Sid Shaievitz, Acting President
Alan Bernstein, Reunion Coordinator

Dear Lanslayt and Friends,

 It is my great privilege to announce that the Felshtin Society will hold a reunion and yortsayt.  This event is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 11 AM at Mendy’s Restaurant, 61 East 34^th St., in Manhattan.  Brunch will be served.

There are many important reasons for us to do this now.  March 16, 2009 will be the 90^th anniversary of the pogrom in Felshtin.  Dr. Mel Werbach, has been working diligently on the establishment of a memorial in the town of Gvardeyskoye, Ukraine, formerly known as Felshtin, our ancestral home.  This reunion will give him an opportunity to share his journey and how he and his wife, Gail, were inspired to take on this project.  

Other important issues that will be addressed include the translation of the yizkor book by Sid Shaievitz, the condition of the cemetery by Peter Hoffman and other matters. Professor Roskies, who spoke at our first reunion in 1999 has been asked to speak and we are awaiting word on his availability.

Over the past few weeks I have spoken to many people who are connected to Felshtin.  People have been enthusiastic and receptive to the idea of a reunion.  They have also been eager to learn that the Society may become more active.  For that reason, I have included a list of activities that will require effort and member participation.  Please review the “help wanted” list below and let me know of your interest.  Even if the whole task may be more than you can tackle, we may be able to arrange to share tasks. 

If you would like to serve on the Board of Directors or be an officer or you would like to nominate someone to serve, please let me know.  A Nominating Committee is being formed to handle the process.   

We are grateful for the help that has already been offered by many people who expanded the mailing list (Gail Werbach) and Pam Avraham, who generously offered her help in collecting money for the event.  Her address is: Urbach & Avraham, CPAs, 1001 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904.

RSVPs are expected as soon as possible but no later than April 15^th.  The cost for the reunion brunch is $50 per person.  Checks should be marked “Reunion”.  Separate payment of dues, $25 per family, would also be appreciated.  Checks for dues should be marked “dues”.  Also, donations for the Felshtin Memorial are also welcome and should be marked ”Memorial”.   The Felshtin Society is a tax exempt organization, dues and contributions to the Memorial fall under the charitable activities of the Felshtin Society.

If you have any questions, suggestions or anything else you’d like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,

Alan Bernstein, Reunion Coordinator

abernstein@albernconsulting.com
Office 718-237-5744

Tentative Program

11 am – 3 pm

11 am:  Meet and Mingle

Slide Shows and Internet Presentations:

Felshtin Photoshop & Digital Copying

Felshtin Family Tree Project

Noon: Lunch

Convocation, Rabbi Novoseller

Introductions, Alan Bernstein

Status Reports

▪     Financials; 

▪     Membership

▪     Archives

▪      Recruitment of additional Board & Officers

▪      Discussion of Governance

▪       Integration of two Societies

▪       Cemetery Report, Peter Hoffman

▪      Other Business

Talk, Professor David Roskies

Discussion of Cemetery Maintenance, Peter Hoffman

Felshtin Memorial Project, Mel Werbach

Translation of the Yizkor Book & Related Matters, Sid Shaievitz 

Trip to Cemetery

For the event –

Immediate – Five Volunteers to make phone calls to find addresses, emails and other updates to the mailing list. 20 calls per person (having either email or fax necessary).

Coordinator for trip to cemetery

Reception Desk – Fill out name tags, welcome people

Felshtin Family Tree project – data sheet collection

Photo scanner to digitize photos brought by members.  Having and being able to bring and set up computer and scanning equipment a plus.                

Ongoing

• President & Vice President                     

• Coordinate and facilitate all Society activities.

• Secretary of communications

• Be responsible for the creation and publishing of the proposed quarterly newsletter, gather information from members about changes in addresses and generally assist in the communication among Society members

• Recording Secretary

• Take minutes of all meetings, record necessary legal transactions and assist n the maintenance of the proper records required by state law and the Society bylaws.

• Treasurer                                        

• Corresponding Secretary     

• Evaluate and respond to correspondence the Society receives inquiring about the membership, its history and current activities.                    

• Webmaster        

• Academic Liaison

• Foreign Secretary - Liaison with Ukrainian people interested in the Society including the current residents and the town mayor.  See below for more details.

Other Help Wanted

Do you have letters or pictures of Felshtiners or other materials that you could share with the other members?  If so, would you be willing to bring these to the meeting?  We hope to be able to scan your picture in order to more fully develop our archives.

Keeper of the mailing list.  Maintain the Society mailing list  with new information Help is needed to continue the work of the Society.  

Are you interested in helping to maintain the cemetery in Staten Island?  Should it part of the continuing work of the Society?

Historian of the Felshtin Society - maintain and update archival materials; possibly work on engaging an institution to house archives

Genealogist will collect information about Jewish genealogy and help interested members pool their information and connect to the broader community. The Ukraine Liaison Officer will handle correspondence between the Felshtin Society and Ukrainians.  This will involve establishing and maintaining contacts between the Society and both individuals and organizations residing in Ukraine.  Proposed sources for liaison include:  individual (Christian) residents of Gvardeyskoye (formerly Felshtin), the mayor, city council and perhaps other governmental entities in Gvardeyskoye, and Jewish residents of near-by Khmelnitsky (formerly Proskurov).