By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

In my 30 years with The Birmingham Jewish Federation, I had never seen anything like it. A Standing Room Only BJF board meeting! It happened this past week as board members turned out at an unprecedented level to attend our September board meeting.

Part of it, no doubt, was due to this being a good time of year to hold a board meeting. With Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, about to start just two nights later, folks were in town. Moreover, people tend to be in an upbeat mood this time of year, excited about the High Holy Days and especially appreciative of our wonderful Jewish community.

Even with all that, however, something was different. As I sat at the head of the table, next to our Campaign Chair Randi Landy, who led the meeting (BJF President Jimmy Filler could not be there), I was taken by the energy, excitement and enthusiasm that permeated the large room.

The reports were wonderful and well received. Our fundraising continues to remain strong, despite the recession; participation in an ever-growing array of BJF programs is increasing; and younger members of our community, those in their 20s and 30s, continue to step forward to play leadership roles.

GLAD TO BE THERE

You could tell that the people who were there -- even as they stood and waited for extra chairs to be brought in -- were glad to be there and felt as if they were part of something important. Looking around the packed room, I found myself marveling at how many of these volunteers are substantively involved in the work of the BJF, and are generous donors, not only to our annual BJF Campaign but also to our historic Next 100 Years initiative.

In my remarks, I reflected on where we were three years ago -- almost exactly to the day -- when news of the impending recession began breaking. I recalled our Executive Committee gathering and us talking about what at the time I dubbed the "three R's" -- Reductions, Restructuring and Renewal.

I told our Executive Committee at the time that we would make significant reductions in our operating expenses (which we did), restructure our staff and reprioritize our workload (which we did), and that out of these efforts would come an unprecedented period of renewal (which it has).

Over the past year, we have entered one of the most creative and innovative periods in our history and just about everyone who intersects with The BJF these days remarks about the intensity and electricity they encounter. People feel it and want to be part of it. How do we know? They tell us.

NOT WASTING TIME

As gratifying as the board meeting was (we keep them to one hour), responses to a survey we sent out immediately afterwards were equally rewarding. One of the things we say at The BJF is "we don't waste your time and we don't waste your money" and as part of this commitment we always survey our board members right after the meeting to make sure that we used their time well.

We received many responses, and aside from a few logistical suggestions, most everyone gave the board meeting high marks. They found it interesting, informative, well run and a good use of their time. What was nice, though, and especially gratifying, were some of the comments board members made.

"Excellent meeting, incredible participation, outstanding new programs; I am honored to be a part of this team of board members!! WOW!!" wrote one of our newer board members, who has served on other boards in both the Jewish and broader Birmingham communities. "Overall, it was very exciting with enthusiastic participation!"

"I thought the meeting went better than it ever has before," wrote one of our young board members. "Our meetings do what they are supposed to do. I don't know that there would be a better way to hold them. I feel like they do a good job of getting to the issues without wasting the time of the board members."

"As someone who has been a part of this board for the past several years, I feel like this organization does a better job of communicating with its leadership than any other I have been a part of. Thank you!" added this board member.

We, at The BJF, don't do things perfectly by any means. However, what we try to do is engage people, give them an opportunity to make an impact, give them a sense that they are part of something important and successful and, in turn, challenge them to grow as volunteers and individuals.

Apparently it's all working. Added another new board member, "Just keep doing what you're doing. Bringing interesting people together with interesting ideas makes for great meetings!"