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Feb
24
Some People Pay Me Dept.: It Was a Good Schlep, a Very Good Schlep
Filed Under Humor, Jill Miller Zimon, Media, Parenting, Writing | 7 Comments
From the February 2011 issue of Cleveland Family:
Early one December morning last year, my husband and I, our three kids, their respective computer bags and rolling carry-on luggage spiraled through airport security lines as we got closer to our Florida vacation.
As anyone who has snaked through this routine knows, there’s little to do while waiting to move forward. The options involve obsessing over what might have been forgotten or staring at everyone around you who is doing that too.
On that particular day, I chose to stare at and then start a conversation with a 30-something mother and her family of five who were in line just behind us.
We engaged in the usual chatter about where we were going, how long we would be staying and the ages of our kids. Even as I listened to her answers and responded to questions myself, I also absorbed the sight of her three kids, ages 5 and under, her husband and all their accoutrements: diaper bags, jackets, shoes, stuffed animals and toddler-sized Disney-fied tote bags. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:54 pm February 24th, 2011 in Humor, Jill Miller Zimon, Media, Parenting, Writing | 7 Comments
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Feb
22
URGENT: Ohio residents in State Senate District 24-Please contact our Senator re: SB5
Filed Under democracy, Ethics, Government, Law, leadership, OH24th, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse, Transparency | 4 Comments
I don’t care whether you are for SB5 or not. I just want you to please let our State Senator, Tom Patton, know where you stand with it. Sen. Patton is an unique member of our general assembly when it comes to SB5 because he has spoken and voted in support of unions before, he is the son of a police officer and extremely tragically, his son died in the line of duty last year.
Here is his contact information:
Phone: 614-466-8056
E-mail: SD24@senate.state.oh.us
You can read more here:
Phillip Morris’ column in today’s PD
The debate about the role of unions in general and the role they play in our economy and budget is a volatile one. Please voice your opinion.
My opinion? Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:26 am February 22nd, 2011 in democracy, Ethics, Government, Law, leadership, OH24th, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse, Transparency | 4 Comments
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Feb
21
Appreciative Inquiry: The Wrap-Up (for now)
Filed Under Cleveland+, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 2 Comments
Last week, I participated in the day-long Appreciative Inquiry Summit for Women’s Leadership. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland convened the event with the following aspirations in mind:
Strengthening our Jewish community, building meaningful connections, and creating valuable experiences through opportunities that utilize the unique strengths and resources of women and maximize our personal growth and leadership potential.
Previously, I wrote about my anticipation of the day and followed up with a morning and afternoon dispatch from the Summit.
Now, I’d like to offer a few thoughts, looking back but also acknowledging that it is way too soon to fully appreciate – no pun intended – the ramifications of this unique and dare I say breakthrough gathering.
From the moment I walked in the room where we were to work from 9am through 4pm, the power was palpable. The mere numbers of us present provided a baseline buzz, with tables set for six often accommodating more, especially later in the day as we moved through the process. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:44 pm February 21st, 2011 in Cleveland+, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 2 Comments
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Feb
18
Taped Feagler, Airing Tonight: Spisak, Defunding Culture, Fitzgerald Fires/Hires & Lots of Sports
Filed Under Announcements, Jill Miller Zimon, Media, Ohio, Politics | Leave a Comment
Roundtable: Jill Miller Zimon, blogger, Writes Like She Talks; Bill Livingston, sports columnist, The Plain Dealer; David Arredondo, vice-chairman, Lorain County Republican Party.
Spisak Execution—Frank Spisak, 59, was put to death Thursday morning for the racially-motivated murders of three Clevelanders in 1982. Spisak spent 27 years on death row, longer than any other convict, and died less than a day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay his execution. He claimed hatred of blacks, Jews and gays and his neo-Nazi leanings fueled the shooting rampage. Judges rejected his claim that mental illness was the source of his hatred.
Richmond Heights Coach—high school basketball coach Jason Popp was relieved of his coaching duties this week following player and parent complaints that he used racial slurs as part of his instructions to the team. Richmond Heights was undefeated when school officials acted to remove Popp for unprofessional conduct. The action applied to the athletic arena but not the classroom. For now, Popp is still employed as a teacher.
Personnel Changes—Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald fired four top officials, two of whom held elective positions made appointive by the recent charter change. Those departing county government included coroner Frank Miller, engineer Robert Klaiber, Children Services director Deborah Forkas and director of senior and adult services Susan Axelrod. County council this week approved the appointment of Bonnie Teeuwen as public works director. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:02 pm February 18th, 2011 in Announcements, Jill Miller Zimon, Media, Ohio, Politics | Please comment
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Feb
17
Appreciative Inquiry: The Afternoon
Filed Under activism, Cleveland+, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Women | 6 Comments
Since lunch, 170+ women have been working hard at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Appreciative Inquiry Summit. We’re imagining the community we want to see and how to get there. It’s not easy to herd so many minds and bodies but we’re managing.
Similar themes of a future are emerging with just enough panache to spark laughs and awed silence. Through mock-ups of Facebook pages, newspaper headlines and other visuals (rainbows, growth, umbrellas), expectations affirm a confidence that we will reach a pinnacle, that we can reach a pinnacle – and stay there. My favorite slogan/headline to foreshadow the future is a future tweet that says, “No more money needed – all needs met.”
The effort, however, is not without its challenges. One I see is making sure that in every idea we consider, we consider how to be sure that we neither overshoot and be so ambitious that achievement is illusive, nor underestimate the challenges. For example, some well-known concepts (mentoring, conferences, mission trips) appear repeatedly, but why? Have they not been effective in the past – if not, how can we make them more effective when we implement them? Or should we be thinking more out of the box? Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:16 pm February 17th, 2011 in activism, Cleveland+, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Women | 6 Comments
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Feb
17
Appreciative Inquiry: The Morning
Filed Under activism, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 1 Comment
How do you get 180 Jewish women in one room for a full day? Hmm – I could say – tell them they can talk and there’ll be coffee. But the busy women of NE Ohio can figure out how and when to do that on their own.
Instead, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Appreciative Inquiry Summit is about making us feel like there’s something bigger than ourselves that we’re going to create, contribute to and implement in a way that enriches the community. And not just the Jewish community, but the women’s Jewish community, the overall community and the overall women’s community.
We are 27 tables with six women at each (some more), being led by Ron Fry, Chair of the CWRU Weatherhead School’s Organizational Behavior department in the AI process. We’ve introduced each other and been given a chance to both listen to the accomplishments and strengths and personalities of each other but also a chance to hear ourselves work to describe the same in ourselves – for some of us, an unique and new experience. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:47 pm February 17th, 2011 in activism, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 1 Comment
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Feb
16
Who Couldn’t Benefit from a little Appreciative Inquiry!?
Filed Under Announcements, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 5 Comments
A few weeks ago, I received an email that included the following invitation:
“The Jewish Federation of Cleveland has enlisted CWRU’s Weatherhead School of Management to help design the future of women’s leadership in our community. We want your voice to be heard during this community-wide conversation.”
How could I say no? Women’s leadership. Community. Jewish. Hello?
I couldn’t – and didn’t.
And so tomorrow, for several hours, I will be in a room with more than 150 women doing this very thing called Appreciative Inquiry.
What is it, really, you wonder? I have to confess, just hearing and seeing the words “appreciative” and “inquiry” next to each other were enough for me to say, yes! Luckily, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland has a page for the Summit and on it, some explanation: Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:55 pm February 16th, 2011 in Announcements, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Ohio, Philanthropy, Women | 5 Comments
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Feb
5
Everyone knew Martin. Especially if you were a student at Case Western Reserve University’s law or social work school, both of which were barely 100 yards from the Barking Spider. Sadly, Martin died this past week after a long illness. You can read more about Martin and the Spider (especially check out the Coventry Village News piece which has wonderful photos of Martin):
Martin and the Barking Spider
Barking Spider history
Radio Hannibal
Coventry Village News
Earlyjas (Ragtime) news
The Zender Agenda
RealNEO
It opened in 1986, and I arrived in Cleveland in 1988 to attend those graduate schools. The Spider was a big part of my life for the four years I spent in school, and beyond. So many memories, embraceable cheap wine hangovers included. I hope – and I really do think – Martin realized just what an unique and memorable place he’d created. May he be of blessed memory and best to all his loved ones.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:49 am February 5th, 2011 in arts, Cleveland+, Music, Ohio, RIP | 1 Comment
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