REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON SIZE AND INTIMACY August, 2001 Task Force Report Contents Executive Summary Introduction Overview - Four Approaches Respecting the Individual Volunteer Opportunities Small Groups Community-wide Activities Conclusion Appendix A Appendix B Overview Four Approaches The Task Force identified four types of actions that BJ could take to enhance intimacy and community in the face of our size. Respecting the Individual Each member should feel respected in his or her participation in BJ. Seemingly small efforts like introducing oneself, saying "thank you," and responding promptly to member requests will reinforce a feeling of belonging. Opportunities to Volunteer Many members feel more connected to BJ when they are actively contributing to the community. Providing additional opportunities to participate as a volunteer, and making volunteering as easy as possible, are important to members feeling a sense of ownership and participation. Small Groups Some members more easily connect to other members when in a small group. BJ has made significant progress in the past few years in developing small groups, especially Havurot. Additional small group opportunities could be made available to members through more flexible scheduling and themes, additional staff support, and staff-prepared study materials. Community-wide activities Or as one member described them, "Gathering Around the Campfire" activities provide an opportunity for us to celebrate BJ as a total community. Most important of these activities are services, but the annual meeting, community forums, and community-wide celebratory and fund-raising events (for example, Night of 100 Dinners, Purim Masked Ball) also bring large numbers of the community together at one time. Gateways into the Community Many members find it difficult to "break into" a more intimate connection with BJ. We have expanded our efforts to ease the transition to a more intimate connection with BJ by enhancing our new member orientation, and experimenting with a continuing member orientation. Other activities include providing more opportunities for volunteering, and for face-to-face contact in small settings, like the in-home kiddushim. The following sections discuss these ideas in more detail. << Previous Back to top Next >>