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Northeast District
Convention 2023 Preview

January 17, 2023

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Did you miss the January newsletter? You can read it here.

The Northeast District
of Women of Reform Judaism
invites you to
"Our Mosaic: Peacing it Together"

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Thursday, March 23, 2023,
through Sunday, March 26, 2023

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The Ethan Allen Hotel

Danbury, Connecticut

Convention Highlights

The Northeast District Convention will kick off on Thursday afternoon, March 23, and will continue through lunch on Sunday, March 26.

We will have a full schedule of events, including workshops, Shabbat services, Torah study, an evening concert, the installation of our new president and executive committee, and some special events.

Special guests will include Singer-Storyteller-Rabbi Deborah Zecher and WRJ Vice President Judy Wexler.

There will be several philanthropic opportunities available, including convention sponsorships, a new Tribute Tree, a special social action project, and a YES Fund Luncheon with Rabbi Mary Zamore, executive director of the Women's Rabbinic Network.

Convention Calendar

February 10 Early bird registration deadline

February 24 Convention sponsorship deadline

March 5 Registration deadline

March 7 Auction item donation deadline

March 20-26 Online auction

March 23-26 Convention

April 1 Auction item shipment deadline

Need a Roommate?

Check out this thread on Yammer

Contact leadership@wrj.org if you need access to Yammer

WRJ Covenant of Care

All participants and guests must complete WRJ's Covenant of Care form attesting to proof of vaccination against Covid

Fill out the form

Meal Plans

Thursday dinner to Sunday lunch (includes YES Fund Luncheon on Friday) $356

Friday dinner to Sunday lunch $295

Here is the complete list of meals

Want to Bring a Guest?

You can bring a guest to dinner and to the concert on Saturday evening

Register your guest here

Our Social Action Project

As is our custom, we have chosen a social action project to benefit an organization in the area of our convention. Please assist us by bringing art supplies to donate to The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury. We have chosen to assist this underserved community so that they too can create their own artwork. Basic art supplies have been requested – e.g., paper (construction and poster board), markers, crayons, paint, glue.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury provides community youth a safe environment to explore, to grow, to learn, and to become successful contributing members of their community.

Executive Director Karen Senich will join us at our plenary session on Sunday morning to discuss their need for art supplies and what this donation will mean to the children.

Convention Scholarships

Scholarship assistance will be available in the following categories:

Canadian residents, due to differences in exchange rate
"First-timers" who have not attended a previous in-person convention, Kallah, or Shabbaton
Registrants who must travel over 800 miles round-trip
Financial difficulties

Applications and specific qualifications for scholarships may be requested by emailing neconventionms@gmail.com

All scholarship applications will be kept confidential

Executive Committee Installation

We will welcome and install a new set of district officers and area directors

Meet the slate for the incoming executive committee

Honor our outgoing district president
and welcome our incoming district president

Outgoing President Sharon Sobel

Incoming President Yvette Bergman

YES Fund Luncheon

We are pleased to announce that Rabbi Mary Zamore, executive director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN), will be our speaker at Friday’s YES Fund Luncheon.

WRN is a YES Fund recipient and is closely aligned with our missions. We have collaborated together to promote equity and safety within the Reform Movement community. Rabbi Zamore will talk about the close relationship that exists between WRJ and WRN and how the WRJ grant impacted WRN.

Note: The YES Fund Luncheon is included in the Thursday-to-Sunday meal plan; cost is $54 for others.

Convention Sponsorships

Please sponsor a portion of our convention to congratulate or recognize board members of sisterhoods.

This is a wonderful way to show your support for outgoing and incoming WRJ Northeast District Board members and/or promote your sisterhood.

Levels of Sponsorship

Ally: $1800
Supports the Installation Service, Havdalah, and Installation Dinner

Champion: $720
Underwrites the Saturday Night Concert, featuring Rabbi Debbie Zecher

Patron: $540
Sponsors featured speakers, representing the Women’s Rabbinic Network and Women of Reform Judaism

Compassion $360
Supports the technology and requirements of our many workshops. Recognizes that some of our members require the use of accessibility devices and supports these needs

Commitment: $180
Underwrites the costs of the Convention bags, giveaways, our special convention soda and seltzer, Shabbat dinner wine, and our Convention’s mosaic art project.

Connection: $72
Provides table centerpieces, convention giveaways, and snacks for late night activities

BECOME A CONVENTION SPONSOR
Complete and mail your sponsorship form by February 24

The Tribute Tree

Each year that we gather at convention, we have a Tribute Tree on display. This year’s tree is a quilt created by Northeast District members Diane Heiman and Kathy Francos.

The Tribute Tree will grow during the convention.. Leaves, apples, and pomegranates will be added temporarily to acknowledge donations that are made. Sixty percent of the proceeds from The Tribute Tree will be contributed to the YES Fund; forty percent will directly support programs and scholarships within the Northeast District.

The women honored will be given a note card for each donation made in her honor to take home. The pomegranates, apples, and leaves will stay with us for use at future conventions. We will also send a list of donors to each woman who is recognized after the convention.

Please consider pre-ordering your leaves as a tribute to those who have served, continue to serve, or have accepted new responsibilities in the Northeast District. All of our attendees, representing sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individuals within WRJ deserve this honor!

Donors may honor attendees in the following categories:

Sarah: $360. Each incoming, ongoing, and outgoing District Board member, including sisterhood/women’s group presidents/group leaders will be acknowledged with a leaf in her honor, and you as the donor.

Rachel: $180. Each incoming, ongoing, and outgoing Executive Committee member will be acknowledged with a leaf in her honor, and you as the donor.

Rebecca: $90. Purchase individual leaves as a tribute at $90 each.

Leah: $36. Purchase individual leaves as a tribute at $36 each.

Miriam: $18. Purchase individual leaves as a tribute at $18 each.