All - one important correction and some really cool news. :)
First the correction - in my previous message, I mistakenly put the wrong date for the Brotherhood Dinner outing this month - the Korean restaurant outing is this Thursday evening at 7 - NOT WEDNESDAY.
Put it down to the concussion.
Second - I am delighted to inform you that our Brotherhood Distinguished Speaker Series is going to be on the evening news tonight! :) NBC 11 news at 6 will be interviewing Curtis Sliwa via satellite from New York City as he talks about this Saturday's event. Teaser is at http://www.nbc11.com/news/15344192/detail.html Considering that Synagogues usually make the evening news when neo-Nazis are running rampant or a Temple is desecrated, it's nice to have us on the news in a positive light. :)
In addition, we have finalized the last two speakers - one is Cora Tomalinas, a member of the Mayor's Anti-Gang task force and one amazing woman - see her bio here: http://www.tcwf.org/leadership_awards/ca_peace_prize/2007/biographies.htm Ms. Tomalinas is a senior member of PACT - which Emanu-El just joined with financial help from Brotherhood. Ms. Tomalinas sadly could not make the NBC interview, but I informed Matt Hammer, the top man at PACT about the opportunity to see if he could arrange an alternate interview so PACT can get some publicity as well.
The second speaker is an example of a man who has dedicated himself to helping others while using his troubled past to best advantage. I speak of Pastor Robert Rios, who is part of a Christian ministry dedicated to facilitating a truce among San Jose's gangs and giving them a second chance to turn their lives around. The Mercury News article that prompted me to invite him is here: http://www.mercurynews.com/portal/ci_8258477?_loopback=1 Pastor Rios is also being interviewed on tonight's newscast.
The author of the Rios article has informed me he is asking the top editors of the paper to assign a reporter specifically to cover the Saturday night event. This means we could make the paper a second time. :) I will also be trying to arrange more TV coverage the day before and the day of the event.
The bottom line is this: Our speaking event has become a seriously big deal for San Jose - it's free, it's historic and you should be there. :) Please do RSVP if you haven't already - and hang on, it's going to be a great ride. ;)
Cheers, J (co-Prez) H
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