September 9 Message

“After you’ve done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully. After five years look at it with suspicion. And, after ten years, throw it away and start all over.” – Alfred Perlman, railroad executive

carol_simon

Shabbat Shalom!

I came across this quote several weeks ago…and it spoke to me! How many of us sit down with our calendars, and plug in the same things?

In our personal lives we may write in birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, vacations, etc. Many of us have favorite spots that we like to go to vacation…and it is hard to say, “next year let’s do something different”!

On our sisterhood calendars we tend to do the same thing..write in holidays and then the events that we hold from year to year. We tend to do this automatically, without even thinking about it. There is typically no discussion about holding the event…the discussion typically centers around where, who will be the team that will work on it, and other details…but the big question, as to “why” are we doing this, sometimes gets missed.

This is a very hard thing to do, some of us really don’t like change….but I encourage each of us, to think about this quote, share it at your next sisterhood meeting, and just ask “why”, whenever you are planning a program or event.

And, your WLCJ Exec is leading by example….since our first retreat in January, your entire Exec Committee has been working on reviewing and evaluating everything that we do. The discussions have been open, frank and very productive. This coming week we will be meeting again, to review what the teams have done, and implement our results. We have been calling these teams our “Big Bold Steps” groups. Some of our conversations have elicited ideas that have already been put in place….our new “Personal Conversations” that will be starting in November, our region websites and our focus on our members as well as our sisterhoods. Over the next few months, as we get ready for Convention, you will be hearing more about our Big Bold Steps, as well having a part of our programming on Monday morning so the each of you will have the opportunity to experience where WLCJ will be going as we begin our next century.

We have spent the past 9 months asking “why”, “what” and “how”…we hope that each of you will do that same!

Wishing each of you, a sweet, peaceful and meaningful Shabbat,
Carol