Jul 25, 2011

I'm Entering Politics ... Sort Of

It's election season for Congregation Ahavat Shalom, better known in these parts (aka Teaneck) as TABC or the Apartment Shul. We're a community of young adults, recently marrieds, and people with a few kids here and there who live in a collective of three apartment complexes -- Terrace Circle, Walraven, and Westgate -- although there are a few stragglers outside these complexes. Tuvia and I live in Terrace Circle, and I actually think the bulk of the shul membership lives here, too.

So there's a president, treasurer, and all of those other fun positions, including Sisterhood Committee, and then there are four vice presidents -- one for each of the complexes and one to represent those who don't live within the complex system. And so, someone nominated me for the VP of Terrace Circle, and I was both shocked (in that Sally Field "you love me! you really love me!" kind of way) and stoked.


Most people have responded to my nomination with, "So now you're going to have to actually come to shul, right?" to which I respond, "Well, yes." You see, most people don't remember that I actually used to come to shul, every weekend, but then summer hit and I was in Israel for a month and then we were in Nebraska and then it was one million degrees outside and ... forgive me my sins!

My role, should I be awesome enough to land it, will be to make sure Terrace Circle shul members pay their dues (enforcer!), help connect the complex to the board (communicator!), organizing and erecting the complex sukkah (project manager!), and to help organize and make awesome the Purim chagigah and all other fun events like the BBQ (event planner! shmoozer!). I think I'm cut from the cloth to handle all of this, don't you?

And after the sukkah fell down practically on top of me last year, I'm ready to make a durable sukkah that will be able to sustain the wrath of HaShem! Oh, and I hope to make it more aesthetically pleasing than it was last year. A sukkah should be downright beautiful, people. Come on!

Also? I'd really like to use my position to streamline the inclusiveness of the Terrace Circle apartments. I feel like there are a lot of factions and cliques and people who come into the community who don't really get the welcome they should from the appropriate representatives of the various complexes, and I want to be that face -- the face of Terrace Circle! Yes, I might come banging down your door for dues, but I'll invite you to an awesome Terrace Circle event while I'm at it. I want people to feel comfortable bringing issues to the board about anyone, anywhere, anytime and to be able to trust in me that I'll handle things appropriately and confidentially, too.

Thus, my platform is simple:

Efficiency
Inclusion
Awesomeness
Coffee ... Lots of Coffee

Have questions? Want to know whether I'm ready for the position? Whether I can handle being a member of the boys club? Feel free to comment or email me. And I'm serious about the coffee. All are welcome to come and partake in the Keurig or enjoy a delicious Lazy Bean beverage, on me, to talk Terrace Circle and Ahavat Shalom shop!

8 comments:

Suburban Sweetheart said...

Very cool. I'd vote for you! :)

Yardena said...

You're an inspiration, Chaviva! Let us know how it turns out! Fingers crossed for you :)

Karen Zampa Katz said...

have fun...be careful!
I have just completed the 1st year of my 2 year commitment on the board of the shul I attend...

I too was flattered and surprised...
it has been an eye opening experience...both positive and negative...

folks can be very attached to the ways they do things...and even if your ideas are wonderful...you still might run into some issues....

so have fun...but don't be upset if you can't do all the beautiful and wonderful things you want to....

npkedit said...

Not a coffee drinker (unless it's coffee that has enough syrup and ice, so that it doesn't actually taste like coffee), but I'm totally down with the increased inclusiveness (and the fact that I got classified as a young adult). In honor of that I promise I won't be one of the ones you have to beg dues from :-)

Chaviva Gordon-Bennett said...

@npkedit Hurrah! Glad to get a response from one of the community members.

@DunkingRachael Noted. I'm a realist, never fear :)

Anonymous said...

Aren't you moving out of the community?

Chaviva Gordon-Bennett said...

@Anonymous At some point, yes, but I don't see it being during the next calendar year, and neither does the hubsters. The house we've inherited has miles and miles of work ahead of it before we can even feel safe and clean there.

Nora said...

Good luck! If I lived anywhere near there I'd vote for you! :-)

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