6:00 PM-6:30 PM:Arrival. Hand out balloons. Have snacks out.
6:20 PM-6:40 PM:These Are a Few of my Favorite Things program. Each girl will write seven of their favorite things (TV shows, activities, movies, foods, etc) on an index card for a later program. 6:40 PM-7:05 PM:The Penny Game Mixer: Before the event, collect a pile of pennies dated later than 1995. Make sure the year on each penny is the year your youngest member was born or later. Have girls choose a penny from the pile. Take turns having each girl tell their highlight of that year, their low light of that year, and a random/funny story about something that happened in that year.
7:05 PM-7:35 PM: BBYO Taboo.Split into two teams. One representative from the team will describe as many words as possible as the rest of their team guesses. Then the other team will guess. Whoever guesses the most words wins. And of course you can't use the taboo words. After each round, explain what the words mean and take any questions. At the end of the program take questions again. Mention the MIT book.
BBYO Taboo Rules (and hints):
No using any part of the world, the taboo words, or any other forms of these words. Only guess when someone from your team is describing words. If you don't know what the word is (not that you don't know how to describe it), I will help you. Remember, you can describe words in non-BBYO context and use common phrases/songs. 7:35 PM-8:10 PM:Cheer Teaching and Havdallah.Spend 15 minutes teaching a selection of cheers and then do a normal Havdallah.
8:10 PM-8:35 PM: Event Planning.Explain the basics of planning an event and the six folds. Put girls into groups of two or three based on a “favorite thing” they had in common. Have them come up with as many programs as they can related to the “favorite thing” they had in common (covering as many folds as possible) in 15 minutes. Then have groups share the two or three programs they thought were the best out of all their ideas.
8:35 PM-8:55 PM:The Importance of BBG. Hand out pink and black cookies. Tell girls that BBG means something different to everyone, and plays different roles in all of our lives. Then read the stories about the role of BBG on other girls' lives (see supplementary materials). End by giving girls a minute or two to reflect on what BBG means to them and tell them to continue doing so as we walk to the park and throughout inductions. Explain inductions.
8:55 PM-9:10 PM: Walk to the Park 9:10 PM-10:15 PM: Induction Ceremony. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This ceremony is SECRET to the chapter. Therefore, I can't post this online, sorry! But basically, girls will be officially "inducted" into the chapter, meaning they will go through a ceremony and officially become a part of El Al BBG #1863. 10:15 PM-10:30 PM: Walk Back to the house and get picked up
.Supplementary MaterialBBG Stories
BBG X's Story I joined BBYO freshmen year of high school. For some people, that's kind of late. For other's its right on time. For me, it was perfect. I have a brother in BBYO and he was one of the few people who encouraged me to "try it out". My first event was amazing, I felt accepted and had as much fun as anyone could possibly have. I realized that having a bunch of jewish friends, from all other schools, all other areas of the bay, was awesome. From then on, I've always appreciated the special group of girls that I have with me, helping me through high school and with my jewish identity.
Advice for younger girls. Yes I am going to quote Nike, because there is no other way to say it. Just do it. Don't wait to become a part of BBYO. If you want to be on board, just do it. If you want to help the community, just do it. So the next time that you consider, just consider, what you want to do in BBYO, just do it. Don't wait, because that will only hold you back. Good luck girls. Just do it.
BBG Y's Story Two years ago, on a Saturday Night similar to this, I would have most likely been sitting on the couch, channel surfing, or watching a movie from blockbuster. Perhaps I had a friend over, or perhaps I was at a friend's, getting into some sort of trouble. But never would I have imagined that there was so much more to life, so much more that I could do if I tried something new. I didn't understand that people could go out there and make friends other than hang out with those of whom they had went to school with. Saturday night was just a night, nothing out of the ordinary. But that was before BBYO.
The Morah of my future chapter had called me every week for six months. I was always busy. However, the truth of the matter was, I was scared. A girl from my future chapter had asked for my number one day in class, I gave it to her - confused. Why would someone so nice and pretty like that want my contact information. And after getting call after call, I couldn't bring myself to go. Especially not if everyone was as pretty, nice and perfect as her. One day I went to see a play with my cousin who was in town, and low-and behold there was the girl from school and my future chapter. I was so scared. Not only were these girls linking arms and laughing, but there were actual boys behind them. There was no way I could go to a so called “event,” and be myself… Especially if there were boys. P.S. those were just random boys who were also watching the play.
When I was really little, I had so much energy I could have been in one of those battery commercials. I made friends with anyone and everything, I never talked to strangers because, heck, if I knew their life story they couldn't be strangers any longer. However, as puberty struck and throughout fourth to seventh grade I went through awkward stages. I was overly emotional, and had a lot of trouble making more school friends. A lot of people thought that I was weird and my self-esteem began to deteriate. I was incredibly depressed. And I assure you, I never use “depression” as a figure of speech. In seventh grade I developed an eating disorder… or two. In seventh grade I lost over twenty pounds and reached a low of about eighty pounds - very skinny for me. And as eighth grade followed, I developed a deep craving for food. But I was so disgusted with myself that I threw it back up. Needless to say, the beginning of my seventh grade year was pretty bleak, suicide even sounded positive.
Anyway after getting into several fights and drama pouts with my school friend, I finally agreed to try the whole “BBYO” thing out. I went to an event with my friend. And I can honestly say that that was the best decision that I have every made in my life. Ever.
Finally, BBG, A place where I have dozens of sisters by my side - only a phone call away. There are people who really understand, and love me for me. I can be myself and have nobody judge me. I can have fun, and know that I'm not doing anything wrong.
But more than that, I have found myself. Or I'm definitely on the path. I understand now what I'm passionate about. I know that I am a special and unique individual. And guess what, I understand what I have a knack for. I love to help people, and I absolutely love having the opportunity to be on board. I've been able to explore different positions and explore different aspects of BBYO. Planning a program or an event gives me a rush of creativity, excitement, inspiration, and happiness that I can't even describe. It's sort of like my own adrenaline or crack if you must. The Regional order is incredible too. Just to think, all the passion and effort that they put into this organization. All of the international passion that goes into everything we do. All on my chapter's passion, all of your passion. “Think of what we could do… together…”
Girls, BBYO is a gift. And like all gifts - they don't last forever. This one has an expiration date. So I challenge you to use it to the fullest. Wring it out and take advantage of it at every opportunity that you have. BBYO is a place where when you love and give to it, it will give right back at you. So appreciate it, because whether or not you have four years, or even one year - you won't know what you have until it's gone.BBG Z's Story
I can remember back to my first convention so easily. Sisterhood. I swear I can remember every little detail. I remember the program leaders passing out stickers to determine our groups. I remember eating really crappy pizza. But those aren't the memories that count.
I remember the first girls who came up to me said “hi” and introduced herself. That simple gesture that took a minute will stick with me forever. It was at that moment I realized how different BBG is from school. How much more open and accepting BBG is. I knew this was an organization I wanted to be a part of.
As the convention went on, I looked up to the girls leading programs. By the end of that convention I knew I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be up there leading programs. I wanted to be the first friend a young member made, and the one they could always to for help. I didn't recognize it then but I wanted to be leader.
In less than I year I found myself being “that girl.” I was on chapter board and had even planned regional programs. When I look back, it's still a breath-taking transformation from a barely active member to a leader.
Girls, I want you to realize that you can be a leader. In this chapter. In this region. In the international order. You all have the potential to do spectacular things. Take a risk. Scoop up an opportunity. Become the BBG you look up to. I know you can do it. We are here to help you every step of the way. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________