Re: funding

[Carol Delton <carold...>]

Rachel--my experience in getting funded for various Jewish educational
experiences over the years is that rarely did it all come from one
place.  Sometimes a BJE or a syagogue has a fund dedicated to certain
types of expenses (like conference fees but not travel or vice versa),
and sometimes they will do matching grants with each other.  A couple of
$50.00 or $75.00 donations from the discretionary funds of rabbis and
cantors who are supportive or your work can also help make up the
difference.

I totally agree with Brian that organizations you work with will
generally support your interest in learning more!  Sometimes it's
helpful to write up a letter to present when you make your request about
how you plan to use what you learn in your community.  You might even
plan a concert or kumzitz event on your return as a thank you to the
community for suppporting you.

I also think that by asking for support for professional education you
are making an important statement about songleaders as professionals in
the Jewish community--who have the same needs for professional support
and respect as others.  We all do this because we love it, but in order
to make our work of the best quality possible, and in order to keep
being able to do it, we need the bread as well as the roses.  

Carol Delton
CarolD (at) PacBell(dot)net