tisser and Nancy Schwartz spoke about working with special children and tips on running programs.

Yossi Kahana and Rabbi Levi Shemtov spoke about cultivating donors and fundraising, Motti Seligson gave tips on how to work with the media, Norm Friedman presented communication skills and Fred Springer outlined the importance of working with local federations.

This year’s Kinus also marked the conclusion of the “100 by 2010” campaign which was launched by The Shluchim Office in 2005 with 24 Friendship Circles in existence. Currently there are 83 Friendship Circles in 7 countries.

11 Friendship Circles have joined the race of the Chase Community Giving Campaign, hoping to win the big grant of $250K or at least one of the 4 for $100K or one of the 6 of $20K. Help them today by visiting Vote11