The Milwaukee Jewish Federation Transition Team comprises 14 members of the community charged to lead the next phase of the MJF’s Reimagining process. Three members were recently interviewed about their experience on the team.
• Real estate and business lawyer Fred Croen currently serves both on the Transition Team and in the Vision workgroup working to create a new vision statement for the Federation.
What do you find exciting about working with the Transition Team and the Vision Workgroup?
This is important work because it will help shape our community for years to come. The financial downturn of 2008-2009 necessitated a “reset” of our communal institutions. The new financial reality required us to reassess community needs and priorities.
I am thankful that Federation leadership realized the need to reach out and involve the entire community in this process. I find it exciting to be involved in this effort due to its importance, and because it gives me a chance to reexamine my personal commitment to Federation, what I value most about the organization, and the benefits I reap from my volunteer engagement.
What outcomes do you hope will come out of the work of the Transition Team and the Vision Workgroup?
I trust that this process will help us reinvent Federation to best serve current and anticipated needs of the community and our communal institutions, and optimize our use of available resources. The new Federation must be structured based on the vision expressed by community members and leaders at our Reimaging summit and the Strategic Action Session that followed.
For me, Federation must be the central instrumentality for fundraising and development, and the community convener — a catalyst for accomplishing important shared goals and a supportive resource for our agencies.
• Mark Goldstein is a lawyer who specializes in labor, employment, and business law. He currently serves on the Transition Team and the Structure Workgroup.
What has been serving on the Transition Team been like for you?
It has been heartening to be part of a group of such talented and caring individuals who have worked so thoughtfully, diligently, and free of any particular agenda. Together, we have generated and explored a wide range of possibilities. Nothing has been deemed too radical or off limits.
What challenges do you think we face in the Reimagining process?
Creating a model that is sustainable over the long term from a budgetary perspective and also creating something that speaks to the sentiments expressed at and following the Summit.
• Sarah Hwang, director of marketing for Renaissance Theaterworks, will be lending her expertise to the Reimagining process by leading a workgroup on Communications.
What has been serving on the Transition Team been like for you?
It’s an exciting opportunity to be part of significant change in the community. What’s great about the launch of the Communication Workgroup is that we are being charged with taking all the work we’ve been doing in the Reimagining process and making sure that the community not only knows what we are doing but also is a part of it.
What challenges do you think the Communication Workgroup faces?
The challenge is to marry the rich history of the Federation and the community with new ideas and the desire to move forward. This is always a challenge — sometimes these things don’t seem to mesh very well.
We also need to embrace technology and social networking. We will evaluate everything — everything we do and everything we will do — and consider everything as being on the table. Our goal is to communicate and dialogue with the community in ways that are exciting, effective, interactive and transparent.
What outcomes do you hope will come out of the work of the Communication Workgroup?
Down the road, we hope that the way the Federation looks on the outside reflects its internal changes. The workgroup will shine a light on the Reimagining process, so the community can see real change taking place.
I personally believe we are heading in a good direction. I hope the community will stick with us in the process; I know there will be good outcomes ahead.
Jen Vettrus is the transition coordinator for the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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