The Allied Federation Mens Event last week attracted nearly 1,300 people from the Denver metro area, including 35 men from Boulder who got a free ride…as far as the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Lowry.
We want to make it as user friendly for our Boulder Federation donors to make it to the Mens Event, said AJFs Boulder Community Director Judy Hall, who organizes the so-called party bus from Har HaShem.
Its free of charge. We just want the Boulder folks to feel connected. What better way than to provide free transportation, staff and libations.
This year, Federation provided bottled water and microbrews for the Boulder contingent.
Judy kept it dry last year, commented Paul Korda, but it was rowdy . . . and it was all his fault, he said, pointing a finger at Jerry Pinsker.
Rowdy? Me? Last year I was kvetching because we didnt have beer, said Pinsker.
But somebody brought a bottle of whiskey, Korda reminded him.
And we were passing it around using the cap because we didnt have cups!
Still no cups this year, but the men quickly added that they werent needed to drink bottled beer.
For many, riding the bus from Boulder has considerable impact beyond their donations to Federation.
One of the times we were on this bus we decided to form a mens club because we wanted to see each other more frequently than we do, said rider Allen Hittelman.
For those newer to the community, it was a networking opportunity. Its awesome, remarked Seth Cohn, a CU student. I went last year and its the funnest event of the year for men: a lot of booze, great food, meet all the Jewish guys in the town.
So much fun, in fact, that Seth recruited a couple friends to join him this year. Im expecting a great time and to meet a lot of prominent people in the Jewish community, said Kenny Hendon, and Im expecting great food.
So was Hittelman, who has attended the event for the last eight years. I happen to be a traditional Jewish person who eats only kosher food, so this is my favorite meal of the year, he said laughing.
As for the turnout from Boulder and the greater Denver area, Hall says she was amazed.
The number [of attendees] is pretty close to what we had last year and I dont have to tell you what the economy is doing.
Whether that number will be able to produce the same in donations has yet to be tabulated.
