Thought for the day
A leader should know his or her weaknesses as well, if not better than his or her strengths. To create a successful team leaders find people who have strengths where they themselves have weaknesses. Some leaders think that they should be the best at everything, but a great leader is a humble leader.
Jordan
Clean Up
We had our 4th Beautify Lakeview clean up project this weekend. This has been an incredible successful project! Not that it's over, I'm just saying....
In Uptown New Orleans (where I live and where Tulane is) life is mostly back to "normal". For the most part things are reopened, people have returned home and the trash gets picked up fairely regulary. Certainly some of our favorite restaurants have decided not to come back, we still don't have recycling and everything closes earlier than it used to but things look and feel as they should. Taking the time to clean up in Lakeview every other week gives us all a reality check that areas of the city are still in really bad shape. REALLY BAD SHAPE. Sorry not trying to be dramatic but it's been almost ten months and there are neighborhoods that are still really desolate. It will take years for them to return to any sort of normalcy. Oh and we had our election this weekend (run off actually). Should be interesting in the months to come.
-Rachel
Summer is here!! Moishe House style!!
Perhaps it's the closing of the school year. Maybe the onset of better weather (at least in San Francisco)? For whatever reason we are witnessing a trend in Moishe House events. Get outside!! It seems like barbecues are springing up everywhere - from Seattle to Los Angeles. Also noticing an influx of interest in baseball outtings. As someone who has a great view of this show it's fun to identify trends and see how my baby will adjust to its first summer. Alls I can say is "Bring it on!!" To see more photos check out www.moishehouse.phanfare.com
Brandeis
I recieved some amazing news on Monday. I was accepted to the Hornstein program at Brandeis University in Boston. I am going to be earning a Masters in Business as well as a Masters in Jewish Leadership Studies. I get to learn Hebrew and study in Israel as well.
holla,
Jordan
The future of The Forest Foundation
So as you all know I started the foundation in New Orleans just 4 months ago. In 4 months a whole lot has happened but it is certainly is not what I expected. I have started to think about where I expected the foundation to be by the summer compared to where it is now. I definitely expected things to grow quicker than they have. I also did not realize how much time it would take to just tell people about The Forest Foundation and get the word out. It's all a little more complicated than I originally anticipated. But it's been an exciting challenge and one of my biggest successes is when I meet someone and tell them what I do and they already know what The Forest Foundation is. I'm in the process of setting my goals for the fall, perhaps they will be a bit more realistic now that I have a better understanding of what it takes.
Rachel
In the Field
Last post I talked about organization, and how I've learned many strategies to calm me down and become more efficient.
Today ROCKED simply because I have a new format of my agenda and workday. Typically I hand in a list of things to do, but since I currently work on 5 different areas, I classified each action item into its respective category. Now, I've divided my day up into Program Directors, the Flash, Marketing, Festival, and other/misc. stuff. It's 3:30, I've accomplished nearly everything, and I've even had time to myspace! Enjoy the pic! It's from our retreat last December...
In the Field
Hello everyone!
I've been reading these last few posts, and as an avid blogger over at Jewlicious.com as well as my own currently unidentified blog, I must commend my collegues on their unique and personal anecdotes regarding life with the Foundation. Yesterday was an intense and busy day, filled with band practice, media buying, engaging in a conference call with my mom and a few vendors who only speak Hebrew, and mentoring one of my Program Directors.
Jordan remarked that I entered the workforce like a sponge, ready to soak in everything all the time. I remember those first few weeks in August, when programs and work would hop from my desk to my car for the ride back home to the shower to my dreams. Needless to say, I didn't wake up feeling refreshed. I've taken on many new projects, and it has led me feeling sometimes overwhelmed with everything, until David shook me up and said to organize my mind on paper. That's what I've been doing - writing stuff down, and finishing projects on time. I feel alive again! Thanks Dave! I had the ability to pass that on to the aforementioned Program Director, and I can see how my suggestions instantly soothed him. He just looked
lighter. Another day, another miracle.
Opportunity
The CEO of Sun Microsystems had some advice to offer in an interview. I am going to try to paraphrase. Every problem presents us with opportunities. You are hired to figure out what the opportunities are and how we can capitalize on them. Therefore, if there are no problems, there is no job, it’s that simple. So the next time you face a problem or seemingly major catastrophe, try to think of it as an opportunity for something better, or to try a new approach to a familiar situation.
NSC
Thought I'd let everyone know today how the Network for Social Change is going. To be honest, it's been a challenge for me about how to get the work out. Up until recently, I sort of felt like I'd been floundering, kind of running towards an end that wasn't there. I don't know why I felt like that, possibly because I'd been contacting schools left and right with not a lot of feedback, but ever since my trip to Esalen I've been seeing things in a new light, the NSC included. Now I'm content in the knowledge that the NSC is comparable to that old saying about Rome - it's not built in a day. The seeds I've been laying haven't sprouted into a garden yet, but I'm confident that when Aaron takes over he'll have a field that's been cultivated for harvest, if you're following my analogy. I've had some great help lately also from Brett "Intern" Kadesh, who's really stepped up in contacting several universities. We have our first program, Girls in Motion, set for the coming months, and soon I'm sure we'll be seeing more programs sprouting up. Good things lie ahead.
Logan
Picking Up the Pace
Up until now The Forest Foundation in New Orleans was moving along slowly. I have two amazing PD's with great projects that are impacting this community but I have been anxious to hire more! I just hired 2 more PD's and have more on the way. It is a very exciting time to work in the New Orleans community....
PS The picture (if this works and you can see it) has nothing to do with anything it is just a test to see if i know how to post pictures. It's from one of our Lakeview Clean Ups!
-Rachel
Moishe House Pics up online
We now have a great comprehensive URL for all the pictures from Moishe Houses: http://moishehouse.phanfare.com/ including photos from our newest member - Moishe House LA. The pics speak for themselves - check 'em out. Note: MHSF = Moishe House San Francisco, MHSEA = Seattle, MHOAK = Oakland, MHLA = Los Angeles.
own it
I have had a fortune and honor to begin training Morgan Michaels to take over my position next year at the Forest Foundation. In our last conversation we talked at length about ownership and how important that is. I was able to use this conversation in an essay that I wrote for grad school which I will share bellow - enjoy.
I learned that in order to be a successful component of an organization, and in order to manage difficult situations, a worker must own the ideas, techniques and policies of its institution. Once there is ownership, an employee or volunteer’s personal style will lead them in their most comfortable and effective path towards management, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
In the Field
Hi! It's been ages since I last blogger, and boy/girl do I miss it! It really is quite therapeutic and a great way to let the world know the ins and outs of our lives and work with the Foundation.
Work has been tough with Jewish College Night. Lately I've been feeling scattered and overwhelmed. Dave shook me up and said it's okay to finish things, and that I need to prioritize, schedule, and commit to things. I've been multitasking, thinking I can accomplish 50 million diff things every day, when realistically, that poppycock. Today I made a list of items on my agenda and feel GREAT. Logg and I put posters, i picked up food, had a great group meeting, went to the jewish festival meeting, and took care of so much stuff in between. its easier when you have a team to support you and help you out when needed. i guess yesterday i realized i cant and shouldnt do everything by myself. no wrong in asking for help. so thanks everyone.
love and respect,
aaron
An important election for New Orleans
We had elections on April 22nd and the run offs are to be held on May 20th. The two biggest races are for mayor and council at large.
Mayor Ray Nagin vs. Lt. Governor Mitch Landreau seems to be all anyone can talk about. I've never been so into politics but this election will surely determine the fate of this great city.
In other news I just interviewed a 5th potential PD of the week. Very exciting things are happening. As of next week I will start working 3 days a week instead of 2....
Rachel
Jewish College Night on Thursday was a huge success!! Congratulations to Joanna, Hannah, and the rest of the crew for organizing such a big, fun, and celebratory event. The club in LA was packed with college students, all with one goal in mind: to have a good time. I know a ton of work went into it, and it was pulled off flawlessly. So big ups to the crew!
Logan
