Communications VP
2010-2011 Hagesher Communications Vice President: Benjamin “BBG” Bromberg Gaber
2010 International Communications General Board Member, LaNasi Editor
Email: communications@hagesher.org
2010 REB Elections Speech:
Shalom Chaverim! Raise your hand if you’re having a great time at Spring Convention! Raise your hand if you’re bored of elections! Unfortunately I can’t see who raised their hands, because I’m in Israel on the Tichon Ramah Yirushalyaim Program studying in Jerusalem for 4 months. But the fact that you can see and hear me, is an example of communication, one of the most important issues facing USY right now.
Members are what make USY run, but members are only a part of USY if they are communicated with, and informed of all of the amazing programs and events. I want to take Hagesher USY to a new level of communication. Emails, phone calls, Facebook events, and flyers are still important forms of communication. I would like to see that the region pushes a little harder with each method of reaching out to members. By setting deadlines in advance for the communication for each event to be produced and distributed, I will ensure that all members are made aware of regional events in a timely fashion ensuring the best possible turnout. I would also like to see more potential members become more active. By spreading regional communication farther than the already active members who go to every convention, I would like to introduce people who haven’t been to a convention recently, if ever to the USY listserv and Facebook groups. Potential members might be interested in USY, but were never invited to participate, and therefore never got involved. In the upcoming year, I will help Hagesher USY keep these extremely important people from falling through the cracks.
Dialogue between the various chapter and regional boards is often limited. Chapter boards should always be aware of regional events and programs well in advance, and the regional board should be aware of all of the wonderful chapter programs, ideas, and events – not just when it comes for chapter awards at Spring convention. To help ensure this, I would like to see the chapter oversight program move into the 21st Century with board members video chatting into chapter meetings if they can’t physically be present at the meeting. In addition, minutes should be sent to the regional board so that board members can help spread successful ideas and programs throughout the region.
Most of my best friends share something in common – they are involved in USY. But that is not true for all Jewish teens, which is why the most important goal for Hagesher USY this year, should be for everyone at this convention, and those who wish they could be there like me, to spread their love for the organization, home, and friend that we call USY. To teach those less involved why they should attend more events, and to show others why they should fill out their membership form is the most needed form of communication. I know that all of you had an amazing year in USY, and with your vote for me for Hagesher Communications Vice President, you can be sure that 2010-2011 will be more active, more fun, will feature more communication, and be the most unmissable year of Hagesher USY ever!
Yes, if elected to be your Programming Vice President, you will have an even more amazing video yearbook, an even more informative and up-to-date website, and more helpful information in more frequent newsletters. But
A Regional Communication Vice President is also responsible for increasing attendance on USY summer programs. I have seen through my experience on Wheels and Pilgrimage, and in my own chapter, that after someone has the best summer of their life on a summer program, they almost automatically want to become more active in USY. Money may be an issue for many families this year, but I would like to see that everyone possible gets the facts about summer programs, and what an amazing summer they have in store for them. I don’t want potential Wheelniks to just receive a “Hey! Go on Wheels!” flyer, but they should receive more interactive advertisements such as a fun ‘A day in the life of a Wheelnik’ event, or past Wheelnik story telling time in order to start an event. If it wasn’t for my friends or dad telling stories of their Wheels experiences, I would not have had the best summer of my life!