What's Up?

Nothing is really happening here at 111. And, apparently, few care.

The highest levels of UJC professional leadership have been in Israel for ove a week. Rieger, Kanfer (and one of his daughters) and Toni Young all participated on Panels at a "major" conference convened by Sheatufim -- you have all heard of that one haven't you? The Israel Center for a Civil Society. It has important work to do -- this Conference brought among others Olmert and Tony Blair to speak. We here in NYC were intrigued that the UJC restricted itself to three speakers, of course only from within its own leaders, to talk about fund-raising and strategic partnerships...about which UJC is doing really nothing...but talking.

We are in suspended animation here. The professional leaders of UJC Rieger "left behind" (he went on the the Jewish Agency meetings) are totally afraid to move UJC's agenda forward, if they could find it, in Howard's absence. You make a mistake, you're gone. So they seem to get periodic incoherent e-mail directions day -in and day-out often internally contradictory.

Meanwhile, another Senior Professional is leaving, joining the parade, moving on and into the federation system. Can anyone imagine why the grass is greener anywhere, everywhere else?

AT THE WATER COOLER

If you listen to the gossip here -- and, unfortunately, that's all this is -- there is real concern on the north side of UJC headquarters. Rumor has it that J. Kanfer will not seek another Term as Chair of the Board. We don't believe it, but the CEO is frantic. He may fear that getting the "wrong" successors to Joe and Kathy Manning might result in his firing. One problem is that two of the "candidates" to succeed the Chair are hiding behind the skirts/pants of their wife's/husband's gifts, and how would that look?

In all events the Chairs appointed a strong and independent lay person as Chair of the Nominating Committee. Now we will see if the law of unintended consequences will come into play -- having appointed Susie Stern of New York, will they let her and her Committee do their job? We have our doubts.