This is a year round commitment that supports the development of NHC volunteers and the success of their projects. This involves both direct engagement with current/future volunteers as well as creating and maintaining knowledge management systems. The Volunteer Team focuses on roles that require year-to-year continuity, and recruits the Institute Core Team as well as NHC Board members. The Team reports to the Board Chair.
If you are interested in being part of the Volunteer Team, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Institute Core Team consists of 3 people and is supported by the Volunteer Team (Board). The Core Team is typically formed the previous summer and dedicates about 4 hours a week leading up to the Institute. As Institute gets closer, the time commitment increases to 5-6 hours a week.
What is the job of the Core Team?
The team is responsible for envisioning the theme of Institute, designing and executing programming, creating initiatives targeted to particular constituencies, and managing the overall flow of the event. Some tasks include (but not limited to) are recruiting volunteers, assisting with Workshops, Shabbat programming, scheduling, outreach and programming.
This includes overseeing (or recruiting volunteers to oversee) the following:
- Developing a broader planning team of volunteers and holding regular meetings
- Picking theme for Institute ( a verse from Jewish text and an accompanying logo; can also include a song). Communicating the theme and integrating it into the week
- Creating communication content for emails and website
- Liaise with relevant stakeholders (volunteers, NHC community, the Board, the Office)
- Programmatic integration of TAIR, LIR, Hollander
- Evening and late night program planning
- Shabbat programming
- Davening and prayer offerings, including Kabbalat Shabbat leaders
- Outreach initiatives for particular communities of interest
- Organizing workshops
- Managing the Master Schedule and designing the Institute program guide
- Selecting and supporting Day Heads for troubleshooting
- Designing and running Opening and Closing programs
- Keep spreadsheets up to date, write notes for future years, shape overall Institute evaluation
If you are interested in being on the Core Team, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Course Committee is focused on selecting teachers for Institute courses. The Committee makes any required updates to the Call for Proposals, reviews applications, and chooses the final candidates. In addition, it assigns mentors to new teachers and coordinates teacher orientation. This requires commitment from November to March and the Committee liaises with the Volunteer Team (Board).
If you are are interested in being part of the Course Committee, please email volunteer@havurah.org.
Addresses interpersonal conflicts and concerns about individual behavior that occur at or could impact NHC retreats. A 4-6 member Community Council is assembled for Institute, a 1-2 person Council is present at regional retreats, and a 2-person Council is on standby year-round in the event that issues arise between retreats.
If you are interested in being on the Community Council, email volunteer@havurah.org.
Familiarizes themselves with the Hollander fellowship, including requirements for the fellowship, past fellows, and attributes that make someone an ideal candidate. Updates the Call for Proposals if needed, recruits candidates, reviews applications, chooses the final candidate, and then communicates back with all applicants. Assists the Hollander Fellow, as needed, with preparing for Institute. Identifies any areas of improvement for future years, while building institutional memory.
If you are interested in joining the Hollander Social Justice Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Timbrel Artist in Residence Committee familiarizes themselves with the TAIR program, including requirements for the fellow, past fellows, and attributes that make someone an ideal candidate. They updates the Call for Proposals if needed, recruits candidates, reviews applications, chooses the final candidate, and then communicates back with all applicants. Assists the TAIRs, as needed, with preparing for Institute. Identifies any areas of improvement for future years, while building institutional memory. This commitment is from November to March.
If you are interested in this position, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Zeitler Fellowship Coordinator facilitates, or co-leads, the Zeitler Fellowship, a cohort of young adults (ages 21-32) within the NHC community. The Fellowship Coordinator(s) plan and lead programs for Fellows each day during Institute. This role requires planning and communication prior to Institute, facilitation and group management during Institute, and some follow-up after the program ends.
In exchange for their time and efforts, Zeitler Fellowship facilitators receive full tuition, room, and board at Institute (if applicable).
If you are interested in becoming a Zeitler Coordinator, email office@main.havurah.org.
The Zeitler Committee responsibilities are varied in time commitment. Committee members must review all fellowship applications (about 20 to 35) and participate in a 3 hour selection meeting (typically in late May) as well as a handful of shorter committee calls before that. Committee members are also expected to participate in promotion of the fellowship and recruitment of applicants by emailing various Jewish communities, sending a blurb to their own networks, doing individual outreach, etc. Additionally, they must work with the Office to update the Zeitler web page content, help recruit and select two fellowship facilitators each year, coordinate with Institute staff and the Core Team to confirm logistics for the fellowship, respond to inquiries that come in to the Zeitler Fellows email address as well as Zeitler-related inquiries that come in via other channels. The Committee members must follow up with applicants to let them know the status of their applications.
The overall time commitment is roughly 25 -30 hours in total between February and the beginning of June, or 5 hours/month for those 3-4 months.
If you are interested in being on the Zeitler Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Grants Committee mission is to review requests for reduced tuition by registrants for Institute. They represent NHC’s commitment to welcoming all who want to attend, without financial restriction. Committee members decide on all requests for tuition reduction and for travel grants within the constraints of the budget.
If you are interested in being on the Grants Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Accessibility Committee is dedicated to making Institute an inclusive and welcoming experience for all participants. The accessibility committee supports THE formulating policies and decisions that are examined through the lens of accessibility. The committee helps ensure accessibility needs are identified before Institute, that the at-Institute Accessibility Coordinator is selected and prepared, and that sufficient volunteers are recruited to support the accessibility needs of all participants. After Institute, the Committee reviews feedback from participants and identifies any areas of improvement for future years, while building institutional memory.
If you are interested in being on the Accessibility Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Outreach team promotes Summer Institute by sharing online information, handing out fliers in local communities, hosting in-person “Taste of the Institute” gatherings, calling past participants, pitching stories to Jewish publications, and more. This is an entrepreneurial committee, with lots of opportunities for your creative ideas. The time commitment is flexible based on your availability, and typically runs February to July.
*Outreach will look different for online Institute. Members are encouraged to use social media and make phone calls to connect with the community and get the word out!
If you are interested in becoming part of our Outreach Team, email office@main.havurah.org.
The two Workshop Coordinators receive workshop applications, make selections, and build the workshop schedule to reflect a balance of offerings in each time slot. The Coordinators consult with the Core Team as needed and work with the Office to assign workshops to the best possible classrooms or online placement.
If you are interested in being the Workshop Coordinator, email volunteer@havurah.org.
Each day at Institute, there is a “Day Head” who is available to field logistical and program questions and to make announcements at meals. The Day Head can answer the question or direct participants to the appropriate person. The Core Team meets with each Day Head for two mornings - the morning on your assigned day as Day Head, and the morning after, with the next day's Head. Day Heads also make announcements from the members of the community.
If you are interested in this position, email volunteer@havurah.org.
Pending in-person gathering
The Coordinator acts as point person for supporting families with children in attendance. They match parents with buddies who can help with childcare, especially during meal times. The Coordinator also orients families and buddies to the program and provides on-site trouble-shooting, if necessary. (A description of the Family Buddy role is available under On-Site Volunteer Roles.)
If you are interested in being the Family Buddy Coordinator, email volunteer@havurah.org.
Pending in-person gathering
The Malachei HaSharet ("ministering angels") works to ensure community safety and emergency preparedness. Created for Institute 2019, the team focuses on managing incident response, including facilitating communication, and seeking to reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring in the first place. This is an emerging line of activity for the NHC and the Committee will have a leadership role in shaping its future direction. This commitment runs from April to August.
If you are interested in being on this Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
Pending in-person gathering
The On-Site Volunteer Coordinator manages logistical volunteers during the week of Institute, including arranging the schedule for golf cart drivers, check-in volunteers, and those helping staff pack up on Sunday. This role requires preparatory work between May and July to arrange volunteer assignments and orient volunteers to their role.
If you are interested in this position, email office@main.havurah.org.
Pre-Institute
- Recruits and coordinates vendors in advance
- Works with NHC staff and facility staff to coordinate logistics
- Communicates expectations to vendors with regard to logistics and finances
During Institute
- Manages Shuk onsite (or online)
- Follows up afterwards with vendors to collect financial proceeds due to the NHC
Learn more about the Shuk Guidelines here.
The Shuk Coordinator may qualify as a Work Study depending on the scope of the work undertaken at an in-person gathering. If you are interested in Volunteering for this role, please contact volunteer@havurah.org.
The Transportation/Rideshare Coordinator works with a team to assist participants in getting to and from Institute via carpools, trains, buses, airports and shuttles. As a community, we try to reduce our carbon footprint, take opportunities to build relationships/community, and reduce the costs of travel. Note that travel grants are usually available through the grant committee (not the transportation committee). The transportation team works with the Office to get all relevant information and questions into the registration form, coordinates website updates with the tech team, requests a budget from the board when applicable, and works with staff to coordinate with the site and about any payments needed.
If you are interested in this position, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Welcoming Team matches newcomers with buddies, arranges and leads the Newcomer Orientation on the first day of Institute, and may design other initiatives to welcome first-time Institute participants.
If you are interested in joining the Welcoming Committee, email volunteer@havurah.org.
The Liturgist in Residence Committee updates the Call for Proposals if needed, recruits candidates, reviews applications, chooses the final candidate, and communicates back with all applicants.
The Committee is not currently recruiting additional members.