Now You Know
By Alan Budman, FJMC International President

June 1, 2025

With the 2025 International Federation of Jewish Men's Club Convention in Chicago coming up in about a month, it’s time to take a look back. It’s been an exciting two years since we last met in my hometown of Philadelphia. I am pleased to report that FJMC is strong and getting better as time goes on. 

Since our last convention, we have grown as an organization and have had many successes: 

• Affiliated 15 new clubs and created the new Texas Region.
• Held Executive Committee meetings in strategic cities across the United States to support emerging clubs and regions in Texas and the Bay Area of California.
• Had more committees (over 80) and more volunteers at the International level than at any time in at least the last 20 years.
• Had 21 applicants for 10 positions on the 2025-27 Executive Committee.
• Honoring 14 men from 14 regions across the FJMC as Maasim Tovim Awardees.
• Recognized 10 regions as Quality Regions.
• Laid the groundwork for and began the process of radical change from our existing shul-based club model to one that emphasizes the individual and men’s communities. 
• Produced a rewrite of our Bylaws.
• Streamlined and modernized the FJMC website.
• Grew the Inclusion initiative with Women's League, seeking to make our congregations more welcoming to underserved groups.
• Actively participated in the WZO election by placing 5 members on the Mercaz slate and worked diligently to get out the vote.
• Attended the USCJ Convening and the SRE (Safety, Respect & Equity) Conference, spreading information about FJMC to other groups.
• Issued weekly or biweekly Toolkits offering action items to guide our clubs and members after October 7, 2023.
• Issued position statements, primarily authored by Rabbi Raucher, which have made FJMC well known in the Jewish Community as a strong supporter of Jewish values.
• We've kept our organization in a stable financial condition, sustaining a balanced budget to keep us viable in the years ahead.
• Engaged fathers of all ages in biweekly online Fathers Support Groups.
• Expanded our Friends giving base with more donors than ever before.
• Engaged strategic partners in fundraising and are currently conducting a drawing, the net proceeds of which will all go to the regions and clubs to assist with their finances.
• The Burt Fischman Fund has helped more people to attend LDI and the Convention than ever before.
• We have made substantial connections with clubs and communities around the world.
• FJMC continues to attract Individual Members and has helped its clubs to attract younger members.
• We are well-known as being in the forefront of Combating Antisemitism and Israel Advocacy.
• Published well-respected publications, including HaD'Var, our monthly Club and Region Newsletters, and our new Inclusion Pride and Prejudice.
• Instituted monthly regional leader training sessions and recently added intensive training for incoming Regional Presidents. 
• We’re implementing a mentoring program for Regional Presidents so they can become the best leaders they can be.
• Expanded our acclaimed Webinars and Affinity Groups, involving more people and making a difference in people’s lives far beyond our membership.
• Ran many FJMC signature Hearing Men’s Voices programs in every region.
• Supported efforts of our Executive Director to conduct a first-ever Retreat for Young Men in the Southern California area to enhance and grow our FJMC brand and profile.
• Instituted monthly EC meetings of no longer than an hour; reduced quarterly EC meetings to no longer than 3 hours.
• Developed a relationship with Hillels whereby FJMC leaders conducted HMV sessions with Hillel and Greek fraternity students.
• Began the process of strategic and fundraising planning for the next 4 years.
• Invested funds in CDs which yielded over $10,000 in passive income.
• Purchased insurance policies that covered regional retreats, thereby saving the regions over $6,000 to date.
• Obtained state tax-exemption certificates, saving $5,000 in state sales taxes so far.
• Through collaboration with the Foundation for Jewish Life, we were able to support several Jewish communities hit the hardest by the CA wildfires.

It has been an honor to have served you as your International President. I know you share my belief that your involvement with FJMC is deeply rewarding and is a satisfying part of your and your family’s lives.

Thank you. 

In Brotherhood,

Alan Budman
International President, 2023 - 2025
abudman@fjmc.org

FJMC provides opportunities to learn and exercise life/leadership skills which you may not have the opportunity to either learn or use in your work. (Such skills relate to working constructively with a group to accomplish something more than one person alone could not accomplish.)

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