Federation Star - March 2019

6 Federation Star March 2019
JEWISH FEDERATION
WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com / 215-820-6697
WCA Special Events – something for everyone
By Linda Simon, WCA Special Events Director
The role of Special Events Director
has proven to be one of
the most challenging and yet
rewarding board positions that I could
imagine. Managing three major events
a year sounds as if it could prove to be
more daunting than rewarding, but that
hasn’t been the case. Why? The answer
is simple. It’s because of our exceptional
volunteers.
These wonderful women, who give
freely of their time and energy, are eager
to make each event better than the
last. Remarkably, they have an uncanny
ability to anticipate problems and issues
before they occur. I sometimes
wonder about that special skill. I can
only conclude that their previous life
experiences, whether in the business
world, education or managing children
and family – practiced and learned over
a lifetime – have equipped them with
this necessary and essential ability. Just
as important, their commitment and
enthusiasm to overcome any problems
are contagious.
As many of you know, the largest
WCA event of the year is our Welcome
Back Luncheon. The average attendance
is 420 members, and everyone is eager
WCA Special Events Director Linda Simon and volunteer
Nadine Rueter check in guests at WCA Volunteer Day
to reconnect with friends they haven’t
seen in three or four months. To make
that happen in a three-and-a-half hour
period of time, while eating lunch and
being entertained by a fascinating guest
speaker can be an unnerving task, to say
the least. So how do we do it?
First, we break the luncheon down
into manageable components. Each task
is headed by a team of volunteer coordinators.
We’ve found this is the best way,
and indeed the only way to produce an
experience that is consistently one of the
highlights of the year.
This past November’s luncheon
illustrates how a coordinated volunteer
effort makes for success. The guest
speaker was suggested by a WCA
member. The table arrangements were
created on site by volunteers. The registration
desk was handled by volunteers,
the 50/50 raffle, the greeters, the “shshers,”
the invitations, the seating chart,
the programs, the signage, the Naples
Senior Center at JFCS donations and
the photography – all ably managed by
WCA volunteers.
While other WCA events are not
quite as large, our team of volunteers
make them run perfectly. First, there
is the Chanukah Celebration.
It takes just a few dedicated
volunteers to keep the line
moving as the children spin
dreidels and match Hebrew
letters with a spin of the wheel
to win prizes. No, it’s not the
Welcome Back Luncheon, but
as we view the smiling faces
of the children, we know that
they’re just as happy during
their spin-the-dreidel event
Don’t miss this exciting noc concert
NAPLES ORCHESTRA & CHORUS
as our WCA attendees are at their luncheon.
And although we’ve only been doing
it for two years, WCA Volunteer Day
has positioned WCA as an organization
that gives back to the community.
The goal of Volunteer Day is to link
WCA members with a variety of local
non-profit agencies. We have recruited
between 18 and 21 local non-profits
that deal with issues ranging from food
insecurity, blindness, animal rescue and
rehabilitation, proper school clothing,
preschool education, high school education
for students at the poverty level and
more. Volunteer Day is managed by two
volunteers with the help of three others.
It’s a great example of volunteers helping
to create even more volunteers for
the greater good.
This year, WCA has grown to over
1,500 women, and in order to encourage
more volunteer participation, we’ve
recently expanded the Special Event
Director’s position by adding a group of
volunteer professional event planners,
WCA member Gina Cannon with Boys & Girls
Club of Collier County representative
Pamela Caruso at WCA Volunteer Day
WCA volunteer Carol Clarke at the WCA table
at the Federation’s Chanukah Celebration
all WCA members. WCA will benefit
greatly from their skills and expertise,
and we believe our events next year,
from the Welcome Back Luncheon to
the Chanukah Celebration to Volunteer
Day will be better than ever – if that’s
possible!
I am so grateful for our volunteers’
participation, and I look forward to seeing
how their skills, talent and expertise
will continue our traditions and enhance
our events.
Linda Simon is originally from Newton,
Massachusetts. A snowbird since 1997,
Linda became a full-time resident of
Naples in 2007. In business for 27 years,
Linda owned and managed one of the
top three Destination Management
Companies in America. She now brings
her talents and expertise to WCA. Linda
said, “WCA is the ‘icing on the cake’ of
living in Naples.”
Artistic Director
Max Rabinovitsj
internationally renowned
Conductor and violinist
Julie Careccia, Toby Kosloff and Anna Levin with the donations that women brought to the
WCA Welcome Back Luncheon for the Food Pantry at the Naples Senior Center at JFCS
classic masterpieces with Joey Wenda
Acclaimed oboe soloist and composer
March 16th at 7pm & March 17th at 3:30pm
Haydn, Sinfonia No. 48,
Mozart Oboe Concerto &
Mendelssohn, Symphony
No. 4, “The Italian”
Still coming this season...
Musical Journey with Cellist Thomas Mesa
&
Broadway Melodies with Jessica Grové
Individual Performance Tickets $25
Temple Shalom
4630 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
Questions: 239.676.0077 or
info@naplesorchestraandchorus.org
To Order Tickets: naplesorchestraandchorus.org
Women’s Cultural Alliance
2018-2019 MEMBERSHIP FORM
Women’s Cultural Alliance
2018-2019 MEMBERSHIP FORM
The membership year is from September 1 until August 31 of the next year.
The membership year is from September until August 31 of the next year.
Dues received Dues received after after March March 1 will be applied to to the the next next season. season.
Please check Please one: check one: NEW NEW RENEWAL (PLEASE fill out the the form form completely and PRINT and CLEARLY!) PRINT CLE
Is there Is a there change a change in your in your information from last last year? year? YES YES NO NO
If you checked NO, just print your name, fill in payment info, sign Event Waiver below, and mail to WCA / JFGN.
If you checked NO, just print your name, fill in payment info, sign Event Waiver below, and mail to WCA / J
Print Name
Spouse/Partner Name
Print Name Email (very important)
Spouse/Partner Name
Email (very Local important) Street Address
FL Community
Local Street City Address
State FL Community Zip
Florida Phone
Cell Phone
City State Zip
Northern Address
No. Phone
Florida Phone City State Cell Phone Zip
Northern In Address Southwest Florida Full-time Part-time from No. Phone to
City NAME BADGES: New Members receive a one-time name State badge as a welcome gift from Zip WCA/JFGN.
In Southwest Returning Florida Members: Full-time If you need a new Part-time or replacement from name badge, please increase to your fee by $ 8.
Print your name as you want it to appear on the badge
NAME BADGES: New Members receive a one-time name badge as a welcome gift from WCA/
MEMBERSHIP DUES: $ 90 (US Funds only, Minimum for the year; includes membership to the JFGN) $ 90.00
Returning Members: If you need a new or replacement name badge, please increase your fe
I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of: $
Print your name as you want it to appear Total enclosed on the or badge authorized: $
I will be paying by check. Please make your check payable to WCA/JFGN
MEMBERSHIP I will be paying DUES: by $ credit 90 (US card. Funds Card only, Number Minimum for the year; includes membership to the JFGN) $ 9
I am also Expiration including Date a voluntary Name donation Card to the Federation in the amount CVV of: $
Mail this SIGNED Total form enclosed (with your or check authorized: credit card number) to:
$
I will be paying by check. Please WCA make / Jewish your Federation check payable of Greater to WCA/JFGN
Naples
2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201, Naples, FL 34109
I will be paying by credit card. Card Number
I would like to VOLUNTEER my services/expertise and would be willing to chair or co-chair an activity on the
Expiration Date following topic or topics. Name on Card CVV
Mail this SIGNED form (with your check or credit card number) to:
WCA / Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
2500 EVENT Vanderbilt PARTICIPATION Beach WAIVER. Rd., Ste. By signing 2201, below, I accept Naples, the terms FL of this 34109 waiver.
As a participant in a WCA event,* I , acting for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follows: That I
waive all rights, claims, cause of action, of any kind whatsoever that I or my heirs, legal representatives may claim to have against
I would like either to The VOLUNTEER Jewish Federation my of services/expertise Greater Naples, and or the and Women’s would Cultural be willing Alliance, to their chair members, or co-chair agents, servants, activity and oron
employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating in a WCA event. This waiver and
following release topic shall or topics. be construed broadly, under the Laws of the State of Florida.
Signature ________________________________________________Date ____________
*Note: Certain higher risk events such as pickleball, tennis, kayaking and biking require an enhanced waiver to be signed. Contact your activities director for more information.
For EVENT more information PARTICIPATION contact Membership WAIVER. Director, By signing Hope below, Abels I accept at hopeabels@yahoo.com
the terms of this waiver.
As a participant 2018-2019 in a WCA event,* I , acting for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follow