Synagogue Foundations
Sustainable synagogue business models begin with a facility for the basics. SYNERGY’s 2011-2012 Synagogue Leadership Development opportunities focus on three main areas: the Membership Pipeline, Financial Sustainability, and the Leadership Pipeline. SYNERGY’s webinars and workshops offer practical, hands-on skills to increase leaders’ capacity to grow and strengthen their synagogue.
The webinars and workshops that follow are strongly recommended for leaders of any synagogue considering undertaking Synagogue Intensives, including Board Excellence in Synagogues Today, Building the Leadership Pipeline, Sustainable Synagogue Business Models, Synagogue Consultancy Project, and Synagogue Visioning and Planning.
Membership Pipeline
Webinars – Social Media Boot Camp
Last year's Social Media Boot Camp series focused on the uses of specific social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter. This year, the topic of the six-part webinar series will be the implications of these social media tools with a focus on strategy, staffing, and leadership as they pertain to the mission, function, and sustainability of synagogues. All webinars will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Learn more and register.
- Wednesday, October 26, 2011 – The Synagogue as a Networked Nonprofit
- Thursday, November 17, 2011 – The Skills and Mindset of a Successful Community Weaver
- Wednesday, January 11, 2012 – Staffing Beyond the Accidental Techie
- Thursday, February 9, 2012 – Social Giving
- Wednesday, March 14, 2012 – Social Media for Jewish Learning: The Social Sermon
- Thursday, May 17, 2012 – Return on Engagement: How to Measure the Impact of Your Socializing
Workshop – Facebook and Twitter Basics for Synagogues: A Hands-On Workshop
Monday, April 23, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale
Tuesday, May 15, 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Long Island office of UJA-Federation
For lay leaders and synagogue professionals interested in the basics of social media.
Discover how Facebook and Twitter can be professional assets for Jewish life and congregational strength, including building relationships, Jewish learning, and engagement. Both topics are intended for beginners, but will provide useful examples and strategies for those with some experience as well. Please bring a laptop, if you have one, as there will be hands-on work throughout. Learn more and register.
Financial Sustainability
Workshop – Facilities Management for Your House of Worship
Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the New York City office of UJA-Federation,
A Wiener Educational Center program co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Association for Synagogue Executives (MetroASE)
For synagogue executive directors, facilities managers, and others engaged in facilities planning and management.
This seminar will address essential questions of facilities stewardship and management, including understanding the life cycle of facility management, establishing a proactive facility management program, budgeting for facility management, maximizing the use of technology to save time and money, and a quick look at capital reserve planning and incorporating the practical side of greening in your facility. Learn more and register.
Read more about additional Wiener Educational Center workshop opportunities.
Workshop – Alliances, Mergers, and Partnerships
Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Westchester office of UJA-Federation
Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Long Island office of UJA-Federation
For synagogue board members, clergy, and executive directors.
Explore emerging approaches for creative partnerships and new models of collaboration. Alban Institute consultants Alice Mann and Linda Rich will share a range of opportunities and alternatives for working together to help secure your synagogue's sustainability, and review the issues and steps involved in addressing each solution. Synagogues participating in this workshop will be eligible to apply for intensive consultation with Alban Institute consultants. Learn more and register.
Leadership Pipeline
Workshop – Board Excellence in Synagogues Today
Monday, April 30, 2012, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Long Island office of UJA-Federation
Thursday, May 10, 2012, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the New York City office of UJA-Federation
For synagogue board members, clergy, and executive directors.
Embrace values and practices that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your synagogue board. Alban Institute consultants Dan Hotchkiss and Linda Rich will help you to gain a better understanding of best practices for board excellence, identify priorities for your congregations, and develop action plans that will build on your strengths and focus on opportunity areas. Synagogues participating in this workshop will be eligible to apply for intensive consultation with Alban Institute consultants. Learn more and register.
Webinar – Social Media Boot Camp: Return on Engagement: How to Measure the Impact of Your Socializing
Thursday, Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
This webinar is part of a 6-part series, led by Lisa Colton of Darim Online, focusing on the implications of social media tools — and their impact on society and business — for evolving your congregation for success in the networked age.
ROI ROI ROI. We're always hearing about the return on investment of time, energy, and dollars. How do you measure what something is worth? Reflecting back on our previous five topics, we'll look at how to measure engagement, why it's essential for your success and how focusing on it can be the key for evolving your synagogue to thrive in the networked age. Learn more and register.
Recordings of past webinars can be viewed in our webinar archive.