nfty-str programming network 2019-2020 · remember the order of the format. the acronym stands for:...
TRANSCRIPT
NFTY-STR Programming Network
2019-2020
By: Sam Fetgatter
NFTY-STR PVP 5779-5780
Name: _____________________________________
TYG: _______________________________________
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Table of Contents
➔ About Me
➔ All About You & Your Goals for the Weekend
➔ NFTY Acronyms and Lingo
➔ All About Leadership
➔ Understanding by Design
➔ Program Format
➔ Program and Group Leading
➔ Adapting and Reviving Programs
➔ Tips and Tricks
➔ Feedback
➔ Wrap-Up
➔ Resources
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Hey, it’s me, your PVP!
Name: Samuel Fetgatter
Nickname: Any variation of my name (Sam, Sammy, Sammeh,
etc!)
Birthday: August 16th, 2002
Temple Youth Group: BiTTY – West Coast Represent!
Favorites:
Movie: Pitch Perfect
TV Show: Survivor
Vine/Meme: Can I PLEASE get a waffle?!?
Hobby: Theatre
Contact Information:
Current Email: [email protected]
After June 1st: [email protected]
Phone Number: (727) 267-1866
Snapchat: sammyfetgatter
Instagram: sam_fet
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Wait, Who ARE You?
Anything Your Heart Desires
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Astonishing Acronym Agglomeration and
other Lovely Lingo
Adapted from Elana Treiser
NFTY: The Reform Jewish Youth Movement STR: Southern Tropical Region (Our region of NFTY) URJ: Union of Reform Judaism TYG: Temple Youth Group PVP: Programming Vice President (aka Perfect Vice President) SAVP: Social Action Vice President RCVP: Religious and Cultural Vice President CVP: Communications Vice President MVP: Membership Vice President FVP: Fundraising Vice President (Some TYGs and regions have one; NFTY-STR does not) PP: Program Participant GL: Group Leader PL: Program Leader ProFo: Program Format (WE LOVE PROFO!!!) TGOMPSTDA: How ProFo is organized LLTI: Liz Leadership Training Institute (Where we are right now) Asefah: The general board meeting that occurs at Winter Regional and Spring Kallah discussing legislation and Regional Board elections Kutz: URJ teen leadership camp in Warwick, New York Netzer Olami: Global reform Jewish teen youth movement RegBo: Regional Board NAB: North American Board (basically the regional board on a North American level) NFTY Study Theme: A common topic that all of the NFTY regions focus on and program towards.
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1, 2, 3
Some of you were recently elected to your TYG board. Congratulations, it’s a huge privilege and I hope you all enjoy your year on board! Regardless if you’re
on board or not, it’s important to remember the following: You’re a participant first, a board member second, and your title third.
Becoming a STRong Leader
Being a programmer is more than just knowing ProFo. Programmers lead, make decisions, and communicate with others. Before we get into ProFo, we need to
talk about being a leader. What does it mean to be a leader? What roles do we fill as a leader? How do we overcome speed bumps we are faced with? Can we
lead in our own unique ways?
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The Five Roles of a Leader
At the NFTY-STR Board Retreat, I had the honor of meeting and working with our Rabbinic Dean, Rabbi Litwak. During our time
together, we discussed the five roles a leader will need to be prepared to take on:
Leader: This role is your visionary; the one who oversees all. Leaders look at the bigger picture and set the agenda. You want to be a pathfinder, paving the way for everyone else. One of the most important parts of this role is to INSPIRE. Manager: Managers take responsibility of getting tasks done. While leaders and managers are very similar, managers are very hands-on and more actively engaged. Salesperson: The role of a salesperson is to spread the message and show the value of that message. You want to take someone who is a “maybe” or a “no” and persuade them to be a “yes”. Craftsperson: A craftsperson is unique and innovative. The role is to create a product, which can be tangible or not, that contributed to the bigger picture. It’s what the leader uses to inspire and what the salesperson spreads. Contributor: Everyone must be a contributor at all times. A contributor shares ideas and opinions, shows up, does what they’re asked, and keeps their promises.
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We’re All in This Together
Being a successful leader and programmer requires us to build and maintain relationships, which act as our support systems.
Peers: Every person in NFTY-STR is here for you; we’re a strong and loving community. Remember that you can sit with any person in this region for a meal and chat like you’ve known them for years. Make sure to always be open to new friendships because anyone in our region could end up being your new best friend. TYG Board : For those who were elected onto their TYG Board, it’s important to remember these people are working toward the same goal as you: to make your youth group be the best it can be. We are not perfect, so be there to help others without them having to ask. As a programmer, it is your duty to help others create vibrant programs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help the MVP with mixers or the SAVP with a social action program. They are a part of your support system, and you are a part of theirs. Advisor/Adults: Advisors are not just the adult who attend events with your youth group, they’re your friend and your mentor. Never be afraid to reach out to your advisor for help or for advice because it is what they are there for. They are there for a laugh or a cry, and will work their hardest to ensure your success; however, there are situations where your advisor will be the hammer. Your advisor needs to make sure the youth group as a whole runs efficiently, and your partnership and collaboration will ensure it does. Most of the adults you come across are here to help you. Your clergy is here for your guidance just like your advisor. It’s scary sometimes to reach out to adults, but I promise the adults here in NFTY-STR are here to help you. Our Network: It is my intent that we leave this event feeling closer and trusting of one another. These are the people you reach out to if you feel stuck writing a program or new help to get the ball rolling. This group of people are the ones who most relate to those challenges, and will be a great support system.
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Me : I have been in the same exact spot as all of you. I sat at my sophomore LLTI in the Programming Network and became close with the Regional PVP at the time. Never be afraid to call, email, text, Snapchat, or reach out to me through any other platform. I hope to build a strong collaboration and partnership with each and every one of you. If you prefer to go on Zoom calls and work together on every step of a program, then that's what we will do. If you would rather just reach out to me when you’re stuck because you aren’t comfortable going on long calls, that’s perfectly okay! It is my expectation that you keep me updated (monthly) on what’s happening in your TYG, as I will do the same for you for STR updates. Network calls will help us to bond throughout the year and to make sure we are all on the same page.
Understanding by Design
Created by Michelle Shapiro Abraham
Adapted from Elana Treiser
Now, let’s begin to dive into what many of you are here for: program writing. Understanding not only how, but why we create programs is vital for success in creating programs. This is just ONE method of program writing and is here for you to use only if YOU want to. I’ll be here all year to help you develop your own
unique style of writing programs.
1. Brainstorming: We’ve all heard at least once that two heads are better than one. To get the ideas flowing, find a partner or group to collaborate with. This could be me, someone in this network, or a member of your TYG. Use one another’s strengths to figure out what you want to explore in your program, which will be the backbone of your program.
2. Identify Your Broad Ideas and Goals: Once you know what you want to explore, think of broad topics and a general direction that falls under the
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umbrella of what you wish to explore. After this is established, begin to formulate your goals you wish to achieve in this program.
3. Choose a Program Type : Some types of programs work better for achieving your desired goals than others. The type of program which you chose is very important to the success of your program. Utilizing different programs types makes programs more interesting for the participant and helps you to convey the point of your program. Every program is unique. See Page 17 for ideas.
4. Know Your Audience: The audience you are working with determines how you will best be able to best address the goals and ideas previously established. A program for Hatikvah may look different from a program for Winter.
5. Planning: Now, it’s time to begin writing your program! Use all of the pre-planning and brainstorming to create a strong backbone for your program. While doing so, make sure to keep in mind the goals you set and the direction you want to take. After you’re done with the backbone, go back through and fill in the details. Every detail is important whether you think it is or not, so make sure to include it in the program.
6. Review and Edit : Nobody is perfect on their first try, so we have to go back and revise our work. It is very important to have a trusted adult or peer look over the program for any type of issue for the program. An activity may have to be revised or there may be issues with the phrasing of instructions. This process may seem tedious, but it is all to make sure your program runs exactly the way you envisioned it.
7. Execute: You did it! It’s time to execute the program. See Page 18 for more on how to Program Lead and tips for Group Leading!
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All About ProFo (Program Format)
We all love programs! You’ve brainstormed, you’ve planned, and now, it’s time to create the program. There is a specific way every program should be written in NFTY, called the Program Format. The acronym TGOMPSTDA is the way we can remember the order of the format. The acronym stands for: Touchstone Text,
Goals, Objectives, Materials, P eople, Space Needed, T ime Table, Detailed Procedure, and A ppendices.
Commit this to memory using a mnemonic device, such as chunking, a rhyme, or
imagery. In the space provided below, write down your own unique way of remembering this acronym. If you’re having trouble, feel free to ask myself or a
neighbor! _________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Sample Program (Title) LLTI 2019 (Where the program is run)
Saturday, April 12, 2019 (Date) By Sam Fetgatter (Author(s))
NFTY-STR PVP Elect 5779-5780 (Position if applicable) Touchstone Text: “And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children.” – Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:7 This should be a piece of Jewish text or concept that supports and strengthens the goals and objectives of the program. NFTY strongly encourages that these
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be incorporated into the program itself, so that the participants can fully benefit from its inclusion. Goals:
● Your goals are your big ideas of what you want to achieve during your program.
● Your goals are untestable, meaning you won’t know if you’ve achieved them. This is perfectly okay!
● “Participants will…” ● Example: Participants will learn how to become stronger leaders.
Objectives:
● Your objectives are things you can prove. ● Your objectives are testable and concrete. ● Your objectives must be achieved in order to reach the goals. ● “At the end of the program, participants will be able to…” ● Example: At the end of the program, participants will be able to effectively
create and lead a program. Materials:
● 50 pieces of lined paper ● 30 black ink pens ● 5 copies of Appendix A
Every supply that you are going to need to make the program happen. This includes absolutely everything you need (pens, posters, etc.) in as much detail as possible! People:
● 30 PPs ● 5 GLs ● 1 PL
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Any people necessary to your program! Space Needed:
● Sanctuary ● 5 breakout rooms
Space needed is any space necessary for your program, which includes breakout spaces and rain locations. We live in Florida, always have a backup rain location. Time Table: 00:00-00:10 Introduction 00:10-00:15 Break into Groups 00:15-00:35 Activity A 00:35-00:50 Group Discussion 00:50-00:55 Transition to Wrap Up 00:55-01:00 Wrap Up/Clean Up This is an exact timeline of what is happening. Remember to include travel time! Detailed Procedure: This is the detailed section of the program. Write out your program completely, so that anyone who leads or facilitates can pick up this paper, and understand exactly what to do. 00:00-00:10 Introduction Facilitator welcomes the groups by saying, “Welcome to this program. Please look on the back of your nametag and find your location.” 00:10-00:15 Break into groups Groups move to five locations based off of the location on the back of their name tag. 00:15-00:40 Activity A
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Participants will be given a piece of lined paper and a black pen. PPs will write down their current understanding of what a program is. 00:40-00:50 Group Discussion Group leaders initiate a discussion using the questions from Appendix A – Understanding Program Format. 00:50-00:55 Transition to Wrap Up PPs will transition back to the starting area where they will be asked to sit like they did at the beginning of the program. 00:55-01:00 Wrap Up/Clean Up PL will say, “Today we’ve had the opportunity to learn many new things. Thank you all for participating.” Appendices: Every appendix must be separated using a page break. Appendices are any additional material not included in the detailed procedure. Examples include GL lists, documents, and digital media. Things like speeches/scripts and discussion questions are commonly put in the appendices, but should instead be listed in the detailed procedure.
Leading a Program
There’s more to programming than just simply writing it. Your job as a Program Leader is to oversee the success of your program. This means to make sure all your supplies are ready and organized, that all the Group Leaders have what they need, and to be ready to adapt to any issues that you will come across. Figure out your own system of organization and ways of doing things. We are all unique leaders, and what matters is that you do what works best for YOU. There will be times when you lose a bag of supplies or be short a group leader, so be
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ready to think on your feet. Be ready to step up or creatively find a solution to a problem. For example, if you did not get the tennis balls needed for your program, crumple up balls of paper to use instead. Make sure to own a room, even if it is filled with your friends. There are times we have to put of the leader hat, and that is perfectly fine. Your friends will still love you the same afterwards. Always stay calm and convey confidence because that will help you to feel better and keep the program moving smoothly. If you have to read a blurb for the introduction of your program, which is many times the case, practice to a friend, family member, or even a pet beforehand! The work you put it beforehand will make leading a program easier for you. For more tips and tricks, please refer to Page 17 of your packet.
Group Leading
Strong group leaders are a vital part of a successful program. It is your duty to choose responsible group leaders who will work hard to make sure your program is as successful as can be. It is also our responsibility to make sure every group leader thoroughly understands the program. Make sure to explain in detail and maybe even provide examples. If you are a group leader, it is extremely important you know the program inside and out; therefore, make sure to review the program in depth before the event. Sometimes an activity is cut or you don’t have all the supplies the program calls for. Julie Marsh’s favorite F-word is flexibility, and it should become yours too. For more on Group Leading, let’s refer to NFTY’s Group Leading 101.
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You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel
As eager programmers, we many times think that we must present a groundbreaking program every time we are tasked with creating a program for an event. We, as programmers, can create programs that are specific to a theme, yet can be generalized to later be easily adapted and altered to intertwine with a completely different event theme. Every event comes with a unique audience and event theme, and programs should reflect both of those. The NFTY Program Bank is a resource you should become familiar with. While it may be outdated in its current states, the programs contained within have very strong backbones. If you enjoy what a program stands for or teaches, feel free to adapt it. Add new activities, more fitting questions, and implement your event’s theme, and voila, you have a brand new program. Make sure to always give the original creator credit (no plagiarizing)! On top of the NFTY Program Bank, you have each other and me. You may have heard that BiTTY ran a really cool program that you loved the idea of, so reach out to your peer in BiTTY asking if you can adapt their program. Did you find a program we did at a regional event so amazing that you just have to adapt it? Reach out to me, and I can help you give that a program a new look. Keep in mind when you write a program that it is about the content and the message, not the theme. Any program should be able to be adapted to fit a completely different theme.
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Tremendous Tips and Impeccable Ideas
Matt Kesler’s Lovely List of Program Ideas Adapted from Elana Treiser
● Speaker: Invite a speaker to come in and share with the PPs. It is important to be in contact with the speaker to make sure they understand your audience, and so that they can communicate any of their needs to you.
● Discussion: Using pre-written discussion questions as a starting point, have GLs initiate and appropriate, open-ended discussion. Make sure to keep your audience and time frame in mind -- long discussions can be boring!
● Panel Discussion: Similar to inviting a speaker, have a panel of guest speakers or experts come in to answer questions PPs may have.
● Trial: Run a program like a courtroom, formal debate, etc. ● Four Corners: Designate 4 corners of a room to opinions on a certain
issue. PPs pick a stance on the issue and then discuss their choice. ● 5 Senses: PPs are put in a situation/activity that stimulates or inhibits one
(or more) of their senses. ● Competition: Use competitive tasks as a motivator to get PPs engaged in
their learning! ● Games: Use fun games that have a goal or objective similar to that of your
program. ● Skits: Divide PPs into groups and provide them with scenarios s to act out.
Skits are a great way to encourage PPs to think about a topic in a more personal way, and can even provide some humor to a program!
● Simulation: One of the more serious programmatic styles, a simulation allows for PP’s to be put directly a situation being discussed.
● Carousel: Create multiple rotations for PPs to participate in. Rotations allow for more topics to be covered in a single program as well as provide
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a way to explore different aspects of a topic. If you choose to do rotations, make sure to include a rotation table!
● Fishbowl: PPs are divided into an inner and outer circle. The inner group discusses a topic while the outer group observes and listens. Switch groups during the program to allow all PPs to both speak and observe and to obtain different perspectives on the topic.
● Choose your Own Adventure: A personal favorite of mine, PPs are presented with multiple options on how to proceed through the program. Different choices will guide PPs into different outcomes. If you are to do this type of program, make sure to have an outcome for every decision made!
Programming Tips: ● Know your program: You should be able to recite this program backwards
and forwards. Be able to answer any question about your program! ● Know your audience: This is essential to writing a successful program
participant wise. For example, don’t create an extremely heavy discussion program for middle schoolers.
○ Adults: While maybe more formal than us teenagers, adults also like to have fun. Remember that adults can handle higher levels of discussion, but make sure the program is still interesting!
○ High Schoolers: This should be the easiest, right? That’s not always the case. We’re complex creatures, so make sure to have a good amount of variability in the types of programs your write. Trust me, it’s greatly appreciated by everyone. For adults and teens, feel free to dive into more serious content, but remember to keep it appropriate. Think about the words you use and how you display a topic because it will make a huge difference to the participants.
○ Middle Schoolers: Think back to eleven year old you. As a middle schooler, heavy discussion most likely wasn’t your jam. Don’t underestimate these middle schoolers, they can still handle a discussion, but not as intense as older age groups.
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● Be open to different styles: Refer back to that lovely list Matt provided for you all. Use it! Experiment with using different styles because I promise it’ll work out for you.
● Reach out for help: Asking for help is not a bad thing! You have me, this network, your TYG, your advisor, and this region to back you up!
● Detail is key: A program should be so detailed that anyone could run the program the exact same way you would run it.
● Have fun: Something about programming intrigued you enough to come to this track. Don’t lose this passion!
Leadership Tips: ● Be flexible: Like I said before, let this become your favorite F-word! More
often than not, something will go wrong. ● Be prepared: If and when something does go wrong, be ready for it.
Anticipate what could go wrong without getting panicked. Have a backup plan!
● Stay calm: If you, the leader, is panicking, then the participants will assume something is wrong. Even if something went wrong, don’t let it show because to the participant, that could be how it was supposed to go.
● Really OWN a room: Take control of the room. Don’t let people talk over you or show extreme disrespect. HOWEVER, this is not me giving you permission to be rude. If you cannot handle a room efficiently, get help from an adult. Just like when leading a room, show confidence. Make sure to project your voice and speak clearly. Wait until the room is silent before you start speaking. You got this!
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Feedback
Adapted from Elana Treiser
There is ALWAYS going to be room for improvement in your programming and leadership skills. It’s important that we let others critique our work without
getting upset. You didn’t do something wrong, but there may have just been a better way to handle a situation or execute an activity. Here are the different
ways we can receive feedback on out work:
Informal: This type of debriefing allows for a comfortable discussion between participants, group leaders, and advisors alike. It’s an open forum to express opinions on a program. Formal: An anonymous survey is the best way to get genuine, reliable results. A participant or adult will feel comfortable sharing their opinion without fear of being judged or making the creator of the program feel bad. You can format the survey however you want, as long as the questions are genuine and are aimed at receiving meaningful feedback. This could be rating things on a numbered scale, open ended questions, or even yes-or-no questions. Suggestion Box : Much like the shout out box, a suggestion box is an informal, open-ended place where participants and adults can leave anonymous comments about the program. This could also be a place where suggestions for the future can be made, such as for future activities or materials. Online: Create online polls and surveys through online services such as SurveyMonkey, Instagram, and Facebook to receive feedback from participants and adults alike.
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Wrap-Up
List at least three things you learned this weekend. In what ways are you going to utilize these three things to better your TYG? What did you consider to the most helpful part of this network? Give a few ways you can make use of your place in the Programming Network. Review the goals you had for the weekend. Did you meet these goals? If not, how can you work toward doing so? Look back at what your speed bumps are. How will you get over these now after learning from this weekend?
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All-Important Additional Resources
NFTY-STR Contact Information : Julie Marsh: [email protected] President: [email protected] Programming Vice President: [email protected] Social Action Vice President: [email protected] Religious and Cultural Vice President: [email protected] Communications Vice President: [email protected] Membership Vice President: [email protected] NFTY-STR Social Media : Instagram: @nfty_str Twitter: @nfty_str Facebook: NFTY STR NFTY Resources: NFTY Program Bank: http://www.nfty.org/resources/programbank NFTY Programming Information: https://nfty.org/resources/youth-group-administration/programming/ Additional Resources: https://nfty.org/resources/ Touchstone Text Resources: Chabad.org Jewish-Wisdom.com Quotationspage.com/quotes/the_talmud
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