Today I attended a conference for Jewish communal professionals hosted at the PH JCC. I enjoyed the breakout sessions I attended, but I especially enjoyed being surrounded by people whose job it is to do good for the Jewish community, to whom I can spout my ideas without that glassy look forming over their eyes before the 5 minute mark, instead of 2.
Irony: I attended a session about effective speaking and delivering one's message. I am particularly poor at getting to the point in conversations. During the session, I volunteered to go through my shpiel with the presenter to see how she can help me tighten and focus my core message, etc. I offered my shpiel about setting up a communal fund for Baltimore day school education funded by the grassroots, and she moved me from there, etc.
Afterwards, one of the other members of the session approached me to ask whether I knew that they were already doing something like that - particularly endowment. I let her know I was aware of their initiative and that this was something different. Then two more ladies from that same institution chimed in.
The presenter had just finished discussing a study at UCLA that discovered that your audience takes in your message 7% from your words, 37% from your voice, and 56% from your body language.
Their bodies were essentially turned away from me, their voices were cold, reproachful, and a little intimidating, and their words said: We're already doing that. We have hundreds of people already giving to a fund for Baltimore day schools. Have you spoken to so-and-so? Or so-and-so? They were not encouraging - like let me introduce you... let's see if there's some way to help each other out or give you information (like the first woman who approached me helpfully). It was: leave it all up to us. But last I checked, there was still a shortfall of cash needed to sustain our schools. So no, I am not leaving it up to anyone.
Did they mean there shouldn't be other initiatives to help contribute from a different angle? Would a separate grassroots effort toward this cause hinder other initiatives? I have been seeking answers to those exact questions so I can help build something in a more compatible context for smaller givers. Feel free to say that to me. I've experienced the fly treatment, but it's particularly off-putting coming from the Save-the-Flies folks. You didn't bother to ask what it is that I'm doing different from what you're doing.
These ladies' reaction was truly astounding and off-putting. Collaboration, my foot. Welcoming, my something else. Their institution is doing amazing things for day schools - to be a nationwide example. Ladies, represent! You're supposed to be the good guys.
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