This recap was republished from a B’nai B’rith Denver newsletter, written by B’nai B’rith President Bill Berger
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B’nai B’rith’s 20th Annual Leadville Cemetery Clean-up weekend was held June 24-26 – and I call it a huge success!

We’ve posted pictures of the event on our Facebook page. You don’t need to be on Facebook, just click here to view the photos.

If you are on Facebook, please help us out by tagging yourself and your friends in the photos. You can LIKE the B’nai B’rith International Facebook page by clicking here.

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend:

• Nearly 100 volunteers showed up at the cemetery on Sunday, painting the fence, removing slash, cleaning up grave sites, raking, mowing, cooking food, and doing general clean-up.
• Every volunteer received a commemorative 20th Anniversary tee shirt (also offered to our donors).
• We were able to feed all of our volunteers very well — and a lot of food was also donated to Leadville’s St. George Episcopal Church, across the street from Temple Israel, to feed the less fortunate.
• More than 50 people attended Saturday morning services at the restored Temple Israel, and the oneg following.
• Approximately two dozen participated in the  potluck and havdallah at our Printer Boy campsite at Turquoise Lake.  Most camped in tents or campers; others stayed in Leadville hotels.  (Nine people also camped Friday night.)

Besides B’nai B’rith, organizations represented included:

• Beth Israel Congregation (Greeley)
• B’nai Chaim (Morrison)
• B’nai Chavurah (Denver)
• B’nai Vail
• Congregation Beth Evergreen
• Hebrew Education Alliance (Denver)
• Synagogue of the Summit

Recognition for making the weekend a success:

• Bill Korn, Temple Israel Foundation – organizing and taking care of all arrangements at the cemetery and at Temple Israel.
• Rabbi Sara Gilbert, Beth Israel Congregation (Greeley) – officiating shabbat services, and assisting at Sunday’s gravesite memorial service.
• Alice Forshner – reading from the torah on shabbat, and generally helping organize throughout the past year (including arranging for Bill Korn’s presentations with many synagogues).
• Ron Lev/Katie – organizing the Saturday campsite potluck and camper sign-up.
• Rabbi Joel Newman, B’nai Vail – officiating the Sunday gravesite memorial service.
• Cantor Michelle Cohn Levy, B’nai Vail – assisting at the Sunday gravesite memorial service.
• Cantor Kim Harris, B’nai Chaim (Morrison) – assisting at the Sunday gravesite memorial service.
• CJ Tenner – bringing coffee and bagels to the cemetery for volunteers’ breakfast.
• Rob Philippe – preparing/serving lunch at the cemetery on Sunday.
• Marty Walbaum – preparing/serving lunch at the cemetery on Sunday.
• Sue Glairon – preparing/serving lunch at the cemetery on Sunday.
• Susan Dean – preparing/serving lunch at the cemetery on Sunday.
• Jerry Batisch – shlepping drinks up to Leadville

Special recognition – Representing those who starting this project 20 years ago!

• Bill Korn
• Alice Forshner / Mike Mayashiba
• Jonathan Birnbaum
• And most especially, Ed Koplin

Representing our B’nai B’rith board of directors:

• Bill Berger
• Marvin / Pat Dworkin
• Ed Koplin
• Joel Weissman

Many thanks to everyone who made this year’s project a success – and looking forward to our 21st annual event next year – again, the last full weekend of June (June 23-25, 2017)!

Join B’nai B’rith Denver and YLN for a weekend in Leadville Colorado. We will be camping on Turquoise Lake, celebrating Shabbat at Temple Israel, maintaining the historic Leadville Cemetery and celebrating throughout the weekend. Come for the cemetery cleanup or the entire weekend. All are welcome!

The weekend will offer:

• Camping on Friday and Saturday nights at Turquoise Lake for those who want to enjoy the great Colorado outdoors
• Potluck dinners at the campground
• Saturday morning Shabbat service at the restored Temple Israel, followed by an oneg
•  A Saturday evening meal to the less fortunate at St. George Episcopal Church
• Sunday cleanup at the Leadville Jewish Cemetery, with complimentary breakfast and lunch for all volunteers
• Other activities organized by B’nai B’rith’s Young Leadership Network

The town of Leadville will also be hosting its BBQ and Brews Festival the same weekend, for additional activities and entertainment.

We hope to make this year a special celebration in recognition of 20 years of performing this mitzvah.

For more information and to sign up for camping, carpooling, potluck, and more, visit our 2016 Leadville Cemetery Cleanup web page.

For volunteer opportunities (and we always need volunteers!) please contact the B’nai B’rith office Admin@BnaiBrithDenver.org (303-393-7358).