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- No 23 - 4 Jan
- No 22 - 28 Dec
- No 21 - 20 Dec
- No 20 - 14 Dec
- No 19 - 7 Dec
- No 18 - 1 Dec
- No 17 - 23 Nov
- Vols - 18 Nov
- No 16 - 16 Nov
- Set-up - 11 Nov
- No 15 - 9 Nov
- Visit - 4 Nov
- No 14 - 2 Nov
- No 13 - 26 Oct
- No 12 - 19 Oct
- No 11 - 3 Oct
- No 10 - 21 Sept
- No 9 - 7 Sept
- No 8 - 17 Aug
- No 7 - 3 Aug
- No 6 - 20 July
- No 5 - 5 July
- No 4 - 22 May
- No 3 - 2 April
- No 2 - 12 March
- No 1 - 23 Jan
- Welcome
- Say yes
Email no 1 - 23 January - We all said yes!
One month into the planning for Limmud Conference 2007 and in the same breath I can say we've made a lot of progress but also that we've barely started. I'll send these emails from me from time to time with updates, important news and gossip and I hope it's a good way to keep in touch. If you like them, let me know and I'll feel good about things (please also send your own contributions). If you don't like them, definitely let me know and I'll get someone more entertaining to write them.
At the bottom of this email you'll find a reminder about the volunteers' meeting this Sunday. And a bad joke.
YOU SAID YES!
A month ago, I was feeling very alone as the only member of Conference team. Lee Lewis and Zila Ornstein made it three when they became Conference Vice Chairs.
Since then over 100 people have offered to be part of this experience. I'm happy about it; above all though it's a massive relief. I've also learnt that not only do participants come from all over the world, but volunteers do as well. It has been terrific to receive e-mails offering help from as far afield as Argentina, the United States, Israel, Sweden and the Netherlands. And if you live overseas or in Manchester, Leeds or Bristol, you are an important part of this Conference and probably have a nicer view out your windows than those who live in London.
It does mean that we'll all have to get good at using email and Skype etc (my details are at the bottom of this message).
IT AIN'T BROKE
Inspired by a conversation on the final night of Conference with one of last year's volunteers, we asked Judy Trotter to carry out a review on the subject of 'if it ain't broke'. In doing this, she went through the feedback from nearly 400 participants who were at Conference last year and ran a discussion with a small group chosen to represent a broad cross-section of Limmud experience (thank you to those who took part).
We've had a really positive vibe so far about this process. Judy will tell us more and give a breakdown of the conclusions in the volunteers' group this Sunday. Overall she tells me it ain't broke but the group will set us some clear challenges over the next 11 months.
IT'S THE PROGRAMME, STUPID
You may also have heard of various discussions about whether or not we will be returning to Nottingham this December. Yes, there's a possible overlap with another conference, but Nottingham and the EMCC are still options for us. I am very pleased that Lee Lewis, one of the Conference Vice Chairs, has asked Dan Lavin to head up a small group of people to look at the options and recommend where is the best place for us to be.
Whatever the site, the main thing to me is "it's the programme, stupid". On this note, the programme process is shortly kicking off under Asher Dresner, our Programming Chair. Asher will talk more about the process of moving from a name to a session on Sunday.
INTRODUCING VOLUNTEERS - MEET "THE V TEAM"
Every so often the update will look at one of the teams and how they're working towards Conference 2007. First up, I'm very pleased to introduce Charles Darwish, Naomi Hass and Anna Pitch who are together "The V Team" (V is for 'volunteers'). Apart from driving around town in a black van with a big red V on the side, they'll be making sure that we get a lot out of this year. Their responsibilities will range from organising events such as the meeting on Sunday, to arranging our own learning through a Torah L'Am course (a great course that puts the Torah in context - thoroughly recommended) and a walking tour of London, plus arranging team weekends and the occasional social. Bring it on.
KEEP IN TOUCH
We'd like to share contact details among volunteers. If you are not happy for these to be shared with other volunteers or if you'd rather use other details, then tell Helen at the office on office[at]limmud.org (this will update your record on the Limmud database as well).
VOLUNTEER MEETING - SUNDAY 28 JANUARY
Thank you to so many people for saying you'll come along on Sunday. It's going to be a mixture of getting to know each other, finding out about the roles for Conference 2007 and making our first team decisions. The details are:
DATE: Sunday 28th January
TIME: 1-4pm
LOCATION: London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, 94-96 North End Rd, Golders Green, London NW11 7SX (Opposite the Bull & Bush Pub - 5 mins walk from Golders Green tube station)
We'll have some snacks on hand as well. Not a full meal, but enough to keep us going. I look forward to seeing you there.
(Please also invite any friends who might be interested in finding out more about being part of the team.)
BAD JOKE
Two parrots were sitting on a perch. One said to the other, "It smells fishy around here."
Can you do better? Have a good week and see you on Sunday.
Best wishes
Kevin
At the bottom of this email you'll find a reminder about the volunteers' meeting this Sunday. And a bad joke.
YOU SAID YES!
A month ago, I was feeling very alone as the only member of Conference team. Lee Lewis and Zila Ornstein made it three when they became Conference Vice Chairs.
Since then over 100 people have offered to be part of this experience. I'm happy about it; above all though it's a massive relief. I've also learnt that not only do participants come from all over the world, but volunteers do as well. It has been terrific to receive e-mails offering help from as far afield as Argentina, the United States, Israel, Sweden and the Netherlands. And if you live overseas or in Manchester, Leeds or Bristol, you are an important part of this Conference and probably have a nicer view out your windows than those who live in London.
It does mean that we'll all have to get good at using email and Skype etc (my details are at the bottom of this message).
IT AIN'T BROKE
Inspired by a conversation on the final night of Conference with one of last year's volunteers, we asked Judy Trotter to carry out a review on the subject of 'if it ain't broke'. In doing this, she went through the feedback from nearly 400 participants who were at Conference last year and ran a discussion with a small group chosen to represent a broad cross-section of Limmud experience (thank you to those who took part).
We've had a really positive vibe so far about this process. Judy will tell us more and give a breakdown of the conclusions in the volunteers' group this Sunday. Overall she tells me it ain't broke but the group will set us some clear challenges over the next 11 months.
IT'S THE PROGRAMME, STUPID
You may also have heard of various discussions about whether or not we will be returning to Nottingham this December. Yes, there's a possible overlap with another conference, but Nottingham and the EMCC are still options for us. I am very pleased that Lee Lewis, one of the Conference Vice Chairs, has asked Dan Lavin to head up a small group of people to look at the options and recommend where is the best place for us to be.
Whatever the site, the main thing to me is "it's the programme, stupid". On this note, the programme process is shortly kicking off under Asher Dresner, our Programming Chair. Asher will talk more about the process of moving from a name to a session on Sunday.
INTRODUCING VOLUNTEERS - MEET "THE V TEAM"
Every so often the update will look at one of the teams and how they're working towards Conference 2007. First up, I'm very pleased to introduce Charles Darwish, Naomi Hass and Anna Pitch who are together "The V Team" (V is for 'volunteers'). Apart from driving around town in a black van with a big red V on the side, they'll be making sure that we get a lot out of this year. Their responsibilities will range from organising events such as the meeting on Sunday, to arranging our own learning through a Torah L'Am course (a great course that puts the Torah in context - thoroughly recommended) and a walking tour of London, plus arranging team weekends and the occasional social. Bring it on.
KEEP IN TOUCH
We'd like to share contact details among volunteers. If you are not happy for these to be shared with other volunteers or if you'd rather use other details, then tell Helen at the office on office[at]limmud.org (this will update your record on the Limmud database as well).
VOLUNTEER MEETING - SUNDAY 28 JANUARY
Thank you to so many people for saying you'll come along on Sunday. It's going to be a mixture of getting to know each other, finding out about the roles for Conference 2007 and making our first team decisions. The details are:
DATE: Sunday 28th January
TIME: 1-4pm
LOCATION: London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, 94-96 North End Rd, Golders Green, London NW11 7SX (Opposite the Bull & Bush Pub - 5 mins walk from Golders Green tube station)
We'll have some snacks on hand as well. Not a full meal, but enough to keep us going. I look forward to seeing you there.
(Please also invite any friends who might be interested in finding out more about being part of the team.)
BAD JOKE
Two parrots were sitting on a perch. One said to the other, "It smells fishy around here."
Can you do better? Have a good week and see you on Sunday.
Best wishes
Kevin