Page 23 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - June 13

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
MAY 5773
ARYEH WOLFIN, KFAR HANASSI
I central, it attracted many more people in the Tel
ntensive, behind the scenes activity has been
carried out by the busy bees on the
committee during the past year, together
with those concerned with the publication of the
Iton, which by all accounts, has landed in very
good hands. We have a lot to thank them for as
they have invested their time and energy keeping
the organization going: Coral, Geoffrey, Frank,
Len, Alec, Phil, Clive, Wendy, Tehila, Yigal and
Linda. Not to mention Michael and Eddie who
run the archives, and Harold Hirsch, the new
editor of the Iton, helped by Sylvia Flowers,
Gerry Kelman and Linda Levine, altogether an
outstanding team.
Much discussion in the committee was devoted
to the form that the “annual get together” should
take, in the light of a changing reality, which
also raises questions regarding the purpose and
the future of our alumni organization.
The upgrading of the Blue Bay Hotel in Netanya
to five star status would have considerably
increased the cost of our “annual get-together,”
causing us to question its traditional format of an
overnight affair in a hotel. Six years ago we
made the change from Kfar Blum, in the far
north, to a cheaper, modest and more central
venue, Nachsholim, on the coastal plain. Much
criticism was levelled at this move, but in spite
of it, the numbers of attendees increased
considerably, amongst them younger bogrim,
who hitherto had not been seen at IBH events.
The reason being that it was cheaper and closer
to urban centres – Haifa and the Kerayot, where
many bogrei Habonim are located, and the
following year we relocated to a youth hostel in
Jaffa, which was a great success. Being so
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Aviv area, some who came for the day, or
wished to participate in particular activities. The
following year we moved to the ultimate venue,
Blue Bay, a four star, low-cost hotel by the sea
in Netanya, with good facilities for activities,
which became the venue for three successive,
fairly well attended “get-togethers,” with
programs to match. Furthermore, in order to
lower the cost of participation in the annual
event, we moved it from a weekend (Fri/Sat) to
two week days, which suited most pensioners.
The change of status of the Blue Bay Hotel this
year obliged us to seek an alternative venue.
From the point of view of cost, good
geographical location and suitable facilities, one
was not forthcoming. Therefore we were left
with no alternative but to change the format of
the annual “get together,” and adapt the program
to a one day event. Yad Tabenkin, Ramat Efal
was chosen, owing to its accessibility, its cost
and the facilities it offers. The assumption being
that a one day event, costing much less, which is
located in the centre of the country, may
facilitate the participation of younger bogrei
Habonim, and thus contribute to future
membership.
Who are we? What are we? Where are we
going? These questions arose many times in the
committee in the past, and again during the
debate on the program of the 2013 annual “get
together,” in the wake of the change of venue. It
is no secret that the participants are mainly of an
older generation, and the younger bogrim who
participate in the annual events are few and far
between. There is no doubt that we have a