Shana Tova U'Metuka!

In the midst of all of the preparations for the High Holiday season, I am always grateful that I chose to become a cantor so many years ago. What an important role we all play on behalf of our People and the larger community. We are extremely blessed.

At the American Conference of Cantors, we are also gearing up for an exciting new year, chock full of support for our members, new programming opportunities and exciting communications initiatives.

On the new initiatives front, Y'did Nefesh, the new initiative from the ACC Internal Membership Committee, will strive to create closer and more meaningful connections between our organization and the members who have made it the community it is today.
Projects will include:

• The ACC Warmline - A 24/7 Helpline for all ACC Members,
• "Y'did Nefesh" programs created by region, demographic, interests and designed for the needs of our membership and Individual Outreach Initiatives.

Meanwhile, our new professional development coordinator is working closely with our CCPD committee and board members to enhance current opportunities while also strengthening partnerships with other URJ affiliated organizations and beyond.

On the communications front, in addition to utilizing our new and improved website, we will be working hard to increase the number of blogs and opinion pieces written by our members so that the ACC assumes our rightful place at the communal Jewish table. I got the conversation going with my recent blog in the Times of Israel.  (Stay tuned for our upcoming opinion piece that will run in JTA.)

But the whole point is that we want to hear from you!

If you have an article you've written for your congregation's newsletter that would speak to a larger audience and you'd like to re-purpose it, please let us know. We'll help find it a home somewhere on our world wide web! And if you have ideas for a blog or a column that connect to the cantorate, Jewish life and music, but you don't have the time or inclination to write it, we will help you! Get in touch and our communications manager will help write something on point and work to get it placed.

Finally, since our field is music, we will also be focusing on sharing and promoting videos both made by our members and also featuring recorded Jewish music. The short, sweet personal videos will give members the chance to share a song, tune or best practice with the larger ACC community. Details and more coming soon.

In the coming days may all of our voices reach up to the stars in the sky and may the still small voice within each of us permeate each and every congregant as we intone the powerful and beautiful music and words of our people.

Stephanie, Breanna and Micah join me in wishing each of you a sweet and joyous New Year. May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Shana Tova U'metuka,

Cantor Steven Weiss
President, American Conference of Cantors