- Thank you to incoming 2025 Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club President Greg Alman for taking the cover photo for this post. (Two attendees had already left, due to other commitments and aren’t in the group photo.)
This webpost highlights ideas discussed and exchanged on January 12, 2025 at a Florida Region FJMC Club training hosted by Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club. For more information about how Florida Region FJMC can bring a training program like this to your Men’s Club or Brotherhood, please email Florida Region FJMC President Ed Kochman at EKochman@FJMC.org.
Three of the most tangible benefits of affiliation with the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) are (1) direct access to hands-on training for your Men’s Club and Brotherhood members and leadership, (2) a nationwide network of Regional Consultants and (3) a robust portfolio of original FJMC Club Member and Leadership training resources.
On January 12, 2025, Florida Region FJMC brought these elements together in Central Florida; many thanks to Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club President Natan Brener for hosting our first face-to-face Florida Region FJMC Club meeting / training of 2025. The training program was also livestreamed and recorded, making it available to every FJMC affiliated Men’s Club and Brotherhood across the entire FJMC organization.
Twenty five leaders representing fourteen different of Florida Region FJMC Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods were in attendance (and even more online) for a half day of learning, round table discussions and training. “The camaraderie was enjoyable, the presentations were informative and interesting, and breakfast and lunch (provided by Catering by Sage) were delicious“, said Natan Brener, the immediate past President of Temple Israel Men’s Club.
The morning began with greetings and welcoming remarks from Florida Region FJMC President Ed Kochman. “What can we do to help your Men’s Club? We are Brotherhoods, we are Men’s Clubs and we are all here to support each other.”
Congregation B’nai Torah (Ormond Beach) Men’s Club President and 2025 FJMC International Convention Convention Chair Mark Givarz encouraged everyone to register for FJMC Convention, July 3 to 6, 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago. The theme for Convention 2025 is “Embracing Change, Energizing Communities”. There will be many pre and post convention activities for delegates and their significant others including seats to see the Cubs vs Guardians at Historic Wrigley Field, an evening Boat Ride on Lake Michigan & Fireworks, a tour of the Museum of Science & Industry, a daytime tour of Jewish Chicago and more. Other features of Convention include a Program Fair, Torch Award and Ma’asim Tovim award presentations, multiple parallel tracks of engaging and thought provoking speakers and training sessions as well as several different flavors of Shabbat service. Register for the 2025 FJMC International Convention at: https://convention.fjmc.org/2025-chicago/.
All Florida Region Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods are also invited to join the Florida Region FJMC delegation to FJMC Convention 2025 in Chicago; for the latest updates on FJMC Convention 2025 and to register visit: https://convention.fjmc.org/2025-chicago/. Florida Region FJMC President Kochman noted that the Region recently approved a $300 per person Convention subsidy, available to (up to six) FJMC affiliated Florida Men’s Club & Brotherhood members that have not previously attended an FJMC Convention.
The club training program agenda continued with a roundtable discussion on “Engaging Existing and New Men’s Club Members” facilitated by Jon Zimmer (Brotherhood of Kol Ami Tampa) and Jason Waksman (Torat Emet Men’s Club Boynton Beach). Many ideas and suggestions were shared by different clubs. Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club engages existing and new members with an annual, a family friendly camping Shabbaton weekend and the Jewish Men’s Club of Polk County distributes Men’s Club business cards that include Club contact information and a schedule of upcoming breakfast meetings. Other suggestions included coordinating Men’s Club social events with the Temple’s Religious School and hosting a Daddy-Daughter dance.
Eric Perlman (Beth Sholom Men’s Club Melbourne) facilitated a detailed presentation on “How to Run and Effective Men’s Club Board Meeting”. Whether the purpose of the meeting is to coordinate an event, discuss a temple project or to disseminate information, be organized and distribute necessary information prior to the meeting. Meeting participants should know who needs to attend and why they need to be there. Establish ground rules and make sure that people who have ownership of a project can either be there or submit their report in advance of the meeting. Other logistics to consider include where, when, food, WiFi access, AV and other necessary technology tools, etc. Decide whether the meeting will be held live, via Zoom or as a hybrid meeting. Manage your clock, manage your time and manage your participants. There are loud folk and quiet folk; keep your meeting from being hijacked by the loud ones and limit individual speaking time if necessary. If something important comes up during the meeting then add it to the “white board” to or move it to the “parking lot” and stay on agenda. Don’t do everything yourself; delegate functions to others such as running the tech or taking notes. If the meeting will be conducted via Zoom or as a hybrid live/zoom meeting then be sure you (and your audience) understand how to use the technology including creating breakout rooms, sharing screens, how to mute, the raise hand tool, the whiteboard, etc. Zoom meetings can also be recorded and stored for future reference.
Florida Region FJMC Immediate Past President Blake Lenett (Beth Shalom Brotherhood Clearwater) discussed eligibility requirements to qualify for the 2024/2025 FJMC Quality Club Award and Torch Awards. The FJMC Quality Club Award is given each year to member clubs who meet established criteria; it was developed to encourage clubs to offer specific types of activities at the local, regional, and international level. The eligibility criteria may also be used as a blueprint for a club to follow in planning its yearly programming. The purpose of the Torch Award Program was created to promote development of new, adapted or enhanced club programming and practices that achieve excellence; Gold, Silver and Bronze Torch Awards are presented based on the individual quality of programs. The award plate (tag), to be added to your club’s plaque, is presented in even numbered years at a regional event and in odd numbered years at the FJMC International convention. “Every Club in the room should apply for a quality club award as well as Torch Award for their outstanding programming“, said Blake.
The half-day training program concluded with a Q&A on the presented topics and lunch.
“A hearty Yasher Koach to all for your contributions and continuing support which made our event a success. Your contributions provided food for thought to the clubs represented and hopefully also gave them some good operational and programming ideas. Especially want to thank our gracious Host, Natan for all of his organizational work and warm hospitality.“
Looking ahead, Florida Region FJMC is planning it’s next two Men’s Club & Brotherhood meeting / training events in SOUTH FLORIDA on Sunday March 9, 2025 at Temple Beth Am (7205 Royal Palm Blvd, Margate, FL 33063) and in WEST FLORIDA on Sunday March 30, 2025 at Congregation Kol Ami (3919 Moran Road, Tampa, FL 33618). Many thanks to Beth Am Men’s Club President Larry Schwartz and Brotherhood of Kol Ami President Jon Zimmer for hosting our next two face-to-face Florida Region FJMC club meetings.
ALL FLORIDA Florida Region FJMC Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods are invited and encouraged to register for these FREE events. These will be in-person meetings with a Zoom connection available for those that cannot attend in person. The morning agendas will begin with minyan, followed by breakfast, Club meeting and training to follow. The programs will also be livestreamed / recorded, making it available to those who cannot attend in person.
This meeting was brought to you by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC); we serve the needs of affiliated Men’s Club’s and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. If you are not yet affiliated with the Federation, then today is the day to join us. Learn more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit and LIKE our Florida Region FJMC Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
The Florida Region of FJMC is part of a confederation of over 200 affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Mumbai, India and beyond. Learn more about how your Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
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