Comments on: Good Decisions in Bad Times: In Praise of Federation Community Allocations http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/good-decisions-in-bad-times-in-praise-of-federation-community-allocations/ Wondering where we are going as a Jewish community - one post at a time. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:50:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Fred http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/good-decisions-in-bad-times-in-praise-of-federation-community-allocations/#comment-103 Fred Thu, 28 May 2009 22:28:06 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=399#comment-103 Interesting take, Michael. I think it may help to remember that as inclusive a process as allocations should be, there will be sensitive discussions about value judgments that should have some level of confidentiality. And it's not inconceivable that an agency or two might (subtly) pack the room... Perhaps a better approach is to consider that allocations is not a one-time event. We must involve as many people as possible over time. That way we develop a strong core of people who understand the values and the dynamic and can draw on their own experiences when assessing a given year's results. Interesting take, Michael. I think it may help to remember that as inclusive a process as allocations should be, there will be sensitive discussions about value judgments that should have some level of confidentiality. And it’s not inconceivable that an agency or two might (subtly) pack the room…

Perhaps a better approach is to consider that allocations is not a one-time event. We must involve as many people as possible over time. That way we develop a strong core of people who understand the values and the dynamic and can draw on their own experiences when assessing a given year’s results.

]]> By: Michael http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/good-decisions-in-bad-times-in-praise-of-federation-community-allocations/#comment-102 Michael Thu, 28 May 2009 13:11:28 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=399#comment-102 I'm sure the allocations committee did great work and achieved excellent results. I just wish it wouldn't do its work behind closed doors. Federation acts as a pseudo-government for the Jewish community. Our donations are essentially volunteer, pay-as-means-allow taxes for the benefit of our community, and we trust Federation to allocate those donations/taxes fairly and wisely. That trust would be strengthened, and I suspect donations increased, if the allocations committee meetings were open to the public. If the Jewish press reported on the discussions leading to the difficult allocations decisions, people would have more faith in those decisions. They wouldn't have to take the word of allocations committee; they would know how decisions were made. I’m sure the allocations committee did great work and achieved excellent results. I just wish it wouldn’t do its work behind closed doors. Federation acts as a pseudo-government for the Jewish community. Our donations are essentially volunteer, pay-as-means-allow taxes for the benefit of our community, and we trust Federation to allocate those donations/taxes fairly and wisely. That trust would be strengthened, and I suspect donations increased, if the allocations committee meetings were open to the public. If the Jewish press reported on the discussions leading to the difficult allocations decisions, people would have more faith in those decisions. They wouldn’t have to take the word of allocations committee; they would know how decisions were made.

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