Dear Members, I hope this finds you and your families well.  While the State of the Section is usually announced at our annual Installation, because of the Coronavirus, Installation will be done on Zoom for the Board and, hopefully, in the fall, we will have a small celebration. Due to the unprecedented virus, several of our events had to be canceled.  This will be reflected in the following reports.  However, we are in good financial health and, while much had to be canceled, our NCJW Board and members were able to find creative ways to channel our efforts.  You will read about some of these in our newsletter.  Many of our members donated their fees for events that had to be canceled.  Thank you for your generosity. The following report is broken down by office, project, program or event.   MEMBERSHIP Currently, we have approximately 800 members.  Our Section’s fiscal year is governed by NCJW.org (National) By-Laws- it runs from July 1- June 30 each year.  Our annual dues are currently $45.  Dues envelopes will be mailed shortly.  As a member in good standing, you will receive a $10 discount over non-members at each of our major fundraisers.  Your dues are used to fund our many local programs and also to support the National organization whose vision is as follows: To ensure reproductive health, rights and justice; support economic justice and provide for human needs; promote a diverse, fair and independent judiciary; ensure and advance civil rights and civil liberties; promote civic engagement; promote religious freedom and strengthen the separation between religion and state; welcome immigrants and refugees; end gun violence, stop gender-based and sexual violence; end human trafficking.  Money is also sent to Israel to empower women.   COMMUNICATIONS:  This year, we were fortunate to create a Communications Team consisting of: Connie Christians- Webmaster and Newsletter Creator Helene Askinazi- Director of Communications In charge of creating the monthly newsletter with Connie, informational flyer distribution and overseeing our website. Cathy Einhorn- Social Media Outreach In charge of Facebook postings, website management, and, Zoom virtual meetings.  This past year, we have worked on enhancing our membership and community Facebook engagement through posts and videos.  We have highlighted our members as a way to show what we are doing.  This year, for the first time, we posted regular videos of event speakers as a way to reach potential attendees. Barbara Bose- Graphic Design Specialist Ann Slakter- Public Relations Specialist Through Ann’s hard work, we received additional publicity about our events and programs. Rona Goldstein- Responsible for sending out Board reports, Agendas for monthly meetings, Treasurer’s Reports and Minutes.  She also helps design many of the flyers and our pamphlets and administrates our printing needs. Working together, this team was able to streamline the ways we communicate with our members and non-members, each working to their strengths. Our monthly newsletter now reaches over 1400 women. In addition, we can now accept payments and registration forms online to facilitate event registration. We continue to be a work in progress.    FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL EVENTS On November 8, 2019 we held our opening event.  Our event was not the typical opening event.  We had our card party with 180 women attending.  We had a Boutique with 20 vendors selling a large variety of goods.  The event was held at Mirasol and was well received. Our next event, our Literary Luncheon, was held on January 6, 2020 at the Club of Ibis.  Our speaker was Ilene Prusher, author of Bagdad Fixer.  Ilene spoke to the 160 women attendees about her personal experiences while she was a reporter in the Middle East. Our Woman in Power luncheon was held on February 28, 2020.  Our honoree was Lauren Hersh, National Director of World Without Exploitation.  Lauren’s organization works to combat human trafficking and bring awareness to young girls and their families across the country.  We also had a Boutique with 18 vendors who donated 20% of their sales to NCJW, Palm Beach. GRANTS and SPONSORSHIPS We have received grants and sponsorships from BallenIsles, Quantum Foundation, Searcy Denney Law Firm, Minuteman Printers, NCJW SE Atlantic and Valencia Shores.   PATHWAYS IN EDUCATION (PIE) This “umbrella” has several components to it and maybe expanding even more in the coming year. WOW (Women of Wonder) Book Clubs- This is a new program piloted at two elementary schools.  The intent is to have a once-a-month book club with the purpose of empowering interested girls through literature with books provided by NCJW.  Their first book was She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and the girls got to keep their book.  The clubs are facilitated by 3-4 NCJW volunteers who prepare discussion questions and become mentors to the 8-10 girls chosen to participate in each program. Keynote Singers- Twenty-three dedicated volunteers comprise this group which leads a rousing sing-a-long with seniors at Morse Geriatric once-a-month.  When we “walk” with the down “memory lane”, it stimulates these compromised individuals to become “people” again.  They tell us stories of they were and what the songs mean to them.  Spouses of our members are invited to join this group. Head Smart- a strategic plan has been developed to initiate a program to prevent head injuries and save lives by wearing bike helmets through education.  Because of the closing of schools and other venues due to the Coronavirus, plans will continue when the buildings are opened again.  Before the quarantine, several meetings were held and plans are in the works and Zoom meetings are continuing. Caridad Center- This weekly after-school enrichment program began in October and ended when schools closed in March.  There was a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza party in December but, due to the Coronavirus, the Easter/Passover party had to be canceled.  Volunteers are always needed.   Kids Community Closet (KCC) KCC receives its funding from several sources- Grants, donations and the Section’s general funds.  The closets are in 17 Palm Beach County Title I Schools.  The money has been spent on shorts and collared shirts, socks and underwear in 11 schools.  Five other schools have received socks and underwear and one closet is designated for homeless and foster students who can receive socks, underwear and feminine hygiene products.  Children who soil, tear or outgrow their “uniforms” can receive what they need.  Logs are kept of the inventory and, since school may not start again until the fall, we will use the February/March inventories as a basis for the ordering in June for school opening in mid-August.  It is clear that the closets are being well utilized.   ADVOCACY The Palm Beach Advocacy Committee is probably a microcosm of America right now.  All of our exhaustedly planned programs for March were canceled.  So much work went into the #MeToo Symposium by Helene Askinazi.  A new initiative was planned to engage new section members into ‘committee life’.  This was also not to be.   The Barclay Initiative Against Human Trafficking had a scheduled Fashion night of Sip and Shop with proceeds to Human Trafficking.   This was also canceled.  The common theme at the time of cancellation was “Do we really need to do this?”   Each cancellation came with angst and a feeling that the cancellation was probably NOT necessary.  Now that we have the advantage of hindsight, we all know we did the ABSOLUTE RIGHT THING!!  Just think of the harm we could have caused by being a huge pool of virus germs.  All the events just mentioned were to take place during the incubation time of this plague and could have potentially caused thousands of additional cases to our community. As strong NCJW women, we will not let these postponements be a defeat.  Helene and I have already discussed turning the symposium into a series of topical presentations.   Since the Spring of 2019, The Barclay (where I live) has become an active pod concentrating in battling Human Trafficking by raising awareness about Trafficking and collecting donations for survivors.  This effort can serve as a model for other communities.  NCJW members in various communities can decide on a cause or issue of common concern and become a small, harmonious machine that makes a difference about something of united belief.   With regard to our planned Meet and Greet, we have saved the names of those interested in attending our new member Happy Hour sponsored by The Advocacy Committee.  We will reach out as soon as life returns to a normal level of socialization. While socialization may be distant, our issues and devotion remain close.  Advocacy will begin zoom meetings as soon as we see a flattening of the virus’ curve so we can prepare for resumption of “in-person” activity.   We look forward to a Women’s Rights program during the summer.  I think we can also anticipate organizing ‘Get- Out –The- Vote’ activity as well.   We will all remember 2020 as the year America realized it is vulnerable.  We are all still focused on avoidance and let’s face it, survival of the ‘least fit’. It doesn’t mean we’re done.  We shall rise and we shall advocate! HUMAN TRAFFICKING Speakers Bureau NCJW has 8 trained volunteers for a Powerpoint presentation on human trafficking which is a joint collaboration between NCJW and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Palm Beach Jewish Federation. Notices of the availability of this presentation have been sent to lay and rabbinic leadership of local synagogues.  We will be following up with phone calls to set dates for presentations. We will also be reaching out to other organizations to make presentations.   Awareness and Education NCJW has a committee of 15 volunteers who were meeting regularly to plan a campaign of awareness and education in the community.  We have printed tear-off note pads in English and in Spanish, and have made small flyers of the note pad graphics for distribution in places where the note pads cannot be utilized. The note pads and flyers have been distributed to fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, laundromats, libraries, gas stations, etc.  They have been taken by Palm Beach Code Enforcement and other government agencies.   The Spanish note pads were printed for and are being distributed by Catholic Charities.  They will be translated into Portuguese and Creole.   Committee leadership has met with Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner, Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, West Palm Beach Commissioner Christina Lambert, Lake Worth Beach Vice -Mayor Andy Amoroso, Greenacres Mayor Joel Florio and staff for the Palm Beach Public Library about distribution of the note pads and posters.   QR Code NCJW, working with Rescue Upstream, is promoting the distribution of a QR Code developed by a survivor of human trafficking. When scanned with a smart phone camera, the code opens to is a website with information about trafficking, laws that protect victims and direct links to the national trafficking number and report form of Polaris, the national office that retains statistics on trafficking, promotes prevention, and operates the national trafficking hotline number.  A copy of the QR Code is on our tear off note pads and we encourage other organizations to add it to their printed materials.   Tallahassee Days Caren Freigenberg and Dianne Goldin travelled to Tallahassee to participate in NCJW’s Advocacy Days.  The goal of this trip was to meet with Palm Beach County legislators and inform them of the great work that NCJW Palm Beach Section is doing to make a difference in the community with respect to Community Service and Advocacy. They were advised, at several visits, that legislation on some of our most important issues will not move forward because this is a presidential election year. Caren and Dianne met with Representative Tina Polsky, Representative Al Jacquet, Senator Lori Berman, Representative David Silvers, Representative Michael Caruso, Representative Emily Slosberg, Representative Joe Castello, Senator Kevin Rader, and an assistant and intern of Representative Matt Whillhite.  In the interest of time and space, if you would like to hear more about a specific legislator’s views, please contact Rona Sterling at rster@comcast.net.   #Me, Too! Symposium     This event, scheduled for March 12 was cancelled just days before due to the Coronavirus.  The topic was “A Moment in Time or a Cultural Shift?”  Our intended speakers were Sheila Katz, CEO of NCJW.org and Deborah Shalian, author of Silent Survivor which deals with the issue of sexual assault in the military.  Once life gets back to normal, we intend to present these speakers in a different format and venue.  We thank Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, our Presenting Sponsor, ...Southeast Atlantic, NOW (National Organization of Women), and Zioness, along with our registrants for donating their sponsorships and fees as a donation to Palm Beach Section.   LIFT LIFT provides personal care and household items for four constituencies:   Victims of Human Trafficking:  We maintain a closet at Catholic Charities and provide items as requested by the staff at Catholic Charities.  These items are strictly for victims of human trafficking. Battered Women’s Shelter:  We provide personal care and apartment furnishings for women living at or leaving the local shelter for Battered Women. Harmony House, which is operated by the YWCA.  Our volunteers shop for needed items and accept gently used items, which we store in our Lake Worth storage unit.  We just provided 15 hand sewn masks for shelter staff. Vita Nova, Inc.: Vita Nova maintains two multi-unit complexes to house up to 30 young adults who have aged out of foster care.  We provide needed personal care, cleaning and hygiene items.  Vita Nova also operates a drop -in center in West Palm Beach for homeless youth and those who have aged out of foster care not living at their apartment complex.  This population is at very high risk for becoming victims of human trafficking and we a pleased to be able to support them with needed personal care items and household furnishings when requested.  The staff gratefully received 15 hand sewn masks in addition to shipments of needed items at the start of the coronavirus lockdown ChildNet/Children’s Home Society:  We provide apartment essentials to youth aging out of foster care.  Our volunteers shop for needed items which are given to youth as they leave their foster home for independent living. LIFT has 12 volunteers and is actively seeking additional volunteers to shop on an as needed basis.   MEALS WITH A CAUSE             Breaking Bread Twice a month during “season” and once a month during “non-season”, our Section provides a meal for residents at the Lewis Center.  The Senator Philip D. Lewis Center (“Lewis Center”), is part of the Leading the Way Home Plan, which is a continuation of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' work to end homelessness. It offers a single point of access for homeless and potentially homeless individuals and families who are seeking assistance to restore a self-sufficient and productive lifestyle.  The meals we provide are catered by Tuxedo Catering and four of our members (different members each time) serve the residents and engage in conversation.  During the holiday season in December, we also provide socks for the residents.  We are always happy to have more volunteers to serve a meal.             Quantum House Quantum House is the only home of its kind between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando and relies entirely on volunteer teams to provide a main meal to its families 365 days a year.  It is a caring and supportive home that lessens the burden for families from all over the world whose children are receiving treatment for serious medical conditions. The majority of the patients are undergoing major orthopedic surgery (such as limb extensions) at St. Mary’s Hospital.  Families reside in suites at Quantum House between two and six months.  NCJW cooks and serves a full home- cooked meal for about 60 people once a month. “This was so good tonight”, one seven year old boy praised our cooks in blue NCJW aprons.  “We usually get junk food for dinner!” We will continue to cook through the summer months, Covid-19 notwithstanding.  Until the virus has left the planet, in order to not risk bringing virus germs inside Quantum House, we will continue to drop off meals and supplies without going inside.  If need be, we will use a professional caterer.   Holiday Bags Our original intent was to pack bags with food donated at our Women’s Passover Seder (which was cancelled due to Covid-19).  Then we were going to give gift cards for the synagogues to distribute to needy members- then the synagogues closed.  We decided to distribute them for Rosh Hashanah to the six synagogues.   VILLAGGIO Villaggio is a community in Lake Worth that is part of our Section but is considered a “pod”.  They have several events that, by Villaggio’s charter, must first be offered to Villaggio residents and then to the rest of our membership.  Villaggio hosted a Cabaret night, a tour of the Norton Museum, A Secret Cinema and, unfortunately, had to cancel the Women’s Passover Seder due to the Coronavirus.   SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS The Alk Scholarship was established many years ago by the Alk family with the intent to give $300 per year to a deserving nursing student.  We recently became connected with South University; the Campus President and Dean of Nursing were thrilled at the prospect.  It was decided that the interested second semester students would write an essay as to how they would use the scholarship money and the Dean and her committee will chose the student.   It will be presented at the senior’s pining ceremony in June (Coronavirus notwithstanding) with NCJW listed in the event program and an opportunity for one of our officers to speak a little bit about NCJW and what we do before presenting the award. In an effort to encourage young people to become the next generation of community leaders, we announced the second annual Future Leader Award competition. Future Leader Awards will be presented in two categories - Advocacy and Community Service. Applicants must show that they have committed to improving the quality of life for women, children and families and to safeguarding individual rights and freedoms through their ongoing volunteer activities. The competition is open to graduating seniors in public and public charter high schools in Palm Beach County. This year, we had 9 applicants and are in the process of selecting the two winners. Each winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.   TRIBUTES & BIRTHDAY PROJECT In the past year, our Section re-designed our Tribute Cards and increased the assortment to contain Get Well, Sympathy, Mazel Tov, Birthday, Thinking of You and Thank You Cards.  These can be purchased as single cards, pre-packaged cards or custom packaged cards.  This has become a successful fundraiser and the new designs have been very well received. Our new Birthday Project has taken off and is expected to expand exponentially in the coming years.  Eighty members participated in purchasing cards.  One hundred and seventeen members received cards from a total of 513 birthday greetings.  Every other month, a list of birthdays for the next two months is E-mailed to all members, by date, of members who have agreed to give us the month and day of their birthdays.  After checking off to whom they would like to send a card, $1 per person checked is sent to Joanne Sininsky.  One card with the names of those wanting to wish a Happy Birthday to a member is sent.  If you would like to register your birthdate so you can receive a card from those who check you, please contact Joanne at jgins49@gmail.com.  -April 2020