Jewish National Fund (JNF) check presentation to Israel Bond

rom left to right: Stanley M. Chesley, President, Jewish National Fund (JNF); Kent M. Swig, Board of Directors of Israel Bonds; Israel (Izzy) Tapoohi, President, Israel Bonds; James Emden, Greater NY Chair of the Real Estate Division of Israel Bonds; Jeffrey E. Levine, President-Elect, JNF; Russell F. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, JNF

This past March 12th, I had the privilege and honor to attend a check presentation from the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to Israel Bonds in an amount of $1 million towards the purchase of a wonderful investment in Israel Bonds. The presentation took place at the JNF New York City offices located at 42 East 69th Street.

While an investment in Israel Bonds has proven to be an excellent investment, it is equally important for organizations like the JNF, and other Jewish organizations, to show their direct support for Israel through Israel Bond purchases. Indeed, many people throughout the world, including our elected officials in the United States, as well as those regimes and governments in the Middle East (who consider themselves still at odds with Israel by supporting the boycotting of Israel’s goods and services), watch and measure the support that Israel receives through its sales of Israel Bonds. And, these purchases show strength for Israel at a critical time in world events as well as provide a much needed flow of capital to Israel to continue its leadership in building infrastructure and high-tech work.

The investment that the JNF has made in Israel Bonds is so important and I am hopeful that many other Jewish and non-Jewish organizations will follow in the footsteps of the JNF!

The New York City Police Museum

On March 6th, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with the New York City Police Museum (on whose Board of Directors I have the privilege to serve) working with many other police museums from around the country as part of the 2nd Annual National Police Museum Conference which was held at The New York City Police Museum.

Representatives from police museums around the country have come to visit our Museum and we have had the opportunity to share ideas and ways that we can collaborate with one another as we all work to fulfill similar missions to educate our children and public about the important work done by the police departments in our respective cities and states.

This Conference has also given us an opportunity to demonstrate how our very talented board of directors functions and works together to be the very best that we can be.

On Monday evening, the conference attendees were taken by bus to McFaddens where they had a wonderful opening reception which was very generously hosted by Dave Gildea.  On Tuesday morning, the Museum hosted a retail session where the attendees had the opportunity to hear from a retail expert.  And, for the following session we had two speakers from the IRS.  The session was incredibly helpful, explaining some of the grey areas of nonprofit tax law and UBIT, (unrelated business income tax) for nonprofit organizations.

The afternoon session on how to organize, recruit and retain a great board of directors was attended by several members of our Board of Directors including former Police Commissioner Howard Safir.

Overall, it was wonderful to be a part of this Conference and to share all of our accomplishments and challenges with our colleagues from other cities and states around the country.