Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Nisan 5743, April 1983 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) ADVISOR APPRECIATION ISSUE The professional staff put together these enrichment programs, or working with the shots of some of the advisors of D.C. BBYOers and staff, their faces show the ADVISORS: Council, Northern (East) Region. Whether enthusiasm and dedication they bring to getting together with other advisors for their work. PEOPLE OF THE YEAR IN BBYO Recently Time magazine called the com- young people deal with the new develop- puter the "Man of the Year". We at BBYO ments in our society. That means absorb- use computers often as part of the work of ing innovations, and taking advantage of a modern international organization. But them in order to strengthen ourselves. Ad- it is clear to us that the computer isn't at visors help us enter the Computer Age the center of things. What is at the heart of and still maintain our Jewish culture and our Order is the human being, and the our values. That is what the B'nai B'rith spirit of voluntarism that makes BBYO Youth Organization is all about, and ad- succeed is embodied in the ADVISOR. visors are the key to its success. If you have visited the International The way this issue developed is in itself Headquarters of BBYO in Washington, you a tribute to BBYO as well as to the ad- know that it is staffed by a team of pro- visors. Some members of the professional fessionals, who rely on the most advanced staff took the preparatory steps for an technical tools to do their work. But if Advisors Appreciation Issue, and sent out you have spoken to the staff members in the forms to the regions. So far, any Washington, you know how aware they are modern bureaucracy could do as much (if that what happens in the chapter is what with less enthusiasm! But then came the Some of the many Washington Council advisors. makes BBYO succeed. And the advisor is BBYO touch: at first the tributes came in the key to chapter success. When you look three or four a day, then eight or ten, and at the advisor tributes in this issue, finally they just flooded our mailbox. Ad- notice how many times chapters write that visors, you'll have to agree that that says their advisor saved them from closing, something about how much you are ap- that one woman or one man stood be- preciated. The tributes were longer than tween them and folding. we planned on, and far, far more numer- The advisor is the key in other ways, ous than we dreamed of. So they have too. The advisor represents stability and taken up almost the whole issue. But our continuity in a world where change is advisors deserve every inch of column rapid and confusing. Sometimes everyone space! We at the International Headquar- must wonder if video games, computers, ters, where the Shofar office is, join with and telecommunications haven't made all BBYOers from coast to coast in saluting old culture and organizations out of date. our advisors! The advisor is there to help our Jewish The Advisor's Angle Judy Adler, advisor to Beth Kadima Donna and Lee Goldenhorn, advisors by Micky Rosner ni come back from college and say, "I BBG, teaching BBYO's International to Weinberg BBG and Langley BBG, met still remember some of the talks we had Shaliach, Joe Perlov, a thing or two at while both were advising BBYO chap- about growing up and making and keeping the Council's advisors dinner. ters. Why am I an advisor? What a question. I friends."? How am I able to express with guess one would have to say the most im- words my feelings when on Advisor Recog- portant reason to me, would be that of nition Night, forty guys strong, all the heart. Each year as new guys come dressed up, come and show their appre- rectors, etc.) Ideally, I would like to attend Advisors into the chapter, and the older ones grow ciation and their love with boisterous ap- every chapter meeting and function, but I up and graduate, a bit of my heart is plause and emotion in their eyes and cannot. That is why advisors are so impor- touched. I truly believe that if you put hearts? Are Our tant to BBYO. They are extensions of the yourself into something as rewarding and In these past eight years my chapter has professional staff in every chapter of our challenging as dealing with today's teen- won the Henry Monsky All-Around Chap- organization. They serve as my "fingers" in agers, your life becomes richer and more ter Award each year. They have worked each chapter because I trust them to "Fingers" meaningful. hard and put in many hours of trying to work as I would, if I were at a particular To say that being an advisor is a chore fulfill the goals and the ideals of the B'nai chapter meeting or event. They represent is sadly mistaken. My role is that of a B'rith Youth Organization. The role of the me in all the work they do: counseling, or- friend, a confidant, a big brother, and advisor must be demonstrated by his/her ganizing, explaining, supervising, mediat- many times a father figure. I cherish these caring, time, and devotion. Working to- by Tobey Libber, Wisconsin Region ing, and caring. roles. Being an advisor is someone who gether as a unit as well as feeling like a Director In addition, advisors are volunteers. Oc- joins in with the rest of the chapter work- family accomplishes everlasting results. To casionally, we can reward them with a ing at the Pontiac Silverdome for the see the feelings of pride and caring It is my pleasure to share with the read- small gift, a free meal, or a T-shirt, but football season, (which includes seven emerge in each member is something that ers of the Shofar my thoughts on the im- their principal reward is the valuable rela- Sundays, a Monday night, and, of course, words are unable to express. portance of advisors to the BBYO tionships they develop with the members Thanksgiving Day) Also it means going to These past years have meant a great program. As a member of the professional of our organization. They work at their work at the local PBS television station deal to me. I have grown both spiritually staff of BBYO who is paid to work with regular jobs and responsibilities, and still once a year for their annual fundraising as well as emotionally. To be an advisor Jewish teens, I am often frustrated by the find time to devote to BBYO. As a Shofar auction with eighteen guys. Afterwards en- for this organization has been something high percentage of my workday that is reader you need to know how critical ad- joying the rewards of a Coney Island hot irreplacable; and to place a monetary val- spent doing other tasks necessary to the visors are to our organization, and how dog with heavy onions now, that's ue on it would be impossible. My re- functioning of a BBYO Office (administra- much we in the BBYO offices throughout being in heaven! wards have been with the heart and with tion, budgeting, work with Board of Di- the world depend upon these "fingers." How does one react when chapter alum- the soul.