A little more detail

As the program approaches (18 days!), I thought I should explain a little more about the organization that is putting this on.  In their own words from their website http://www.netzerolami.org/Eng/Index.asp, "Netzer is the worldwide youth movement of the World Union for Progressive Judaism."  Locally, the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism, the Northern American Reform Judaism movement), has a teen branch called the North American Federation of Temple Youth, or NFTY.  NFTY is a snif, or branch, of Netzer.  The word Netzer is an acronym for Noar Tzioni Reformi, which means Reform Zionist Youth.  It is also a Hebrew word for, "new shoot," or, "new growth."  Olami means, basically, worldwide.  Thus, Netzer Olami is worldwide Reform Zionist Youth.  On their website, the mission statement says, "The world-wide Progressive Zionist Youth Movement offers Zionist and Progressive Jewish informal education and experience to over 6,000 young people from the age of six till their mid-twenties, from Reform Progressive and Liberal communities in over 14 countries."
In short, by participating in NFTY (just about my favorite thing ever), I became a member of Netzer Olami, a worldwide Reform, Zionist youth movement.  When I go on the trip, it will be with other members from not only NFTY, but members of Netzer Olami from all over the world.