2023-2024 Membership Drive
It’s time to renew your membership with NCJW San Antonio!
As our 2022-23 year comes to a close, we reflect on our successes of the past year. But even more important, we look forward to addressing the challenges that face our community now and in the future.
These past few years have been challenging for everyone, but especially for us in Texas! The major concerns that we are addressing include:
Gun Safety
Abortion Access
Voter Suppression
Food Insecurity
This year we need to add to this list of concerns: Antisemitism, Federal Court Appointments, Book Banning and other critical issues.
There are so many ways for you to make a difference as an NCJW-SA member! In addition to your renewal, we hope you will consider continuing your involvement this year. Whether you can volunteer at one of our events, speak with our Legislators, sign an online petition, or make a donation, we need your support! We count on membership dues, donations, and our volunteers to help fulfill our mission.
Help our San Antonio Section to continue our 116-year legacy of service; working to improve the lives of women, children, and families locally, nationally, and in Israel. Together, we will go from strength to strength, making San Antonio a better place.
We’re proud of our long history of accomplishments and we hope you will join us on our journey again in 2023-24 (*see below for 22-23 accomplishments)
If you have any questions you’d like to discuss, please feel free to contact one of us below. Thank you in advance for your ongoing support.
Warmly,
Barb Bikoff and Lisa Edelman
Co-Chairs Membership
Lori Stockstiel
President
WHY JOIN NCJW-SA?
2022-2023 Accomplishments
We continue to work towards fulfilling our goals of advancing the rights and freedoms of women, children and families. Through our commitment to Education, Advocacy and Community Service we sponsored the following activities:
We Educate
At our Opening Meeting, Jill Rips, Program Manager for the Center for Refugee Services talked about the difficulties and challenges faced by recent refugees to San Antonio.
Lunch & Learns: participated in/or sponsored the following discussions:
San Antonio Water System (SAWS) on its successes in diversifying and strengthening local water resources
Repro Shabbat, film and speaker with Planned Parenthood and Temple Beth-El
TX Holocaust Remembrance - Toured the Holocaust Museum with a discussions afterwards
We Advocate
We continue working to ensure that all of our voices are heard and to get out the vote!
DAY ON THE HILL: This was our opportunity to visit the Texas Legislature and elevate the voices of our members, together with our sister sections in Texas and nationally. When we speak, we are representing almost 7,000 members throughout the state and 200,00 members throughout the country.
Many of us have become VDRs (Volunteer Deputy Registrars), which enable us to register eligible voters throughout Bexar County.
Volunteered with EVRI, an organization that partners with local independent school districts, enabling our VDRs to go into local high schools and register students that will be eligible to vote by Election Day. Together with our help, EVRI registered >3,000 students during the 2022-2023 school year.
Repro Shabbat with Temple Beth-El
Engaged with and supported Planned Parenthood of South Texas and viewed a dynamic film about de-stigmatizing abortion.
Supported the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access, which received over $1 million in contributions from us and others to directly support people needing abortion care.
We Serve
San Antonio Food Bank
We volunteer at the Food Bank on the first Thursday of every month, along with members of Agudas Achim. NCJW-SA also participated as a Sponsor for the citywide “Feed SA” campaign.
Center for Refugees (CFR)
We held three events to support CFR’s mission to serve the city’s refugee population.
NCJW held a drive-by, diaper drop-off at Temple Beth El and Agudas Achim, filling 4 SUVs with 3 months’ worth of diapers!
We collected rice and oil for refugees during our opening meeting, helping to meet the challenges facing San Antonio’s refugee community.
Over 40 volunteers from NCJW-SA, Agudas Achim and The Muslim Center participated in UNDIES FOR EVERYONE. During this event, we rolled and bagged boys and girls underwear and then distributed these items to CFR.
Children’s Shelter
This is an ongoing project in which our members collect plastic fast food utensils to donate to the Children’s center.
Period Products
NCJW is collaborating with other Jewish organizations in collecting period products from April-July 30. A vintage handbag bingo will be held at TBE on July 30th to mark the end of this event. The individual $18 entry fees will be collected and used to purchase more products which will be distributed to local organizations.
We Have Fun!
Trashy Book Club
This is a great place to find out everything that is going on in your NCJW-SA Section and catch up with friends. Not to mention, the great pot-luck dinners! Come even if you didn’t read the book! Our 2022-23 reads:
More Fun!
Menorah Making Party and Contest for Hanukkah
Passover Dessert Contest (Wow! Who knew?)
Year-end Celebration - “Cheers to Us!”
