Summarized  the Management and CC meetings, adding to our "TO DO" list and processing comments, suggestions and requests. The staff is working on the preliminary Calendar of Opportunities for July 2019 until December 2020 which should be distributed beginning of March so that all communities can see and budget for future programs. 

In order to avoid the allocation letter conundrum (which we are in currently- the letters of allocation enable  JAFI to release funds for project implementation), Judy and Dolev will be requesting from JAFI to change the budget year of the Partnership to a calendar year. This will also enable us to change our meeting schedule and have the Communities Council late October (in a US community) and the Summit in May/June alternating between the US and Israel. The transition would occur in 2020 and that Summit is planned for spring/early summer in Budapest (Date TBD).

Hosted Rena Neiger (renewed Dayton staff person) who spends half time in Dayton and half time in Israel. She met with the staff, individual meetings and visited the hospital. She will have the opportunity to meet and work with the partners on both sides of the ocean! Great model!! 

Currently Ben Wainblat, a medical student from Dayton is spending a month at the GMC for the Externship program. This is an opportunity for all medical students from the Consortium communities- to spend a month rotation (in the department of their choice) at the GMC and enjoy the beauty and hospitality in the Western Galilee. Contact Danit for more info. danitb@jafi.org 

Israel Chairs meeting was hosted at Kivunim - to give the chairs an opportunity to meet the organization - and then all shared reports from their community visits and Efrat led us in beginning to  think about our theme going forward of - Bayit/Home. 

Michelle and I are planning a visit to communities in early April ... Dayton, Louisville and Buffalo. 

Visited the TPC - WOW !! There is a front door to walk into and no more construction fence. See photo. 

The Community Engagement committee with Noa, Nancy, chairs and Avital staff are moving ahead on planning how to  create virutal/live communities around topics of interest - new ways to connect to the Partnership with "easy entry" and virtually no cost!! Stay tuned for details and exciting opportunities.