By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharon@tjpnews.com

Mazal Tov to Jaynie Schultz, who has been elected to the board of directors of American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU).
“On behalf of the entire AABGU board, I would like to welcome Jaynie Schultz,” said AABGU President Lloyd Goldman. “Jaynie first became involved with AABGU through our Zin Fellows program designed to create a community of ‘next generation leaders’ committed to furthering David Ben-Gurion’s vision for Israel’s Negev region. She is a passionate advocate for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), and will help advance our fundraising priorities.”
Schultz is founder of Retreat Central, which books affordable retreats for groups. Prior to that, she was founder and director of sales and marketing at Garrett Creek Ranch, a Texas conference center. She and the entire Schultz family have been passionately involved members of the Jewish community of Dallas for decades, with Israel and Jewish education being Jaynie’s top priorities.
Schultz is also a member of AABGU’s Greater Texas Region board. Her extensive leadership roles in the Jewish community include the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Moishe House, and the Center for Jewish Education. Additionally, she supports Merchavim, Planned Parenthood and local Jewish day schools.
She received an M.A. in urban studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984 and a B.A. in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. She and her husband, Ron Romaner, have four children.

NCJW anniversary luncheon

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Greater Dallas will celebrate 103 years of women who dared to dream of a better world for women, children and families in Dallas, and fought to safeguard individual rights and freedoms, at its annual birthday luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Magnolia Hotel Park Cities. Liz Murray, author of the best-seller, Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard (2010), will be the keynote speaker.
For over a century, NCJW has devoted itself to making a positive difference in the lives of women, children and families in the community, responding to public needs with innovation and dedication. This grassroots organization has always been driven by the passion of its volunteers and advocates who, inspired by Jewish values, have dared to have a vision of a world where all things are possible.
Keynote speaker Liz Murray’s life is a triumph over adversity and a stunning example of the importance of dreaming big. Liz Murray was born to poor and drug-addicted parents, both of whom would later contract HIV. She became homeless just after she turned 15, when her mother died of AIDS, and her father moved to a homeless shelter. Despite personal adversity, a late high school start, and an unstable home, Murray graduated high school in two years, was accepted into Harvard University and matriculated in the fall of 2000. Murray transformed her life of despair into an inspiring journey of determination, hope, and hard-won success.
“For 103 years, NCJW Greater Dallas has dared to dream of a better world for women, children and families, and we’ve worked to turn our dreams into reality by supporting projects and organizations such as Dallas CASA, NTARuPT, Vickery Meadow Food Pantry and Clothes Closet and Learning Center, to name a few,” said Caren Edelstein, president of NCJW Greater Dallas. “We are thrilled to have Liz Murray, a woman who knows how to dream big, helping us celebrate our hard work at this special birthday event.”
Chairs of the event are Linnie Katz and Staci Mankoff. Tickets are $125 per person. For more information, visit www.ncjwdallas.org.

Beth Torah to welcome gaming expert

Janie Dillard, supervisor of gaming at the 18 Choctaw casinos, will be the guest speaker at the Congregation Beth Torah Men’s Club breakfast on Sunday, Jan. 10. Dillard, a winner of the national Great Women of Gaming Award, will reflect on her two decades in the tribal land gaming industry and offer advice on turning the odds in your favor on that next trip to Oklahoma.
The lox-and-bagel breakfast, which is open to everyone, starts at 9 a.m. and costs $10, $5 for students. Beth Torah is located at 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson, near the crossroads of Central Expressway and Bush Turnpike.
Florence Shapiro to speak at Shearith Israel Sisterhood
Florence Shapiro, former Texas senator and past chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee, will speak to the Shearith Israel Sisterhood at noon Sunday, Jan. 24. As the inaugural speaker in the Sisterhood program Women of Note, she will talk about her personal journey as a Jewish woman in Texas politics.
The Women of Note speaker series will feature Jewish women from various backgrounds such as politics, law, medicine, education, and business as well as art, music, theater, etc. It is planned as an annual event.
Cost for the lunch is $10. For more information, please contact Janet Jerrow, j_jerrow@hotmail.com or Roz Benjet, rbenjet1@cs.com.