Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Adar I 5744, February 1984 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) Volunteerism in the BBYO Family: ld Advisors in Community Service BBYO By Arlene S. Lehner-Editor Although Cohen indicates trends are throughout the Order. It is our hope to First century rabbinical sage Rabbi shifting toward individuals accepting show the readership from this point for- Hillel (known for his flexibility and hu- shorter-term assignments, BBYO still ward the important roles advisors play not mane attitude) once remarked, "If am not boasts advisors on its rolls who have only in the BBYO framework but for myself who will be for me? And being served them for over 25 years. Remarks throughout their volunteer communities at for myself only, what am I?" From these Cohen on the issue, "As for the advisor large. words Rabbi Hillel suggests that the life of who stays ten years and manages to be We have seen that Rabbi Hillel stresses a Jew is unfulfilled until he finds a signif- fresh and creative-that's a real tribute." the importance of community involvement icant role to play in his community. Volunteers seldom are recognized for through his proverb. Now we have For six decades adult volunteers in their efforts, but that trend is changing chosen to take this interpretation one step ) BBYO have found a role to play as ad- also. While the 95th annual Rose Bowl Pa- further through our advisor recognition visors to chapters across the nation. Since rade chose "A Salute to the Volunteer" as efforts. There seems no more appropriate 1924, when Nate Mnookin served as the their theme for this year's entries, we at time to do so than during the year we first advisor, it is estimated (by Dr. Max BBYO have chosen another vehicle to rec- celebrate the 60th Anniversary of AZA. As Baer, former BBYO international director) ognize our volunteer advisor. Beginning the modern Zionist song taken from Hill- that nearly 18,000 individuals may have with this issue of The Shofar, we will fea- el's proverb suggests, "Ve im lo achshav ay functioned in an advisory capacity for the ture profiles on advisors from regions matai? And if not now then when?" organization. It is especially fitting in 1984, the anniversary of the founding of AZA, that The Shofar pay tribute to ad- BBYO Sponsors visors for the great contribution they have made to the continuity of the organiza- Advisors' Israel tion and the spirit of volunteerism. One such person in this category is Fon- ith Mission da Lowe (an advisor of Northern East The Region) who always wanted to become in- nue, volved in a Jewish organization and for Carol Taper and Diane Bomash of whom BBYO proved to be an ideal situa- Dallas, Texas, are members of a very dedi- tion. Fonda, a speech pathologist by trade, cated group of individuals. For almost enjoys observing the interaction and three years they have served, along with communication that takes place among nearly 1,200 others, as volunteer advisors the youth. Besides being a learning situa- for BBYO. This spring they will share in a tion for her, serving as an advisor, she new program when they participate in the says, "makes me feel like a teenager. It's the first BBYO Advisors' Mission to Israel. fun." with. Fifty advisors from the United States, Motivations for accepting volunteer ny of Canada, Europe, and Israel will participate positions vary from individual to individu- en in the two-week trip, scheduled for al, but says Seymour Cohen (director of org, March 25-April 8. For some, it will be their B'nai B'rith Community Volunteer Services first visit to the Middle East. and former BBYO international program Cohn Says Taper, "I want to gain enough in- director), "I think it's perhaps the concept sight from my experiences in Israel to be of mitzvah. It's built into Judaism that able to encourage BBYO youth to partici- giving is something you need to do to lead pate in similar missions. an emotionally satisfying life. We're talk- The program, which will provide in- ing here about the fact that an advisor can tensive training on Israeli-related subjects walk into a situation, help a kid, and see and issues, will offer advisors an oppor- the results. That's dealing with a piece of tunity to share in developing creative, Ju- the real world for that individual." daic programming for teenagers. Much of Robert Herzog, director of the Volun- the focus will be on such concerns as the teer Bureau for Montgomery County, ool Israel-Arab conflict, settlements in Judea Maryland (a suburb of our nation's cap- Ange- and Samaria, the Palestinian problem, the ital) believes people volunteer because military security of Israel, and chal- "they want to be needed they want to of my lenges facing Israeli society. have a commitment to the community. n Phyllis Newman, assistant international Volunteerism can provide growth experi- Iked, director for program services and staff ence for these people in many areas." till in- coordinator for the mission, believes the Volunteerism in general has been on the rised. trip will give international impetus to the rise in the United States with 55% of the ollege recruitment and training of advisors. "The population 18 and older reported to be en- h. Even training the participants will gain from gaged in some type of volunteer activity eli- this mission is bound to improve the sta- (according to the 1983 Gallup Public rstand. tus of the BBYO advisor and enhance ef- Opinion Poll). Says Cohen on the subject, volved forts to attract new advisors," she says. "Volunteerism is growing. We're dealing S but As for Diane Bomash, she believes the with a five-day week; even with women er to goals of the trip are vital to the training of back in the work force, opportunities are of the advisors. "I think it's a great opportunity appearing daily. We're doing things with is to influence me in both how I look at Jew- volunteers today we didn't do 20 years Scenes from Pacific Coast Region's advisor workshop/Chanukah party. Thirty of a ish youth and in my helping them in de- ago. I think our country would go right advisors attended the three-hour program, "Back to Basics for Solving Chapter be veloping and strengthening their bonds to down the drain if it weren't for our volun- Problems," before feasting on a catered dinner. tations. Judaism." teer spirit." at he tern Re- lol my- The re you'll SALUTE TO THE BBYO ADVISOR AZA but in- d Carey