Feeling Lucky? Be a winner at the Viva Las Vegas Casino & Bingo Night Staten Island 3/16

The annual Viva Las Vegas Casino and Bingo Night by the J.C.C. of Staten Island. will be held on Saturday, March 16th, 2013 in the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC building at 1466 Manor Road. Staten Island, New York 10314

Last year's event drew over 300 lucky players who enjoyed an evening of games, food and entertainment and valuable prizes.  Check out the pictures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Tosoxs_8g

Tickets and Information: http://bit.ly/15bpLPz

The Staten Island  Jewish Community Center is one of the largest providers of programs for Staten Island’s Youth.  All adolescents, in all economic and social circumstances, need generous amounts of help, instruction, discipline, support, and caring as they make their way from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. They can find this assistance at the Staten Island JCC. 

The  funds raised will directly benefit Youth Programs at the JCC.

These programs provide after school tutoring, sports and recreation to promote wellness and socialization, and activities geared to children with Autism to name just a few.

Your donation will be a tax deductible contribution that will help the JCC continue to make life better for the youth of our community.

The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island is devoted to providing appropriate social, cultural, recreational, educational opportunities through ongoing programs, classes and special events for children, teens and adults with various disabilities. They are currently developing new programs for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Current programs for children include Camp Weissglass, our camp for children with developmental delays, and Camp Independence, a camp for children with diabetes. In addition, First Foot Forward, our special education preschool, provides services for children with speech and language, motor and cognitive delays.

The Learning Institute provides tutoring services for school age children. The Chaverim group incorporates Jewish experiences through hands on activities. The Beacon Tottenville program promotes independence through weekly educational trips.

The Legend of St. George and the Dragon

The Legend of St. George and the Dragon
Via St. George Day Festival Staten Island

St. George traveled for many months by land and sea until he came to Libya. Here he met a poor hermit who told him that everyone in that land was in great distress, for a dragon had long ravaged the country.
'Every day,' said the old man, 'he demands the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden and now all the young girls have been killed. The king's daughter alone remains, and unless we can find a knight who can slay the dragon she will be sacrificed tomorrow. The king of Egypt will give his daughter in marriage to the champion who overcomes this terrible monster.'
When St. George heard this story, he was determined to try and save the princess, so he rested that night in the hermit's hut, and at daybreak set out to the valley where the dragon lived. When he drew near he saw a little procession of women, headed by a beautiful girl dressed in pure Arabian silk. The princess Sabra was being led by her attendants to the place of death. The knight spurred his horse and overtook the ladies. He comforted them with brave words and persuaded the princess to return to the palace. Then he entered the valley.
As soon as the dragon saw him it rushed from its cave, roaring with a sound louder than thunder. Its head was immense and its tail fifty feet long. But St. George was not afraid. He struck the monster with his spear, hoping he would wound it.
The dragon's scales were so hard that the spear broke into a thousand pieces. and St. George fell from his horse. Fortunately he rolled under an enchanted orange tree against which poison could not prevail, so that the venomous dragon was unable to hurt him. Within a few minutes he had recovered his strength and was able to fight again.
He smote the beast with his sword, but the dragon poured poison on him and his armour split in two. Once more he refreshed himself from the orange tree and then, with his sword in his hand, he rushed at the dragon and pierced it under the wing where there were no scales, so that it fell dead at his feet.

www.stgeorgedaysi.com

Running Through the Maze: Women Leading with Social Media

Running Through the Maze: Women Leading with Social Media

In the past century women have gone from being barefoot and pregnant, under the cement ceiling and below a glass window to navigating through a complicated maze to become a leader in business and government today.   Given the facts, in order to move women up the corporate ladder; they themselves have to take charge and make change.  It seems that women are reluctant to embrace their innate skills and take the seat at the head of the table.  Thanks to technology, revolutions are taking place all over the world, yet women in business still fail to take top rank in C-suite positions. The many reasons for this paradox are known.  It is up to women to find solutions and take steps to endeavor today.  

American women are increasingly praised for having excellent skills for leadership.  Research has shown that women, more than men possess leadership styles associated with effective performance as leaders. However, it is well known that there are significantly fewer women in leadership roles than men. 

Leaders are individuals who are change agents, social activists, and catalysts in their disciplines. Leaders employ varying leadership styles which can change with corporate cultures. The collaborative, transformational, and context-driven leadership styles are interpersonal leadership styles thought to be feminine.  They are in contradiction to characteristically male leadership styles that are driven by authoritarianism and swift decision making.  

Women are continually challenged with accommodating conflicting demands of their roles as women and leaders. Generally, society expects women be communal, showing kindness, concern for others, warmth, and gentleness.   And that men be agentic, manifesting traits such as confidence, aggressiveness, and discipline.  Agentic displays of confidence and assertion are not considered communal and so women leaders become targets of prejudice. Many people view women as not having what it takes to lead—that is, as not being tough enough or not taking charge. They dislike female leaders who display these very directive and assertive qualities because such women seem masculine.

Today’s successful women are expected to be strong, smart, independent and leading, without giving up the social moirés of past generations.  Often, women leaders are viewed as neglectful mothers, uncaring wives & rigid.  They appear conflicting with societal expectations.  For women who aspire to top leadership, routes exist but are full of twists and turns. Today women are faced with obstacles but can persevere.  Women should know that there are walls all around but they can find their way through and effectively lead.

The intricate maze of issues that surround today’s woman in business can be daunting, leading many young women leaders give up.  It is impossible for today's women to meet all the expectations put upon them by our multicultural society and business structures.   The prejudice of past towards women increase resistance to leadership because the traits associated with leadership are thought to be unbecoming or masculine.  As women struggle to get ahead, the general fact is that men as a group still have the benefit of higher wages and faster promotions.  Women’s ideals still reflect back to generations past and demands of family life are the responsibility of women.  Even though men increasingly share housework and child rearing, the bulk of domestic work still falls on women.  And because many women balance professional and domestic life there is a lack of social capital.  As women struggle to do it all there is less time to network.  Networking with other professionals is the most important way to move ahead in business.  And lastly women are waiting to be asked.  Women wait to be asked to take a leadership role, while men actively pursue them.

Women don’t get to climb up the corporate ladder one rung at a time.  The climb is convoluted like the game Chutes and Ladders. There are ways to shape change and promote women leaders.  

As communication through the internet is evolving rapidly, it is leveling the field for women to rise up and take their place as leaders.  With the real time web and social applications, women can keep in touch with professionals, while still caring for family.  Social networking does not replace live networking, but makes time spent live networking productive.  The use of job websites to break up the good old boy network, objective performance goals which utilize measurement and family friendly benefits help women move to the top.  Online education has also played a role as women can develop professionally faster and easier.  The majority of Social Media and all of its applications are being utilized by women who are naturally communal. Making your way through the leadership maze has become simpler because getting your message out is at your fingertips. Change is here for the game changers, social media for the social activists and new methods of communication for the catalyst.  The internet and social networking are powerful tools for women to lead. 

Faces of Israel: Israeli Consulate at College of Staten Island 2/29/2011

 FACES OF ISRAEL is a panel of people from all walks of life, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, Ethiopian, who will speak about being Israeli, and life in Israel. It will be an evening of open discussion highlighting Israel as a diverse and democratic country, with lots of time for questions and answers. 

Religion in the State of Israel has played an immeasurably integral role in shaping the country’s traditions, culture, and way of life throughout history. Because Israel is the Holy Land of three of the world’s great religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, it attracts both immigrants and visitors from all over the globe.

CSI President Tomas D. Morales, who recently travelled to Israel with the JCRC, is scheduled to offer welcoming remarks and there will be a question and answer period after the panel discussion.  “This is an opportunity for Staten Islanders and CSI students to learn about the diversity of Israeli society,” said Ms. Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island.  “It should be an interesting evening of open discussion between people of all faiths and backgrounds.” 

The event is free and open to people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds who are interested in learning more about one of our staunchest allies in the Middle East. 

This is a program of the Israeli Consulate and the Jewish Community Relations Council, sponsored by Hillel at CSI, Inc. 

 For more information, please contact Amy Posner, Executive Director, Hillel at CSI, Inc. 

718 982 3006 amy.posner@csi.cuny.edu

These are the Faces you will meet :

Roei Ben Tolila

Roei served as an officer in Israel’s elite Maglan unit.  He was injured in an offensive attack and is now confined to a wheel chair, however he refuses to let that claim his life.  He is the founder of the “More than Basketball” project, an educational project where youth, new immigrants, soldiers, and students compete against the wheelchair basketball team of BeitHaLochem Jerusalem.  Roei is also an accomplished and professional life coach, the founder and Chairman of “Salt of the Earth Educational Activity,” a non-profit preparatory course for youth in the periphery, as well as a key member and creator of other established organizations in Israel

Miri Shalem

Miri is an ultra-orthodox woman from Beit-Shemesh. After incidents of discrimination against women in her city she organized a grand flash-mob event holding 200 women dancing on the street. She brings an energetic and vibrant perspective of the religious world in Israel.

Dan Tiomkin

Dan was born in the Soviet Union, and at the age of 5 immigrated to Israel with his family. At the age of 18 was recruited to the army and served for 5 years after volunteering for officers training. After leaving the army as a lieutenant, he went on a delegation led by the Jewish Agency for Israel to be a counselor in summer camps in the US. On his return Dan started studying for B.A. in Digital Communication & in the Ariel University Center in Samaria. Dan is an expert on digital media and he's a representative of the new generation of social networking and the New-Media world.

Dina Lakao

Dina served in the Israeli Defense Force as part of the Druze Brigade working on the border with Lebanon.  After finishing her service, Dina went to study in university and is currently a third year law and government student as well as a first year Business Law Master’s candidate.  Dina has taken her work from the army a step farther by now volunteering for “Tebeka,” a legal aid for the Ethiopian Israeli community as well as having participated with delegations to the United States to help promote a better understanding of Israel. 

Shimon-Gal Levy

Shimon grew up overseas as the son of a career diplomat residing in Nepal and Australia from the age of 10-16.   Returning to Israel, Shimon finished Secondary School with honors and joined the IDF Navy.  Shimon spent the next eight years in the Navy as a graduate of the prestigious Israeli Naval Academy. Since completing his service, Shimon has been active in founding and working in various NGO's and young leadership programs to better promote Israel Advocacy abroad and young Jewish innovation.  Shimon is currently an MA student at the IDC Herzliya International School, majoring in Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution and pursuing his ambition for graduate studies abroad.

Yochai Hadad

Yochai was raised in a family of seven boys.He left his high school yeshiva studies in the tenth grade  and in 1998 enrolled in the army. He served for six years in the Shaldag unit as a combatant, commander and combat guide. Later on He studied Jewish Philosophy at the Hebrew University, with an emphasis on Kaballah studies. As for his artistic passions, He have been writing poetry for the past 18 years, and have been involved in documentary film making for the past five. Two years ago He completed a project he had been working on for two years: A film named "Thou Shall Not Dance" that tells the story of a group of religious men who decide to establish a school for modern dance. Yochai is currently a screenwriting student at the Sam Spiegal Film and Television School and is working on his next project, a documentary TV series on the Yom Kipur War.

Emmanuelle Elbaz

Emmanuelle is the foreign news reporter for one of the largest news channels in Israel, channel 10. She worked as the vice editor of the Jerusalem Post in French. She's an alumni of Tel-Aviv university, both B.A and M.A specializing in Middle Eastern affairs. She speaks fluent Hebrew, English, and French. Emmanuelle provides an in depth view of a reporter in hectic Israel.

I am a #140 Character 2011

I am a #140 Character 2011

The first Social Media event I ever attended was a #140conf holiday party in 2009.  It was a lights up, music off  holiday mixer in a village bar.  I knew very little of Jeff Pulver or his conferences that evening when he welcomed me with a hug.  I wasn’t sure what to make of this new group and Social Media was a new endeavor for me.  I arrived early and Geo Geller popped a frame over my head stood me in front of the I’m a Character #140conf  banner and took my picture.  I met the Guru of Sales, Web Metrics Guru and lots of other gurus.  Everyone was curious, everyone was passionate.  From then on I was a 140 Character.

In 2010 Jeff  Pulver  organized monthly meet ups where fascinating people would come and share their social media successes and solutions.  This amazing community of social media pioneers came together to share their gifts with each other, offer support and form fascinating friendships.  Jeff was always able to bring together a fascinating group of presenters and attendees. I looked forward to attending 140 Conferences because after each one I left with volumes of information.  Many times when working with clients I refer them to video archives of a 10 minute talk or panel discussion from the 140 Conference.  My expertise in digital strategy increased with each event.  The conferences allowed me the opportunity to meet and learn from bloggers, educators, journalists, brand managers and Non-profit organizations.  I met great folks who had a passion for this rapidly evolving medium.  I incorporated many ideas shared at the conferences and was successful with the projects I worked on.  The earthquake in Haiti in January highlighted the concept of  real time communication to the masses.   Social media and real time communication was heating up and we were witnessing the evolution of digital communication. The #140 Conference in the Spring of 2010 was amazing. People gathered from around the world and came together to impart wisdom at the 92^nd Street Y.  There was an energy at the conference that ignited passions, sparked creativity, and illuminated good will.  Many of us connected on twitter and formed real friendships.  Brands conference in December 2010 focused on the humanization of brands.  I was excited again about the growth in social media.  It was no longer just a theory or magic mix that somehow worked.  Now, big brands were embracing social media. 

The 140 Conference disappeared from New York City for a bit while Jeff created serendipity around the world.   I missed 140 Fashion, but did get to watch it live stream.  The next meeting was the 140 Conference Long Island.  It didn’t matter to me that the venue was not Manhattan.   I love the conference and by then I wanted to meet up with my social media brethren to catch up.  The call for speakers went out and it wasn’t until the last day I submitted my proposal.  I was accepted and given 5 minutes to share my experiences communicating in real time.  I was thrilled and terrified to be sharing the podium with  social media greats Peter Shankman and Trey Pennington.  I prepared and rehearsed and was ready.  I went over time, I didn’t get to say all I wanted but I got the message out  The audience clapped and laughed at my jokes, tweeted my talk and offered me hugs. 

We are at the beginning of the new media revolution.  Many pioneers I have met at the 140 Conferences are building the foundation for the way human kind will communicate with each other.  Thank you Jeff, and all the 140 Characters for sharing your vision with me.  I am a 140 Character.   

We don't just fist pump on Staten Island

Staten Island was supposed to be just a brief stopping point as I migrated to the rest of my life.  The 5 year plan turned into the 10 year plan and after 15 years Staten Island officially became my home.
 

I couldn’t leave.  Staten Island met the criteria.  Close to Manhattan and my roots in Brooklyn.  An easy ride to New Jersey and points South.  Heck,  it was in the middle of everywhere.  The only problem for me was with Staten Island’s image. People not from here thought the whole island was covered by the worlds largest dump.  Stereotypes like the Situation, Snooky and Mob Wives are accepted as the norm and  Staten Island was not getting the recognition this culturally rich and exciting boro deserved.
 

We don’t just fist pump on Staten Island.  It is Not a place to be to be forgotten,   Staten Island is an integral  part of the most exciting city in the world.    Abundant in philanthropic activities and people who dedicate their lives to art, culture and social enterprise.  An Island steeped in history, filled with thousands of acres of parkland and beaches. AND  only a free 20 minute ferry ride from Manhattan.
 

Never one satisfied with the status quo I always hoped  that something would change.  I found that there were other’s like me that see such potential for our home.  Like a Jedi,  as guardian of conversation,  I harnessed the mystical energies of engagement.  Facebook, Twitter, linked In, Youtube and Flikr became my light saber and the social media force was definitely with me.  Immediately I began working on  projects with local Non-profits.  

What a great way to satisfy my passion for helping my community and really  DO something.   I knew there were  social media strategies I could use  to increase cause awareness, raise funds, and draw audiences to their events.


My first project was for  the  Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.  I had 2 months to promote  ReelAbilities a NY disabilities film festival dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.  The previous year had a small turnout and the goal was to increase it.  Simply posting on twitter and the real time internet, I was able to amplify the message and reach those interested.  Hundreds turned out for the showings.

The Business Council for the American Cancer Society of Staten Island decided to use social media to promote  their 2011Comedy for a Cure fundraiser.  Using a few tools and strategies  all of the members of the council participated in the online campaign and raised almost double the amount of money projected.

June  2010  brought the first LUMEN to Staten Island presented by the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island,  Lumen is  a cutting-edge video,  art,  and projection show.  It features work by emerging Staten Island artists, as well as established video, new media, projection, and animation artists from New York City and beyond.   LUMEN highlights a diversity of artists at the forefront of their media in an industrial landscape on Staten Island’s waterfront.  We needed to get the word out to everyone in NY that this incredible and awesome event was taking place.  Twitter was the perfect tool, raising the noise levels in the data streams drawing attention from art sources, news media outlets and over 700 guests.  This year’s LUMEN will be at the site of another favorite project of mine; the proposed National Lighthouse Museum.

Twitter  and the “real time Internet” has permanently changed the landscapes of media, communication, and marketing. It is crucial for Non Profit organizations to be part of this emerging trend.  By building communities online and having conversations that are relevant to them, these and many other Non Profit Organizations have been able to facilitate connections engage their audience.

For non-profit organizations and other charities, social media is an incredibly powerful tool to create word-of-mouth, connect with constituents, gather support, and even raise money. Through social media, non-for-profits have the opportunity to positively affect their organization's perception, visibility and brand experience by taking part in online and mobile conversations. The expansion of the social web is impacting all organizations, and non-profits of all kinds must be prepared to embrace this  fundamental  universal shift.

One person can make a difference you just have to have a vision and take a chance. Take the first step, make some noise change your world.

Can Social Media change Education Paradigms?

Sir Ken Robinson; author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts to government, non-profits, education and arts bodies. He was Director of The Arts in Schools Project (1985–89), Professor of Arts Education at the University of Warwick (1989–2001) and was knighted in 2003 for services to education.  You can view the RSA animate video “Changing paradigms in Education” here: http://bit.ly/fffIUt

I watched a video of Sir Ken Robinson's “Changing paradigms in Education” talk given at the Royal Society on the Arts on YouTube.  I don’t remember how I came across it but I was in awe.  I watched 4 or 5 times over. I wasn’t surprised to hear someone else talking about how current public education is failing our students.  Sir Ken Robinson’s simplistic approach to making small changes that can have significant impact on our children’s education was inspiring. I can see why it went viral.  Sir Ken’s key points hit many of the core issues I believe our evolving education system is now facing. 

His views are not new.  The Montessori Method from the 1890’s involves the teacher in viewing the student as having an inner natural guidance for his or her own perfect self-directed development. The Reggio Emilia philosophy founded after World War II is based upon the following set of principles.  Students must have some control over the direction of their learning; must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing; have a relationship with other students and with material items in the world that students must be allowed to explore and must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

So what has changed? Sir Ken Robinson talks about how education reform can work.  The current US education system was established during an Era of Cultural Enlightenment and the Industrial Economic Revolution.  That education model worked for a while. We were automating and building our communities.  People worked in factories or offices.  Technology was changing American society. Health and medicine evolved due to research technologies.  Many of our teaching programs developed over time met the variety of skill needs for our society.  As we move forward in the technological revolution factory like school settings and un-stimulating classroom learning are becoming obsolete, so we find ourselves asking “What’s Next?”

According to Robinson, We are changing education to prepare our future generations but we don’t know what that future will hold since there is such rapid change.  We are also trying to reform education to adapt to cultural changes while maintaining cultural identity, as the world’s cultures connect.

So how do we change the system without totally starting from scratch?  Our education infrastructure is expensive so we can’t build a new one. Many people are hesitant to scrap the current system fearing unknown outcomes.  There are ways Social Media could bridge the gap.   Technology has enabled society to catch up with Montessori’s revolutionary methods of teaching.  Collaborative learning and divergent thinking can take place in classrooms leveraging many of the Social Media tools we have today. 

Preparing today’s students for the unknown and quickly changing cultural and economic climates, must include the new ways we are communicating.  Creating stimulating learning environments, allowing students to express knowledge through their creative means can be achieved by integrating Social Media technologies.  Communication modalities are changing our lives, and we must adapt our teaching methods to work with emerging technologies.   

We must raise standards to compete in the changing world economy. What should the standards be?  Some tests can designate a person genius and others label them special needs.  Who will set the standards? 

Sir Ken says to change the Education Paradigms we need to think differently about human capacity and get over the old conception of Academic, non-Academic, Abstract, Theoretical…etc. Most great learning happens in groups- Collaboration is the stuff of growth.  The current education system is crucially due to the culture of our institution: the Habits of our institution and the habitats they occupy.

I believe there are opportunities to make great strides with small changes if we introduce methods for implementing Social Media at different levels throughout the education spectrum.