J Staff Intranet Blog

Online Form Makes it Easy to Nominate

"Live Up" is our employee recognition program that allows you to nominate a coworker who really lives up to our J values.  We've just updated the award criteria to align directly with our J Values, in fact.

When you see a coworker being Welcoming + Inclusive, Building Community, Enriching Mind + Body + Soul, etc. nominate him/her for an award.  Recipients receive recognition and $50.

To make it easy to nominate, the online form is available on J Net.  The horizontal menu bar now includes "Live Up Nomination."

Nominate a coworker today and recognize and reward J Team members who Live Up!

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice - like The J!  Click here to learn more and get started.

Pledges to United Way and JFed Total $12,479

Thanks to everyone who made a contribution to United Way and/or Jewish Federation for 2019.  We exceeded our goal, which means we are supporting even more great services in our community.

Jim Sluyter challenged us to increase our giving by at least 25% from last year and offered to work a day in a J department if we achieved that stretch goal.  

Now we get to vote on how Jim will spend his day...in the CDC?  At the Member Experience Desk?  Serving lunch in the Heritage Center?  After School Care?

Vote by leaving a comment by 5:00 pm Tuesday, December 11.  The top vote (or maybe two...he could spend a half day in two different departments) will determine how Jim spends his day.

Congratulations to Alley DeWitt.  Her name was drawn as winner of the Dell laptop! 

A big thank you to Janice Malin and Alley DeWitt for organizing our giving campaign this year.

Happy Work Anniversary to These J Team Members:

• Marilyn Cohen - CDC (1 year)
• Katie Faraone - Group Exercise (7 years)
• Misa Haas - Group Exercise (1 year)
• Oshrat Tamiet - Fitness + Sports (3 years)
• Amanda Trout - Group Exercise (8 years)
• Nicole Young - Fitness + Sports (5 years)

We appreciate the time and talent you share with The J!

Where to Find Employee Perks on Intranet

J Net is the place to find lots of helpful information, including the latest list of employee freebies and discounts on J programs.

• From J Net Home, click "Resources" on the horizontal bar that runs across the top of the page
• Go to Documents + Forms/HR/Benefits/Employee Perks

We hope all J Team members will take advantage of these discounts and explore all The J has to offer.

We are SOOOO Close!

Congratulations to Debbie Ball and Renee Heflin, daily drawing winners for Thursday, December 6.  Please see Janice Malin for your prizes.

We are just $2,005 away from our stretch goal of raising 25% more than last year and JIM WORKING IN A DEPARTMENT FOR A DAY!

If just 10 more J Team members pledge $7 per paycheck in 2019, we'll make our goal and vote on which job Jim should do for a day.

ADDED INCENTIVE—anyone who completes a pledge form between now and tomorrow at 2:00 pm will be entered in a drawing for a $10 gift card + a United Way t-shirt + United Way water bottle + United Way gym bag!  And if you give by the end of the day today, please join us for breakfast tomorrow morning.  See Janice for details

Thanks to everyone who attended our annual Holiday Luncheon and Mystery Mensch reveal. Good food and lots of fun!

Special thanks to these J Team members for planning, cooking, serving, teaching and photographing:

• Deb Ball
• Stacey Belzer
• Deb Brown
• Alley DeWitt
• Jill Maidhof
• Rachel Roozrokh
• Blake Sidebottom

Click here to see more photos from the event.

Mazel Tov, Erica and Family

Congratulations to Erika Aanestad, Assistant Director of Fitness + Sports + Aquatics, on the birth of baby Evan.  Evan's big brother, Henry (shown here), is a student in our CDC.

Evan arrived a little early and spent  extra time in the hospital, but he's home now with Erica, Luke (aka Daddy) and Henry and is doing well. 

Wednesday Winners!

Congratulations to Deb Brown and Maggie Nicholls, daily drawing winners for Wednesday, December 5.  Please see Janice Malin for your prizes.

We are $10,400 toward our $12,405 goal!  If we reach our goal, we'll all vote on which department Jim will work in for a day.

Daily drawings continue through Thursday at 4:00 pm.  You'll be entered if you make a contribution to Jewish Federation and/or United Way.  It's easy through payroll deduction.  See Janice for more information and pledge forms.

All Gift Tags are Selected!

Thanks, J Team, for making ALL holiday wishes come true for clients of Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County!

When we come together as a team, we make great things happen.

If you took a gift tag, don't forget to bring your unwrapped gift to the CDC by Friday, December 7

Congratulations to Our J Team!

The JCC Association of North America has awarded Program of Excellence Awards to:

• Legacy Society Initiative won a Kol Ha Kavod award, which recognizes exemplary initiatives that can be replicated by other J's. (Cindy Bodker and her team, Felice Azorsky and Alley DeWitt)
• Marketing Communication's Omni-channel Marketing Plans also won a Kol Ha Kavod award. (Stu Goldstein, Andrew Brown, Kandi Gerdes, Hannah Michelson, Blake Sidebottom)
• Wall of Respect won a Zahav award, which recognizes outstanding, visionary initiatives with maximum impact or potential for change. (Jill Maidhof, with support from Lauren Levin)

The awards will be presented at the JCCA Professional Conference in February, to which we're sending several J Team members.

CDC Grandparent Breakfast

Friday, December 14^th

9:30 to 11:00 am.

Social Hall

Volunteer Roles and Shifts:

• Set-up (Thursday. December 13) 3:00-5:00 pm
• Usher/Grandparent wrangler 8:45-9:45 am
• Spill preventers/plate and cup carriers 9:45-10:30 am
• Re-stock food items 9:45-10:30 am
• Assist with canvas art station 10:00-11:00 am
• Clean up 11:00-11:30 am

To volunteer, email Audrey DeSandro or call her at 913.327.8052.

Tuesday Winners!

Congratulations to Natalie Phongphanh and Lauren Levin, daily drawing winners for Tuesday, December 4.  Please see Janice Malin for your prizes.

We are $6,719 toward our $12,405 goal!  If we reach our goal, we'll all vote on which department Jim will work in for a day.

Daily drawings continue through Thursday at 4:00 pm.  You'll be entered if you make a contribution to Jewish Federation and/or United Way.  It's easy through payroll deduction.  See Janice for more information and pledge forms.

Eleven JoCo Kids Still Hoping for Gifts

We've done an awesome job of clearing the board of gift wishes from Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County.  Only 11 gift tags remain and they're all wishes for shoes, boots or clothing. If you'd like to shop for one or more of these kids, please visit the bulletin board in the CDC and choose your tag(s).  Bring your unwrapped gift back the CDC by Friday, December 7.

 

 

Hanukkah Basics for J  Staff

Over 2,000 years ago in what is now Israel, the practice of Judaism was prohibited and the holiest Jewish site, the Temple in Jerusalem, was spoiled.

Hanukkah celebrates the victory of a small band of Jewish fighters over the most powerful army in the world, recapturing the Temple and their religious freedom.

In rededicating the Temple to its holy purpose, the Jewish soldiers found one small container of sacred oil that, according to Jewish tradition, burned for eight days.  This, we teach our children, is the miracle of the holiday!  By the way - the soldiers were called "MACabees" and they were the inspiration for the "MaCABee" games played today!

Click here to view a short and fun slideshow featuring Eight Facts About Hanukkah.

The Best Gift Ever?!

December holidays aren't all about gifts...but gifts add a lot of fun to family, friend and office celebrations this time of year.  What's the best holiday gift you've ever received?  A puppy?  A bike? Jelly of the Month Club membership?  Share your favorite gift in the comments section by 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 6 and be entered into a drawing for a Sweet & Spicy gift pack (kosher chocolates, kosher BBQ sauce and a gift card for two free entrees from Qdoba).

Chocolate Adds to a Happy Hanukkah!

You may have noticed bowls with chocolate dreidels and gelt at the Receptionist Desk and the Member Experience Desk.  This is so that we can share with our community of members a couple of the joys of the holiday - a little sweetness with gelt (chocolate coins) and a little fun with driedels (to play a game).

If you happen to be by a bowl, please offer a piece of gelt or a dreidel to a member and share the holiday with our community!  

Monday Winners!

Congratulations to Cindy Bodker and DD Gass, daily drawing winners for Monday, December 3.  Please see Janice Malin for your prizes.

Daily drawings continue through Thursday at 4:00 pm.  You'll be entered if you make a contribution to Jewish Federation and/or United Way.  It's easy through payroll deduction.  See Janice for more information and pledge forms.

Click here to view minutes from our November 29th general staff meeting.

First Daily Drawing Winners

CONGRATS to our first two daily drawing winners: Krisandra Spell and Felice Azorsky (these were the Friday's drawing winners).  Please see Janice to choose your gift card. 

Everyone else - you are still in the drawing (we will draw again at 4:00 pm today for today’s two winners).  If you haven’t already donated, please consider making a gift to Jewish Federation and/or United Way.  Paper pledge forms are in Janice’s office or you can donate online to United Way via your personal giving portal that was sent to you last week. 

So far, we have raised just over $2,500…….let’s keep it going!!

J Team Member to Help at Pittsburgh JCC

Thanks to ten J Team members who offered to travel to Pittsburgh and provide assistance to the Pittsburgh JCC, site of much activity in response to the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.  Lauren Levin has been selected to represent our J in our first "J Response" mission.  Lauren will travel later this month and will provide an update for J Net while she's there.  Thanks for representing us, Lauren!

Happy Work Anniversary to These J Team Members:

• Stacie Bruce - Group Exercise (4 years)
• Wendi LaGore - Child Development Center (2 years)
• Nick Petersen - Fitness + Sports (1 year)

Thanks for sharing your time and talent with The J!

 Volunteer to Take Notes at One 2019 Staff Meeting

We're seeking volunteers to take notes at our 2019 Staff Meetings.  Already signed-up are Jill, Felice, Jim, Machaela, Stacey, Janice and Natalie (thank you!).  We need five more volunteers to help.  It's a one-time job and I'll bring the laptop for you to use during the meeting.  Email Alley if you'd like to take one of the open months.  Thanks for considering!

Happy Chanukah to all those that celebrate! And to those who don't and have wondered about all of the different spellings, here it goes:  Hanuka, Hanukah, Hanukka, Hanukkah, Hannuka, Hannukah, Hannukka, Hanukkah, Chanuka, Chanukah, Chanukka, Chanukkah, Channuka, Channukah, Channukka, Chanukkah.  Take your pick - they are ALL right!!!!

Chanukah started the evening of December 2 and ends the evening of December 10.  Watch J Net for "Chanukah 101" - basic information about this Festival of Lights!

Volunteer Opportunity at Pittsburgh J

JResponse is a program of the JCC Association of North America.  It allows J staff members to be deployed to a J experiencing a crisis.  The J in Pittsburgh has been the "hub" of community activity in the aftermath of the to the shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue.  The staff there is working hard to meet community needs and could use our help.

We'd like to send one volunteer to Pittsburgh to assist for one day - December 10, 17, 21 or 24.  We will pay for airfare, hotel, ground transportation and meals.  To say "thank you" for volunteering time, we'll also pay for the shift our volunteer takes at the Pittsburgh J.

Prospective volunteers should be comfortable traveling alone and flexible about working in a changing environment.

If you're interested in volunteering, email Mary Beth for more information about the types of volunteer assistance needed.  

 

 

Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County is a great organization that has helped the CDC by providing evaluations, assessments and support for children.  We recently found out that they had 15 families in need this holiday season. I knew our J Team and amazing CDC families would want to help!

There's a big bulletin board outside of my office in the CDC with gift tag requests.  For example, an 8 year old girl has requested a baby doll.  Other requests include clothing, pajamas, games, coloring books, toys and gift cards.. Here's how you can help: 

• Read the tags (stars and dreidels) and take one or more
• Purchase items and make sure to get a gift receipt
• Attach the tag you took from the board to your gift
• Return UNWRAPPED gifts to the CDC by Friday, December 7

Gifts can be placed in holiday gift bags with tissue paper, but please do not wrap them. 

Thank you for considering this giving opportunity.  Let's clear the entire board for these families!

 

The J collected over 1,000 cards expressing support and sympathy following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.  J Members Ed and David Porter personally delivered the cards and a special hamsa to the synagogue's spiritual leader, Rabbi Jeff Myers.  (David became a bar mitzvah at the synagogue as a youth.) The hamsa was originally sent to our J in 2014 by students at Congregation Mount Sinai in New York, following the shootings on our Campus and at Village Shalom.  We added our message to the hamsa and sent it to Pittsburgh as a way to show solidarity and empathy.  The hamsa and cards will be part of a collection of materials associated with the Tree of Life shooting which will, in the future, be on display at Pittsburgh's Heinz History Center.

Pictured:  Ed Porter, Hazzan Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, David Porter.

JCCA Creates New Crisis Response Program

This past May, the JCC Association of North America (of which we are a member), announced the launch of JResponse.  It was conceived as a mechanism that would allow professionals from across the field to be deployed to a JCC in crisis and to provide skilled hands in a time of need.  JResponse deployments were expected to take place after natural disasters such as floods or mudslides.  Because of the tragic shootings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the first JResponse deployment was in response to a man-made disaster.

JResponders have and will continue to go to Pittsburgh to provide service at the local J. Through the rest of this year, J Responders will assist with reception areas, customer service tasks, administrative support and more.  We are proud to be part of an organization that has the desire and ability to provide this type of  assistance.

In the event a JResponse team is needed in the future, we will assess the specific needs, location, etc. and reach out to our J Team for potential volunteers.  We hope another JResponse is never needed, but we're ready to help if it is.  If you have questions, please email Mary Beth Sloan in Human Resouces.

 

 

 

Three New Part Time Job Postings

Check out our Careers page to learn more about three new job openings (and please share with your friends):

• Paraeducator for After School Care and Vacation Days
• Art Instructor, Heritage Center
• Personal Trainer (who can provide individual yoga instruction)

 

Hot Soup for a Cold Day

The Member Experience Desk is serving chicken noodle soup today from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm for just $5.  Stop by to get your soup and say hello to our MED staff.