Florida Region FJMC website www.FloridaRegionFJMC.org began the calendar year 2024 with content category and menu optimization as well as a reorganized website front page with dedicated areas to highlight linked posts related to Florida Region Club Events and Activities, upcoming FJMC Affinity Groups and Webinars, Jewish Learning, FJMC Initiatives and Israel Advocacy.
During the twelve month period between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, www.FloridaRegionFJMC.org published a total of 401 web posts that fell into six major content categories: (1) spotlight the activities of Florida Region FJMC affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods; (2) publicize FJMC programs and activities; (3) promote upcoming FJMC Affinity Group webinars; (4) repost important messages from FJMC Regional and International leadership; (5) recurring Jewish learning posts, including a weekly Choose Shabbat article themed to the weekly Torah portion; and (6) club services, including member / leadership training and seeding regional multi-club social events.
January 2024 featured 39 new webposts that profiled a variety of FJMC programs and initiatives including Hebrew Literacy, the FJMC Young Family Initiative, FJMC Wellness Initiative, Israel Advocacy and FJMC Convention 2025, as well as updated “Spotlight” quarterly posts about the activities of Temple Torat Emet Men’s Club (Boynton Beach), Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club, Temple Beth El Men’s Club (West Palm Beach), the B’nai Torah Men’s Club (Boca Raton), Temple Beth David Men’s Club (Palm Beach Gardens), the Congregation Ohev Shalom (COS) Men’s Club (Maitland), the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center Brotherhood, B’nai Israel Mitzvah Men’s Club (St. Petersburg) and the Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) Men’s Club (Sarasota). Other posting highlights included a history of the presidency of the Florida Region of FJMC from 1964 through 2024 and updated Inclusion Initiative requirements for 2024 Quality Club Award.
During February of 2024, Florida Region FJMC published 29 new webposts with a focus on programs and initiatives in FJMC’s portfolio including Shomrei Haaretz, Hearing Men’s Voices, the International Kiddush Club, FJMC Shabbaton in Chicago, Men’s Club Shabbat, Shoah Yellow Candles, Sefer Haftatah and the FJMC Imagine Life initiative, updated qualification requirements to earn an FJMC Torch Award as well as information about how to apply for an FJMC Foundation Grant. Other posting highlights included “Spotlight” articles about FJMC Regional Advisor Dr. Elliot Burns, new Florida Region FJMC Presidential Appointees Meir Niad and Jason Waksman, a detailed summary of Florida Region FJMC Club / Leadership Training hosted by the Temple Beth El (West Palm Beach) and information about FJMC Individual membership.
March 2024 featured 39 new webposts including an FJMC Club Training module on Running Great Award Events for Fun and Profit, an updated Israel On My Mind Toolkit, articles about the FJMC Kippot Mitzvot Project, the new FJMC SRE Task Force, information about an upcoming FJMC Volunteer Mission to Israel, the FJMC Shabbaton in Chicago and a Jewish Community Celebration at the Miami Marlins. We also posted an updated series quarterly of “Spotlight” articles to showcase the activities of Temple Israel Men’s Club (Winter Springs), the Temple Beth El Brotherhood (St Petersburg), the Jacksonville Jewish Center Men’s Club, the Temple Beth Am Men’s Club (Margate), the Brotherhood of Kol Ami (Tampa), Congregation B’nai Torah Men’s Club (Boca Raton), the Temple Beth Torah Brotherhood (Wellington) and the Congregation Beth Shalom Brotherhood (Clearwater).
During April 2024, Florida Region FJMC published 20 new web posts with a focus on FJMC programs, affinity groups and initiatives. Posting highlights included a “Taste of FJMC” webinar, an updated Israel on my Mind Toolkit, a Pre Passover WZO Briefing, a call to Remember the Kindertransport and Light a Candle for Yom HaShoah 5784, information about the FJMC Shoah Yellow Candle™ Phone App for iPhone and Android Users and an FJMC Sefer Haftarah World Tour update. Other posting highlights included the FJMC Mission to Uganda, a registration link to join the FJMC Israel Walking Challenge, and a save the date to join with other Florida Region FJMC clubs to see the Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles for Jewish Community Day.
The month of May 2024 saw 29 new web posts with a continued focus on FJMC programs, affinity groups and initiatives. First and foremost, Kol HaKavod to the Congregation B’nai Torah Men’s Club (Ormond Beach) for joining the FJMC. Posting highlights for May included a message from FJMC Florida Region President Ed Kochman and Executive VP Jon Zimmer and information about the 2024 Florida Region Football Pool Fundraiser, FJMC Minyan of Comfort Training and the FJMC Young Men / Young Families Initiative. Other posts of note included a reminder to light a candle for Yom HaShoah, a links to apply for the FJMC Quality Club award, information about the upcoming FJMC Leadership Development Institute (LDI), an update about the 2024 Miami Marlins Jewish Community Celebration and the FJMC Inclusion Committee Initiative to Support the Lev Shalem Mahzor in Braille, “Guess Who’s Coming to Shabbos” and a special post exploring Why is Music Fundamental to Jewish Prayer.
During June 2024, Florida Region FJMC generated 35 new posts including a new / updated quarterly “Spotlight” post as a midyear snapshot of the recent and upcoming programs, events, activities and leadership contact information for every FJMC affiliated Men’s Club and Brotherhood in Florida. We also created a special Spotlight post to honor Kol Ami Brotherhood 2024 Man of the Year. Mike ‘Doc’ Binder and to celebrate Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation (SOJC) Men’s Club joining the FJMC!! Other June 2024 posts of note included a message from FJMC Florida Region President Ed Kochman, a June 2024 Club Recruitment Update, information about the new Inclusion Initiative requirements to earn an FJMC Quality Club Award, the 2024 FJMC Florida Region Football Pool Fundraiser, a save the date for the 8th Annual Orlando Jewish Community Men’s Night Out and a personal appeal to all Men’s Club and Brotherhood leaders to Pay it Forward – Join Friends of FJMC.
During July 2024, Florida Region FJMC published 32 new webposts including four Club / leadership training articles; How to Chair a Brotherhood Meeting, So, You Want to Start a Men’s Club and The Essential Elements of an Effective Men’s Club Newsletter and What’s Hot on Your Calendar, a how-to guide to developing an annual Men’s Club or Brotherhood programming calendar. Other posts of note included a Mid Year Webmaster Report containing a detailed summary of webposts published to www.FloridaRegionFJMC.org between January 1 and June 30, 2024 and Around the Region: Summer 2024, a combined roundup of all Summer 2024 Florida Region FJMC, Men’s Club and Brotherhood activities, programs and events. July also saw the introduction of a series of new “Flashback” posts, highlighting timely content from past issues of TAMUZ, the quarterly Florida Region FJMC newsletter published and distributed by (2003-2005 President Florida Region FJMC) Jeffrey Litt. Many thanks to Jeff for preserving this treasure trove of printed archival material for our current and future club leaders. This month’s selection featured content from Winter/Spring 2001 issue of TAPUZ (Volume VIII, No.1), about “The First World Wide Wrap“.
Florida Region FJMC published 44 new webposts during August 2024, beginning with the Summer 2024 Edition of “Spotlight on Florida Region FJMC” that included a message from Florida Region President Ed Kochman, updated information about FJMC Convention 2025, Florida Region stops on the Sefer Haftarah World Tour, the 3rd annual regional Football Pool Men’s Club / Brotherhood fundraiser and FJMC new club recruitment efforts. August included new eighteen new Summer Spotlight posts detailing the activities of Florida Region FJMC men’s clubs and brotherhoods. We also profiled incoming Congregation Beth Shalom (Clearwater) Brotherhood President David Sadowsky and Man of the Year Paul Apple Field , Incoming B’nai Torah (Boca Raton) Men’s Club Co-President Andres (Andrew) Alminana, Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation Men’s Club President Mitch Katcher and Temple Beth-El (St. Petersburg) August 2024 Mensch of the Month Steve Jenkins. We concluded the month “Around the Region: September 2024“, a combined roundup of upcoming September 2024 Florida Region FJMC, Men’s Club and Brotherhood activities, programs and events during September 2024.
During September 2024, Florida Region FJMC published 35 new webposts including five helpful Club and leadership training articles; How to organize a Golf Tournament FUNdraiser, Who Will Be Your 5785 Man of the Year, Mobilize your Members in 5785 with Hearing Men’s Voices, important information about how your Men’s Club or Brotherhood can apply for an FJMC Foundation Grant and a Florida Region’s Quarterly Club Outreach Strategy. September included new thirteen new posts to spotlight the ongoing activities of Florida Region FJMC men’s clubs and brotherhoods, including profiles of Congregation Kol Ami Brotherhood President and Florida Region FJMC Ma’asim Tovim Honoree Jon Zimmer, Kindertransport survivor Albert Brunn of Temple Beth Am Men’s Club. Other September posts of note included “Flashback 1979: a Capsule History of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs” and “Flashback 1999: FJMC 70th Anniversary International Convention” about the 1999 FJMC Convention at the Nevele Grand Hotel in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
October 2024 brought us into 5785 and Florida Region FJMC marked the month with 18 new webposts including a Brief History of FJMC Convention, based on the spiral bound, 157 page, printed 90th Anniversary keepsake FJMC 2019 Convention Journal article “FJMC: A Legacy of Innovation and Growth“ and “Yizkor 5785: A Time to Remember“. Thank you Gregg Wiston of Temple Torat Emet (Boynton Beach) for sharing these words of wisdom. Other October highlights include a message from Florida Region FJMC President Ed Kochman, “Remember the Kindertransport and Light a Candle for Kristallnacht 5785” with contact information for the Kindertransport Association Speaker’s Bureau as well as “Flashback 1960: NFJMC Convention Coming to the Concord Hotel“, with information reprinted from the Winter 1960 edition of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Club’s quarterly newsletter, “The Torch” (Volume XIX, No.1), where Convention Committee Chairman (and The Torch Associate Editor) Arthur S. Bruckman Z”L of New York City reported on the (then upcoming) 1960 National Federation of Jewish Men’s Club Convention to be held at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York from May 8 to 11, 1960.
During November 2024, Florida Region FJMC published an impressive portfolio of 47 new webposts, including seventeen updated “Spotlight 5785” posts that contain a snapshot of each affiliated Men’s Club / Brotherhood’s upcoming programming schedule. Other posting highlights included information about an upcoming January 12, 2025 CENTRAL Florida Region FJMC Men’s Club and Brotherhood Meeting, details of Florida Region FJMC 5785 Sefer Haftarah Tour Dates during February and March, 2025, “Flashback 2014: First ‘Man of the Year’ Event Brings Four Synagogues together” paying homage to Man of the Year honorees from Congregation Beth Am (Longwood), Temple Beth Sholom (Melbourne), Temple Israel (Winter Springs) and Congregation Ohev Shalom (Maitland)https://floridaregionfjmc.org/2024/12/temple-beth-shalom-palm-coast-mens-club-joins-fjmc/, FJMC 2024/2025 Quality Club Award Criteria and “Around the Region“, a quarterly roundup of Florida Region FJMC, Men’s Club and Brotherhood activities, programs and events scheduled to take place during November and December.
Florida Region FJMC began December 2024 by announcing the appointment of David Yellin as Florida Region FJMC 5785 Yellow Candle Chair as one of 34 new webposts, including nine “Hanukkah 5785” posts to specifically target Men’s Clubs / Brotherhoods not otherwise covered in November’s series of “Spotlight 5785” posts. We announced the next SOUTH FLORIDA Florida Region FJMC Men’s Club & Brotherhood meeting and training event to be held Sunday morning March 9, 2025 at Temple Beth Am (Margate), posted a 2025 FJMC International Convention Preview, and a Spotlight on FJMC International Outreach in 5785, Other December posting highlights include Flashback 2017: Temple Torat Emet Men’s Club Earns Silver Torch Award for the World Wide Wrap detailing Torat Emet’s innovative approach World Wide Wrap 2017, a profile of Kol Ami Brotherhood 2025 Man of the Year Mitch Weiss and introductions of two of Florida Region FJMC’s newest affiliate clubs, Temple Beth Shalom (Palm Coast) Men’s Club and Temple Emanuel of Lakeland Men’s Club aka the Jewish Men’s Club of Polk County.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs remains dedicated to the success and empowerment of our affiliated Florida Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods and their leaders as well as sharing timely information about our clubs, FJMC Programs, Initiatives, Webinars and Affinity Groups.
This message is brought to you by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We serve the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. 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 & LIKE our Facebook Group at: www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
The FJMC is a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn how YOUR Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
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