Although, as a JCSC fellow, you should strive to spend as much time as you can outside of the building, you will find yourself making Hillel your home in more ways than one!  There are some responsibilities that everyone on the Hillel staff shares and some that are important just for you!

Staff Meetings.

I love staff meetings!  They sometimes can last up to 4 hours, but you always get some free food, and once a semester RDK will take the staff out for a staff meeting lunch!  Currently, The Hillel staff gets together weekly to discuss an upcoming program or holiday.  The department of Jewish Student Life (Margo, Betsy and the JCSC) meet weekly and sometimes at fun places like Austin Java or Barnes and Nobles.  It really helps to be in a different environment than hillel when meeting because there are less distractions. 

Shabbat.

Each week, Hillel has 3 different minyans for services, followed by dinner.  Although most of the staff comes to Shabbat, one person is always responsible for supervising the evening, making sure it runs smoothly, and cleaning up.  There is a Shabbat committee that takes care of setting up the social hall and serving dinner, and there are usually student leaders who greet the students in the lobby before services.  I usually stay in the lobby during the beginning of services to welcome the latecomers and towards the end keep the dinner crowd quiet. In between I try to enjoy the melodies of kabbalat Shabbat.  During dinner, I walk around to as many tables as possible in order to meet the new students and say hi to those I already know.  I try to sit with newcomers or people I dont really know well.  At UT there is a culture of students who only show up regularly on Shabbat but are not involved in Hillel in any other way.  Occasionally they will also bring their Jewish friends and these are the students I am interested in knowing.    Pete comes to clean up the kitchen when dinner is over and RDK and Margo will show you the rest.  Dont feel obligated to stay until the last person leaves, just make sure someone reliable will stick around to lock up.

If you are staffing Shabbat, here are some tips I have learned

-Try to find someone to say Kiddush and lead HaMotzi as people are entering the Social Hall to eat.  The exec cabinet will usually have a point person, and they usually take charge of getting people to sit down and quiet down.

-Shalom Alechem is a good way to quiet people down, get a table to help you out with starting it.

-If there are certain people you would like to sit with, ask them to save you a seat.  They feel special when you request that.

-While going around to say Hi I also request that the people at each table will remember to bring their dishes up to the front or into the Kitchen and throw their table cloth in the trash.  (This makes for a more efficient clean up).

-When you sit at a table, I usually ask the people I have been talking to during dinner to help me clean up a bit.  Most people will gladly help- it is the least they can do for their free meal.  The more people that help the quicker it gets done.  Also, I wouldnt sit with the same people all the time so different people would help each time.

-Have fun with it!  At first Shabbat responsibilities were a little overwhelming, but Shabbat became something that I really enjoyed this year.  It was an opportunity to sit down with people at talk to them for a long period of time.  It was a great way to catch up with students I hadnt seen in a while. 

Being a Member of the Team.

According to the 80/20 rule, a JCSC fellow should spend 80% of your time doing engagement work while 20% of your time will be spent doing regular Hillel work.  This means that sometimes youll have to help with a board mailing or staff an evening Hillel program.  Just know that the staff works together as a team, so if someone needs your help, you might be called in for reinforcement, even if its not technically your responsibility.  On the same token, if you ever need help from another staff member, do not hesitate to ask them!

Tabling.

I love tabling.  It is a great way to scope out the UT student body, and you will always see someone you know on campus!  Oh, the joy if warm weather year round!!

This is an important part of the JCSC fellowship it guarantees that you will spend time out of the building AND that you will meet new students!  You have a dual role with this project: working out a system with empowerment students to help you staff the table, and developing creative ways to meet new students as they walk to/from class.  The West Mall table is used to publicize upcoming events, meet new students, give-away candy and chochkes, have lunch with students, do mini-programs, and just talk to students.

The table has been staffed in different ways over the past couple of years find out what system the students are most receptive to and run with it.  In 2000-2001, the Executive Cabinet each adopted a day and the Shabbat committee and minyan chairs divided up Fridays.  In 2001-2002, the fellows staffed the table Mon, Wed, and Thurs.  Texans for Israel were there on Tuesdays and Shabbat and minyans handed out challah on Fridays.