Rory Ichelson, Candidate for the 5th Board of Manhattan AZA
Rory
Ichelson
Gotham BBYO #5071
aspiring to be your 5th Regional Aleph Godol
Biographical Information
School:
West End Secondary School | Class of 2022
NYC Neighborhood:
Upper West Side
Favorite Restaurant in NYC:
Blue Ribbon Sushi
Favorite Quote (and who said it):
Life is about creating and living experiences that are worth sharing. - Steve Jobs
Who is one of your Role Models and why?
Michael Jordan - MJ went from not making his high school varsity team to winning 6 NBA championships, proving that nothing is impossible.
Reflection Questions
Why do you want to serve in the position for which you are caucused? Why are you qualified to do so? What will you uniquely bring to the Regional Board?
I want to serve as your Aleph Godol because I believe I have what it takes to effectively lead, and to also ensure that my fellow board members are working to make our region as strong as possible within their realms of expertise. I am qualified for regional Godol because I have seen the requirements for an efficient board. From starting as the Moreh of CRS BBYO, which was, in full honesty, not the most productive chapter in the world to serving as chapter Godol of Gotham BBYO, I was able to see the differences between an inefficient board, and a much more efficient one. Additionally, being MHR’s 2021 Spring Convention coordinator showed me what working with the region looks like and further strengthened my leadership skills. I know what it takes to be the best board possible, and I am confident I can ensure that we are.
Select one of the Cardinal Principles and explain how you apply this principle in your day-to-day life. How does this principle influence your leadership style?
The Cardinal Principle that I apply most to my day-to-day life is conduct. Whether it is working with my chapter board, working on a collaborative school project, or pretty much any area of my life, one the best things I can do for myself and others is be respectful. When someone is rude, inconsiderate, or overall can’t work well with others, life simply becomes harder for that person. This principle influences my leadership style because it enforces the concept for me that no idea is a bad one. There is no reason to shoot down an idea early on and regardless of board position, everyone’s contributions are needed and valued. Thus exemplifying the Cardinal Principle of conduct as I would work to create a space where everyone, and their ideas, are treated with respect and value.
How will you help build a hard-working, supportive, and fun team consisting of the AZA Regional Board, the BBG Regional Board, and the Regional Staff? How will you help get these different groups to share goals and pull in the same direction all year long?
The best way to bring the AZA board, the BBG board, and regional staff together and become a united group that creates the best version of MHR that we can is through communication. I believe that the best way to achieve common goals is collaboration that goes beyond board roles. No S’gan/S'ganit can create amazing programming without input from the rest of the board, just the same as no Moreh/Morah is able to tackle recruitment and retention alone. It takes everyone to help accomplish the goals set by individuals. Just as important, the act of asking for help when one needs it is beyond crucial. Regional board will be most successful when its members and regional staff work together to accomplish what one person can’t, while also ensuring that each board member is making their individual position as amazing as possible.