What About Us?

There are many open CEO positions at federations around the country...and there are no doubt more to come. Why is it that none of us at 111 Eighth Avenue are ever considered for any of them? We think we are pretty darn good professionals, we love the Jewish community with our but it seems that our leaders -- professional and lay alike -- either don't share our self-assessment or aren't out there pushing for us. Shouldn't they be?

Further, when the Mandel Program was established, was there something in the agreement that established the UJC and federation funding partnership that excluded professionals at UJC from participating in significant numbers in this program that was created, we were told, to take the best and brightest of professionals and train them for Federation executive leadership. We look at the participants in that program and readily recognize that more than 50% of the participants to date appear to have no interest in becoming a federation CEO. Yet, our leadership doesn't put us out there -- as you know we rarely are told what's really planned here -- for consideration.

In fact, some of us have discussed (with each other, of course) the idea of wearing name tags ("Hi, I'm ______") in the office because we're not sure that our CEO knows many of our names...and we're certain the Chairs don't.

Delusion

We must care about our people, but equally important, we must demonstrate that we care. An organizational environment where communications are open and direct, where questions are asked and answered, and where the process for making managerial decisions is clear, will minimize confusion and allow people to focus on what is important. (Howard Rieger, Howard's View, February 16, 2008)

Quite clearly, this admonition to all of us comes right out of a management primer; it sure doesn't come out of UJC's practice. In point of fact, all of these directives run counter to how UJC is being run. Totally, absolutely, tragically. It is as if the author is writing about some other organization, not ours, unfortunately. Ask Gail Hyman,, ask Doron Krakow, ask Vicki Agron, Gail Reiss, ask some of our correspondents, and so many more. Unless, of course, this was 2008's first Purim spiel, but, somehow, we just don't think that's the case.

The Great Place to Work Institute, UJC's leaders suddenly acknowledge, surveyed UJC's staff to "....provide us with a methodology to improve our workplace environment." That's great, but since that survey was conducted many of our most senior, most caring and committed professionals have been forced out.

The Great Place to Work Model posits the absolute necessity for "Trust" both downward within a great organization and upward. The Institute describes certain "Dimensions" and then "How it plays out in the workplace."

• "Credibility

~ Communications are open and accessible

~ Competence in coordinating human and material resources

~ Integrity in carrying out vision with consistency

• Respect

~ Supporting professional development and showing appreciation

~ Collaboration with employees on relevant decisions

~ Caring for employees as individuals...

• Fairness

~ Equity -- balanced treatment for all in terms of rewards

~ Impartiality -- absence of favoritism in hiring and promotions"

You get the picture. There is a gaping void between the ideal and the UJC reality. Ask Gail Hyman, ask Doron Krakow, ask Vicki Agron, ask Gail Reiss...and so many more.

We have read that the first step in treating alcoholism or other dependencies is admission by the dependent that he or she has the problem. In UJC's case, the first step has yet to be taken. All we can ask is "physician...heal thyself" unless, of course, this was a Purim spiel in which case, it was very funny.

Letters...

The Blog has generated many sincere Comments. Many of you have welcomed us and our Posts and have responded with your own concerns, experiences and, where we may have shed heat, have shined a light. Others, who find the Blog distasteful, intrusive or destructive, have responded to it in kind, in effect, shooting the unknown messenger. To those who believe they can speak for the entirety of the "Next Generation," you make us fear for our future -- both within Jewish communal life and outside of it. To those of you who believe that "all is well" at UJC, we would certainly not deny you your opinion even as we question your grasp on the reality of our situation here or of UJC's relevance to your communties.


In response to a recent Blog, we received a Comment (and a later response) in which a correspondent first attacked us and, then, in a further fit of pique, attacked one who responded politely to him/her. That purported "representative" of the "Next Gen" (and, we seriously doubt that that writer is any younger than we) has an option available: stop reading this Blog. Why spoil your day reading anything that might enrage you to the kind of apoplexy exemplified by your Comments?




We have noticed that, in the main, those who support our Posts have published thoughtful, often provocative, Comments; and those who oppose the publication of this Blog can't contain their anger and rage...toward us. We don't believe we have expressed anger (except as to how UJC professionals have been forced out of their jobs after years of service -- facts to which those most angry with us dismiss by their silence), certainly not rage, only disappointment and frustration with the very matters and the means of their implementation some of our correspondents, sadly, applaud. ("Bringing concept papers to the Board for discussion before implementation" is viewed as "hard fought progress." Wow!!)

We have no monopoly on truth, we just haven't gulped down the UJC Kool-Aid to find ours.

What Are We To Be?

We have come to grips with the fact that we are but mushrooms here at UJC. Leadership has made sure that all of us (that would include most of you) are, apparently, on a "need to know" basis. UJC "leadership" will decide what we "need to know," ya' know, and that ain't much!!

Through our grapevine, we have learned that at its 6 or 7 hour Board meeting in Newport Beach, the few Board members who were there (and there were very, very few laypersons) heard reports including those on two massive Supplemental Campaigns that this leadership plans. How did we learn this? As most of you did, we guess -- through press releases and Howard's View. So, we guess that this means these "plans," approved by no one outside of UJC's leaders, will be implemented as if they had unanimous federation support.

We had hoped that Federation programs reflecting the challenges our communities face in these hard times might have been the subject of discussion. Like, Detroit's generous assistance to Jewish homeowners victimized by the subprime loans they took out. But, we only read about that in the Jewish press. We thought we might learn more about Chicago's creative plans to offer a significant "new-born gift" to each family registering a baby for a Jewish pre-school. But, apparently, not enough of a "big idea" to merit discussion. And so on, and so on it goes.

Isn't this crazy? Whose organization is UJC? Is it the "property" of its leaders or of the federations? You decide. Or they will.