By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

At The Birmingham Jewish Federation, we help volunteers we are grooming learn more about leadership from a Jewish perspective, drawing upon texts, teachings and traditions.

However, rather than bringing them together in small groups or classroom settings, our strategy is to work with both up and coming volunteer leaders, as well as more experienced ones, on an individualized basis.

Our first initiative has been with volunteers Lisa Engel and Amanda Weil. Together, Lisa, who is one of The BJF's most experienced and distinguished volunteers, and Amanda, a young, emerging leader, are sharing The BJF's VP for Community Relations position, which includes chairing our Jewish Community Relations Coalition.

As part of this new leadership development approach, and reflective of their willingness to embrace the process, Lisa and Amanda arrived in Atlanta last night for a BJF-developed Leadership Retreat that will conclude this evening. With them are Daniel Odrezin, a University of Alabama law student who has been working for The BJF; Joyce Spielberger, The BJF's Director of Community Relations & Overseas Programs; Samantha Dubrinsky, who is working for The BJF as a Projects Assistant, and me.

As a framework for our experience, we've collectively read a great book entitled, "Inspired Jewish Leadership: Practical Approaches to Building Strong Communities" by Dr. Erica Brown. (See below link.) Brown contends that Jewish leadership is distinct from leadership in general, and through the exploration of Jewish texts and traditions makes a forceful case.

PERSPECTIVES & PASSION

Amanda, Daniel and Samantha, all in their 20s, are having the opportunity to learn from Lisa, Joyce and me. We, in turn, are benefiting from their insights, idealism and passion.

As we like to say, "There is no kid's table at The BJF," and deserving and qualified young adults can have the opportunity -- now -- to become involved at the highest levels of our organization. It is an approach we've crafted out in response to the unprecedented number of young people who want to make an impact at The BJF. One of our goals for the future, through "Our Next 100 Years," a historic BJF-led fundraising and community engagement initiative, is to build a new generation of leaders -- today -- to lead us into the future.

Clearly, The BJF is embarking on a remarkable new chapter. Our revenues continue to grow, our volunteer base keeps expanding, our program initiatives are cutting-edge, and our top volunteers and staff are motivated and passionate. With this, has come an elevation of our standards.

BEST OF THE BEST

Our expectations of our volunteers have risen -- we want the best of the best; our demands of our staff are increasing -- everyone in our organization must be able to do at least two jobs well; and our volunteer leaders must be willing not only to make a generous gift to The BJF Annual Campaign, but also to Our Next 100 Years.

When we recruit new volunteer leaders today we just don't talk to them about the job. We talk to them about helping us enrich and transform our organization and the work it's going to take -- in terms of them investing their time, enhancing their knowledge, expanding their leadership skills and increasing their financial support.

And you know what the amazing thing is? Just about everyone we ask these days to play a leadership role says yes -- quickly, with excitement and an understanding that to be a volunteer in our organization is a privilege and an opportunity to make a lasting impact.