I wish to nominate Al and Cindy Fratina for this year’s congregant of the year award. When our prior youth group director, Karen Adams left her position as youth group director, Al and Cindy Fratina stepped up to take on the role as youth group advisors. For the past 6 years they have led our youth in a position that is truly seven days a week and twenty- four hours per day.

 

A former youth, whom was active in the youth group, identified one of their many strengths in one sentence. He said they were passionate about the youth group and getting all of the kids who were eligible to participate in the many youth group programs. Al and Cindy both have full time jobs and a house full of kids similar to most of our congregants, but they are both known for putting the youth group ahead of their other lifetime demands. They are known to be available even when they were not truly available!

 

Recently, Al told me he stays in touch with our youth group students even after they graduate and move on to college. Many of these kids he talks to once a week, because he is still interested in their lives. This includes both their successes and the challenges these students face in college and beyond. Al said he does it because his bond with the kids goes beyond the title of being their advisor. Many of these youth not only consider Al and Cindy as youth group directors and mentors but also as one of their friends!

 

Our youth know that they can share anything with Al and Cindy with an understanding of confidentiality. Our teenagers look to both advisors because they both have a talent for listening and providing wisdom and/or counseling if the situation requires. Al and Cindy are a real testimonial of the statement “going above and beyond their job description” which results in the real meaning of an “open door policy” and what it can develop into.

 

Al and Cindy are not content just working with the students who want to be involved in the youth group. They make repeated attempts to invite those few students, who are not involved and rarely attend events, to consider various activities throughout the year. As you would expect they are both recognized by their advisor peers throughout the Texas Oklahoma region as leaders who continue to bring one of the largest number of youth to every convention!

 

What I also find so refreshing in a world where many of our congregants would rather complain about something as opposed to volunteer in order to solve a problem, is how Al and Cindy handle adversity head on. One rarely hears Al and Cindy complain about obstacles. Instead they find a way to overcome the obstacle standing in their way in order to ensure an outcome of completing their mission. 

 

 

In addition to being: passionate, committed, dedicated, and available, another word that many use to describe our advisors is enthusiastic. A smile on Al and Cindy’s faces after another successful year of Camp Impact comes to an end is one way their enthusiasm is portrayed. Some think they are smiling because an exhausting week at Camp Impact is over. Others think those smiles are because Al and Cindy know they were able to lead our youth group counselors in providing everlasting impressions for ninety disadvantaged children with one week of fun, friendship and hope. Yet, other parents and many camp counselors both have come to recognize these smiles are the result of knowing how proud Al and Cindy are of the youth of our congregation. They are proud to see the maturation process their counselors and our kids develop, as they grow and mature into young Jewish adults providing so much Sedakah and Tikkun Olam throughout each and every year at camp! 

 

 

Submitted by: Adam, Rebecca, Wanda, and Larry Brunell

 

Date Submitted: June 9, 2007

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