2017 FLC Highlights!

2017 WRJ Fried Leadership Conference (FLC) took place on March 3-5, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina. We learned, laughed and worshiped together.

Workshops for learning and growth are the cornerstone of FLC, and this year featured a range of topics for women at all levels. 
Skills Training workshops addressed topics such as:
  • How to run an effective meeting
  • Leadership development/transitions & nominating committees
  • Conflict management & resolution
  • Programming, including some turnkey WRJ programs to take home
  • Fundraising ideas
  • Membership growth & retention
  • Social justice & advocacy
  • Alternative leadership models

Advanced Learning workshops included:
  • Interfaith social justice efforts
  • The activism of Southern Jewish women during the Civil Rights Movement
  • Planning your legacy: ethical wills and more
  • Utilizing your WRJ volunteer experience and skills for professional career purposes
  • Archiving your Sisterhood
  • The youth and adult perspectives on partnerships between adults and youth in our congregations, and the future of feminism.

During our time together, our days were enhanced by the beauty of ritual and song from inspiring female musical and worship leaders. And, we heard from Nefesh Mountain at a dinner-dance supporting WRJ’s YES Fund.

Several strong Reform Jewish women (and a few men!) taught and inspired us during FLC. We were thrilled to have the following guests join us:
  • Karla Goldman, Director of the University of Michigan’s Jewish Communal Leadership Program and Professor of Social Work, and member of Jewish Women’s Archives
  • Rabbi Esther Lederman, Director of URJ Communities of Practice and “Rabbi in Residence” for FLC
  • Debra Winter, “Musician in Residence” for FLC (Debra and Esther are coordinating our services together)
  • Miriam Chilton, URJ Vice President for Youth/NFTY
  • NFTY President Kathryn Fleisher and a few other NFTY teen leaders
  • Dr. Barry Steifel, Professor at the College of Charleston

Our schedule included a Shabbat visit to nearby Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue (KKBE) as well as a tour of the city of Charleston. Additional pre- and post-conference tours and sightseeing excursions were also available to help enhance our weekend, including a post-conference WRJ Fundraising event at Middleton Place!

The annual WRJ Fried Leadership Conference presents a valuable opportunity to network with women from throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world, to gather in worship with friends, and to develop new and lasting friendships. We invite every sisterhood and individual member to join us next year in Nashville, TN on March 1-4, 2018 as we enhance our skills and learn new and innovative ideas to share with our sisterhoods and women’s groups.