Twenty Tidewater BBYO teens (11 AZA and nine BBG), along with City Director Courtney Krutoy and Simcha BBG Advisor Anya Dippold, attended Eastern Region’s Spring Cultural Convention, April 17-19 in Charlotte, North Carolina. More than 200 teens attended the convention from across the four states of Eastern Region (North Carolina Council, Southeast Council, and Virginia Council).
With help from staff, teens plan and lead convention logistics, programs, and activities. Simcha BBG’s Hattie Friedman was on the underclassmen track steering committee, planning fun activities for newer members at times when tracks were divided. Simcha BBG’s Amelia Portnoy was on the Judaic Team, planning a “Club Israel” Saturday morning service (there was also a Wholesome Shabbat and a Shaloha Shabbat option).
Teens also enjoyed sisterhood/brotherhood activities, limmud (learning/art/culture/etc.), Havdalah, a wild west themed dance party, special senior programming, chofesh (free time), and some amazing speakers. This year’s speakers were Ksenia Prints, social media chef of Mediterranean cuisine, Elana Horowitz, a cheerleader for the Eagles with a background in Israeli dance, and Jared Firestone, American Israeli skeleton racer who represented Israel’s national bobsleigh team in Milan.
SCC is also a time to handle Eastern Region BBYO business. The six elected regional presidents (one BBG and one AZA from each council) give a state of the region (“States”) where they review the successes and challenges of the past year. The new regional board is also elected.
Simcha BBG’s Skylar Caplan was elected as the fourth regional mazkirah (secretary) of Eastern Region. Mazkirah is responsible for managing Instagram posts, social media storytelling, designing flyers, and creating digital materials, as well as taking meeting notes, tracking member information, and keeping records of gatherings. Skylar will do this and more while leading and supporting her chapter counterparts in the region (all the mazkirahs in each BBG/BBYO chapter).
Conventions bring members together for a fun and meaningful weekend of programming, activities, Shabbat moments, and hanging out with friends. More than a few tears were shed upon departure.
Members are already looking forward to L’dor V’dor Convention (LVC) taking place November 13-15 outside Charlotte, North Carolina.