Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel (AJCOP)

Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel (1969-)

The Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel is "an organization of professionals... engaged in areas of fund raising, endowments, budgeting, social planning, financing, administration and coordination of services. Its objectives are to develop and enhance professional practices in Jewish communal work; to maintain and improve standards, practices, scope and public understanding of the field of community organization, as practiced through local federations, national agencies, other organizations, settings, and private practitioners." 1 ProLog is its newsletter.

The National Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel (NAJCOP) was formed in May 1969. In 1972, National was dropped from the title and the organization has been referred to as AJCOP ever since. In the beginning, AJCOP main focus was on personnel standards and practices. Later, its emphasis was on continuing education in regional meetings and professional development institutes at the Conference of Jewish Communal Service.

It is affiliated with the National Conference of Jewish Communal Service and works cooperatively with the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, and members are associated with agencies such as HIAS, UJA, B'nai B'rith, and so forth. Membership is open to any professionally trained or experienced person engaged in community organization work in and for the Jewish community, its organizations and institutions-on a local, regional, or national level. Membership is also open to academicians engaged in the field, Jewish students preparing to enter the field; and retired professionals from Jewish community organizations.

Operating funds come from the payment of membership dues. These funds support the administration of the association, the implementation of the continuing education opportunities, annual and regional meetings, the renewing and recruiting of members, and production of its newsletter. A "Chaver Program" facilitates the support network of seasoned colleagues who lend time and expertise to novice community organization professionals. Retirees play a significant role in AJCOP's leadership, and carried out an Oral History Project in conjunction with the Council of Jewish Federations. 2

From the guide to the Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel (AJCOP), records, undated, 1950-1952, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962-1963, 1965, 1968-1990 (bulk 1968-1990), (American Jewish Historical Society)