The following address was delivered by incoming FJMC Florida Region President Ed Kochman at the joint Florida-KIO Region Caucus at FJMC Convention 2023 in Philadelphia:
“IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO SERVE AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE FJMC STATE OF FLORIDA REGION AND BEING THE FIRST EVER TO HAVE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF TWO DISTINCT GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS; PREVIOUSLY HAVING SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION 1992-1994 WHERE I AM STILL A TRUSTEE FOR LIFE. I ALSO SERVED AS MY MEN’S CLUB PRESIDENT IN PA 1985-1986.
I WANT TO THANK THE ESTEEMED NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND THE JUST DISCHARGED BOD FOR THEIR FAITH AND TRUST THEY HAVE PLACED IN ME BY NOMINATING AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTING FOR ME. I HAVE LARGE SHOES TO FILL, AGAIN THANKING BLAKE AND THE OUTGOING BOD FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE FEDERATION AND OUR REGION. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NEW EXEC AND BOARD NOT ONLY TO CONTINUE ALL THAT HAS BEEN SET IN MOTION, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMMING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND TRAINING FOR OUR MEMBER CLUBS AND RECRUITMENT OF NEW CLUBS. MY PLAN IS TO HOLD EVENTS STATEWIDE – N, S, E, W AND CENTRAL FLORIDA THUS BRINGING THE REGION CLOSER TOGETHER BY STRENGTHENING OUR SUBREGIONS.
A SPECIAL PERSONAL WELCOME NOT ONLY TO OUR TWO NEW EXEC COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ERIC PERLMAN AND JON ZIMMER, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND OUR REGIONAL RETREAT LAST YEAR OR OUR REGIONAL TRAINING SESSION THIS PAST APRIL, I WOULD LIKE TO RE INTRODUCE MY FRIEND AND RABBI, WHO HAS ALSO ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF FLORIDA REGION SPIRITUAL/RABBINIC ADVISOR. RABBI MICHAEL KLEIN WHO IS ATTENDING HIS FIRST CONVENTION ALONG WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE MAYNA. RABBI HAS BEEN AN AVID SUPPORTER OF THE FJMC YELLOW CANDLE PROGRAM; MEN’S CLUB SABBATH, WORLD WIDE WRAP AND OTHER FJMC PROGRAMMING.
A BRIEF BACKGROUND FOR THOSE NEWLY ATTENDING CONVENTION WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY OF OUR REGION: TODAYS FL REGION WAS UNTIL 1964 PART OF THE ANSHEI DORAM REGION (ALSO KNOWN AS THE S E REGION) CONSISTING OF ALA; GEORGIA; SC; MS; TN; FL AND TEXAS. IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER SERVE AFFILIATED CLUBS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WE BECAME THE FLORIDA REGION.
ONE MAN CANNOT DO IT ALL – IT TAKES A COMMITTED DEDICATED TEAM, AND THIS DAY WE HAVE THAT NEW ENERGIZED COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TEAM. WE HAVE MUCH TO DO THESE COMING TWO YEARS – RE AWAKENING CLUBS WHICH WENT DORMANT DURING COVID, AND ALSO STRENGTHENING ALL OF OUR CLUBS WHILE DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMMING, FUNDRAISING IDEAS, AND EVEN SOCIAL EVENTS TO BRING US ALL CLOSER. THE THEME OF THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE THE SAME THEME WE WORKED ON WHEN I WAS MAR PRESIDENT –AND THAT IS – WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN AND WILL ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH MORE…. THANK YOU!!”
Ed Kochman was installed as 2023 to 2025 President of Florida Region at the FJMC Biennial Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) is part of a global confederation of over 200 Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America and beyond. Learn more about how your Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate at: https://www.fjmc.org/content/affiliating-fjmc.
The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Our mission is to involve Jewish Men in Jewish Life by fostering fellowship and camaraderie between Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods in the Florida Region, inspiring interest and involvement in Jewish worship, Jewish studies, Tikkun Olam and ensuring the success of new and existing leaders of our Florida Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods.
If you are not yet affiliated with the Federation, then today is the day to join us. Get to know more about the Florida Region of FJMC and our growing network of dynamic Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods on our website www.FloridaRegionFJMC.org and please visit and LIKE our Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
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