The annual joint steering committee meeting took place in Boca Raton last month. In this meeting, budget was approved for the first half of 2007, after which the framework will change to a July 1 – June 30 fiscal year.

The delegation from Kiryat Bialik included the Chair, Mr. Gidi Shilo, and three members: Dr. Pnina Moses, Mrs. Sima Buhbut and Mrs. Eliza Mariama-Tzur. They were accompanied by the Partnership Director for the Jewish Agency, Mr. Eshel Fram. Kiryat Bialik's Mayor, Dr. Rafi Wertheim, who was personally invited by the Jewish Federation's President and CEO Mr. Bill Bernstein, also attended the formal meeting.

During their time in Boca, the KB delegation met with several professionals and lay leaders in the Jewish Federation, including Mr. Bill Bernstein, Mrs. Dotti Seaman and Dr. Leon Weissberg, to discuss the Partnership projects. The two co-chairs of the SPBC steering committee, Mr. Steve Winig and Mrs. Ann Kelman, went out of their way to make their guests' stay pleasant and comfortable, held dinner parties in their homes and accompanied them throughout the visit. The joint steering committee meeting was chaired by the three co-chairs: Gidi Shilo, Steve Winig and Ann Kelman. The committee approved several existing projects – such as "Jewish Roots", the very successful youth exchange program – as well as new projects; particularly, one in the field of economic development/professional training. In this project, a group of unemployed KB residents will go through a year-long process, from a series of sessions on personal empowerment, to a vocational guidance course, and eventually, to professional training courses and accompanied placement.

In his thank you letter to his hosts Gidi Shilo wrote, "I truly feel that I have found a new family… together we will continue to develop this partnership, which already stands as a model to other partnerships throughout Israel… with dedicated people such as the volunteers in your community, no goal is too far or too hard to achieve."