Welcome to NFTY Ohio Valley!

Welcome to NFTY Ohio Valley (OV)! We realize it can feel awkward being in a new environment for the first time, but OV welcomes you with open arms. This packet will explain a few of our traditions and make for an easier transition. We can’t wait to meet you! This packet includes an introduction to what NFTY is, our 2015/2016 Regional Board and their contacts, a breakdown of NFTY lingo/acronyms, the NFTY and Ohio Valley cheers, a schedule of this year’s events and a breakdown of a typical board structure. This will help you accustomed to life here in Ohio Valley and learn more about NFTY-OV culture and traditions. If you need anything leading up to the event or any point throughout the weekend, please connect with Andy Harkavy (Regional Director), your Temple Youth Group Advisor, or any Regional Board Member. Love, Ohio Valley Regional Board 2015-2016 Regional board 2015-2016 NFTY is planned by teens for teens (with adult supervision). Below is your Ohio Valley Regional Board:

President: Corinne Levy ov-president@.org (317)443-9800

Programming Vice President: Maddie Roger

[email protected] (317)937-2241

Social Action Vice President: Mac Kohn [email protected] (513)500-0677

Religious and Cultural Vice President: Adina Ballaban [email protected] (513)675-6270

Membership Vice President-OI: Joe Lybik [email protected] (317)918-0403

Membership Vice President-KITOWV: Lexie Beauchamp [email protected]

(502)438-6033 Financial and

Communications Vice President: Abi Cox

[email protected] (317)752-4310

What is nfty? NFTY is a movement. For over seventy years, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) has offered thousands of young people the opportunity to explore and live Reform .

NFTY is a safe space to build identity. Today, over 450 Reform congregations throughout sponsor Temple Youth Groups, bringing the NFTY experience to more than 10,000 high school-age young people in grades 9-12. Through involvement opportunities offered by congregations, our 19 NFTY regions, and on the North American level, NFTYites strive to forge an identity in consonance with the goals and values of .

NFTY is an organization that is teen-driven with adult support. There is a healthy balance between those aspects of NFTY that are youth-led and those that are directed by its adult advisors. NFTY is an affiliate of the .

NFTY is a community for Reform Jewish high school students. NFTYites forge and build friendships, lifelong Reform Jewish identities, and leadership skills through community building, worship, social action, and experiential youth-led Jewish educational programming. Many NFTYites serve as NFTY leaders on the local TYG, regional, and even North American levels. Many NFTY Leaders continue on to become both lay and professional leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement.

NFTY is the North American branch of a worldwide progressive called .

What do you do in NFTY? NFTY’s heart and soul is the local URJ synagogue Temple Youth Group (TYG). While each local TYG differs in organization, focus, size, and character, the Temple Youth Group is the outlet for the highly engaged Reform Jewish teenager in a URJ synagogue. You can start with TYGs and meet throughout the school year. This group will offer a variety of programs and experiences you won’t find anywhere else!

TYGs are linked together by geographic region into NFTY’s 19 regions. While each NFTY region is somewhat unique in character, program, and traditions, each NFTY Region runs leadership training for local TYGs, as well as a series of camp, hotel, or home- hospitality based events or conventions that focus on Jewish themes, building community, worship, and social action for general NFTY membership.

The 19 regions are, in turn, joined together on the North American Level. North American NFTY events and programs include the Summer NFTY Leadership Academy at the URJ Kutz Camp, NFTY - leadership training and board meeting for newly elected regional board members - held every June at the URJ Kutz Camp, a Mid-year February board meeting held at the URJ Kutz Camp, NFTY in Programs, and the Biennial NFTY Convention.

So...Why Should I Come? Each event involves Jewish teenagers from all across your region or North America. Sound intimidating? Every event is someone's first event. Even if you are a senior, it is never too late to start coming. Get involved! All activities are planned by Jewish teenagers (just like you) for Jewish teenagers (just like you). Think of it as a weekend that’s entire purpose is to engage you, challenge you and make you have fun!

NFTY is unique because it is youth driven. A team of high school leaders works with a regional staff member to make each event better than the last. At NFTY, you will dive into topics and activities that you do not get the opportunity to explore anywhere else. Through these thought-provoking programs, new teen-written and led services, and original and fun mixers, you will meet friends that will last a lifetime. The magic of NFTY is indescribable, as it truly gives you a place to be yourself.

For many Reform Jewish teens across North America, NFTY is one of the few places to be exclusively with other . It is a holy community that provides a comfortable space for everyone.

NFTY’s mission statement:

NFTY is a movement that builds strong, welcoming, inspired communities through teen-powered engagement. Together, we pursue , personal growth, youth empowerment, and deep connections, all rooted in Reform Judaism.

Part of the NFTY culture is our language full of abbreviations, acronyms, Hebrew words and other phrases. Below is a glossary to help you learn the lingo.

URJ - Union for Reform Judaism. The parent body of NFTY. It includes all of the synagogues which define themselves as Reform.

NFTY - North American Federation of Temple Youth – the youth movement of the Reform movement. There are 19 regions, one of which is Ohio Valley.

OV - Ohio Valley – Our NFTY region. It is made up of two sub-regions (OI and KITOWV) and includes youth groups from all Temples in parts of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia

OI - Ohio and Indiana – The northern sub-region of NFTY-OV. It includes all of the youth groups in Indiana which are in our region except for Evansville and synagogues which are in central and southern Ohio except for .

KITOWV - Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and West Virginia. The southern sub-region. It includes Evansville, IN; Cincinnati, OH; and all parts of Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky which are part of our region.

GUCI – Goldman Union Camp Institute – Our regional URJ Camp in Zionsville, IN. We host a number of our events there and it is home to our regional office.

HUC - Hebrew Union College – The rabbinical seminary of the Reform movement in the . If you have a , he or she most likely went to school here. There is a campus in Cincinnati, OH which is where we host our Study Kallah event.

TYG - Temple Youth Group. The group of high school students at your Temple who get together for social, educational, religious, cultural, recreational and social action oriented events.

JYG - Junior Youth Group

Sicha – the Hebrew word for discussion

Ruach – the Hebrew word for spirit

Bessie – our cow, beloved and mascot

Regbo – an abbreviated version of the word “Regional Board”

Board positions: In NFTY, our entire operation is run by a board of about 6-12 teenagers. This board can be local, regional or representing North America. Here are the basic position each board has and what each job entails.

President – The person who is responsible for the work of the members of the board. He or she supervises the other members of the board, calls and presides over all board meetings, correspond with the region’s TYGs and when necessary, appoints chair people and committees.

Programming Vice President (PVP) - The person who serves as a resource for programming in the region and who is responsible for programming during regional events. He or she also communicates with TYG PVPS in the region, maintains and makes available a program bank, teaches the region about the NFTY Study theme and plans Study Kallah.

Social Action Vice President (SAVP) – The person responsible for coordinating social action in the region. He or she also corresponds with the TYG SAVPs and publicizes social action projects in the region.

Religious and Cultural Vice President (RCVP) – The person who is responsible, either directly or indirectly, for all worship services at Regional events. He or she also corresponds with and serves as a resource for TYG RCVPs, makes and maintains a file of worship services and materials, opens meetings with a reading or prayer and plans Study Kallah.

Financial and Communications Vice President (FCVP)– The person who records the minutes at all meetings, maintains or creates the NFTY-OV slide show, creates and distributes the Shemesh and serves as a resource for all TYG Journalists. The person is also responsible for maintaining the Regional budget, collecting regional dues, compiling a members list, purchasing OV Gear and fundraising. He or she also serves as a resource for all TYG Treasurers.

KITOWV Membership Vice President (South MVP) – The person who serves as a resource person and programming advisor to the youth group hosting a KITOWV sub-regional conclave. He or she also promotes participation in NFTY programs, coordinates caravans, promotes general spirit in the KITOWV sub-region and NFTY-OV, recruits for OV, serves as a resource for all TYG MVPs and serves as the executive board liaison to all TYGs in the region.

OI Membership Vice President (North MVP) - The person who serves as a resource person and programming advisor to the youth group hosting an OI sub-regional conclave. He or she also promotes participation in NFTY programs, coordinates caravans, promotes general spirit in the OI sub-region and NFTY-OV, recruits for OV, serves as a resource for all TYG MVPs and serves as the executive board liaison to all TYGs in the region.

Regional Board – The seven individuals from our region who are elected by the members of the region each spring to serve in the eight positions described above.

TYG Board– The group at each Temple who are elected to serve in position like or similar to those described above. Some TYG boards have representatives to help out with membership and ruach for that age group. These positions usually are divided by grade (i.e. freshman rep, junior rep, etc).

NFTY CHEER (stomp-clap-stomp-clap…) Say what’s your name? …5-6-7-8 Say NFTY! Say what’s your name? Say what’s your name? Say NFTY! Say NFTY! Say what’s your name? Say what’s your name? Say NFTY! Say NFTY! Say what’s your name? Gonna live and die - N-F-T-Y! Say NFTY!

Gonna live and die - N-F-T-Y! Noar Tzioni Reformi x3

NFTY’s in the front

HEY HEY HEY Let me hear you grunt HEY HEY HEY NFTY’s in the middle HEY HEY HEY Let me hear you giggle He He He! Never in the rear No, no, no Let me hear you cheer! WHOOOOO!!

Ya got it? Yeah! Ya got it? Yeah! It’s in my knees, my knees are weak It’s in my mouth, I cannot speak

It’s in my hair, it’s over there, it’s over there, it’s everywhere! (stomp-clap-stomp- clap…) …5-6-7-8

Ohio Valley

Cheer

Oooooooohiooo vaaalleeeyy (O-O-V O-O-O-V)x4

Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee Don’t forget West Virginia, 1 TYG OV is our region!

Bessie is our cow! NFTY is our reason! We’ll sing it loud and proud! OV OV lalalalalalala OV OV lalalalalalala

KITOWV and OI join as one To form the best region under the sun!

We can’t be stopped; we’re a sight to see! Welcome to the GREAT OV! OOOOOOOOV! (Stomp-clap-stomp-stomp-clap)x2)

Who is the very best?! OV! Who dominates the rest?! OV! Who you can’t defeat; who rocks this beat!

From West VA to Tennessee! OOOOOOOOV! (Stomp-clap-stomp-stomp-clap)x2) x2

OV throw it up! BAM!!!!

NFTY-OV SCHEDULE 2015-2016

AUGUST 21-23: LEADERSHIP TRAINING KALLAH @ GUCI

OCTOBER 16-18: FALL KALLAH WITH MISSOURI VALLEY @ GUCI

JANUARY 8-10: STUDY “WINTER” KALLAH

MARCH 18-20: JYG EVENT @ GUCI (6 TH -8 TH GRADERS ONLY)

APRIL 14-17: SPRING KALLAH @ NASHVILLE

For any event, please sign up at nfty.org/ov/events for registration and registration details!

OV social media: Twitter: nfty_ov Instagram: nfty_ov Remind 101: text 81010 with the message @2015bessie Facebook: Join NFTY-OV on Facebook Like NFTY OV | Ohio Valley Region on Facebook