What is the Men’s Cultural Alliance?

By Brian Katz and Michael Sobol

The Men’s Cultural Alliance (MCA) is an affinity group of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, whose purpose is to create friendship and camaraderie among its members by attending and participating in social, intellectual, recreational and athletic activities. There are no solicitations, and there are no fundraising activities.

Beginning its 13th season, MCA has 868 members that participate in the wide variety of activities, ranging from breakfast and luncheon gatherings to sporting events, discussions groups and guest speakers.

All paid members of the MCA are eligible to join any program. It is necessary, however, to sign up for each program. Some events are limited in the number of participants to allow each member the best possible experience. In some cases, a small fee may be charged for the event (i.e. museum tickets or food). Some programs and discussion groups can be attended via Zoom.

We actively seek and welcome new members and encourage their input in organizing new activities and in participating in our exciting programs.

How to join

Contact Ira Kushnir for questions or how to get involved. To join or renew your membership, check out our website. Visit MCANaples.org.

For men ages 18-65, the MCA NextGen Group was formed in 2022 to provide activities, events and networking opportunities to younger MCA members. The group’s social and sports activities include lunches and dinners (including some that are jointly held with WCA NextGen), golf, tennis, biking, swamp buggy races, comedy club outings and many others. Please contact Max Deifik at maxdeifik@ yahoo.com for more information.

For information about becoming a member of MCA or to receive the weekly e-blast, send a note to info@ MCANaples.org.

MCA summer event

Over the summer, there were three sessions in which groups toured the Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center. Simulation is an experiential learning process for adult learners through active participation and subsequent review and reflection. From basic medical problems to critical life-threatening situations, the multi-disciplinary Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center provides medical personnel and first responders with procedural skills, scenario-based training, opportunities for improved teamwork and communication as well as interprofessional and intraprofessional training. The Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center opened in October 2023.

Medical simulation training is comparable to flight simulation training used in the airline industry — where real-life issues and scenarios can be practiced in a controlled environment before a pilot ever gets the plane off the ground. Simulation training results in 90% retention of learning material. That compares to 10%-40% retention with traditional classroom lectures and clinical observation.

The state-of-the-art, high-tech facility boasts over 12,000 square feet of training and meeting space that is offered to NCH staff and community members. They also have some of the most up-todate, high fidelity training equipment for the clinical staff to include high fidelity adult and child mannequins, a virtual dissection table, heart ultrasound equipment, body ultrasound mannequins with pathologies, an endoscopy trainer, and multiple different task trainers. A great example the MCA members saw was a computerized birthing mannequin in an obstetrical suite. The mannequin is very realistic and can bleed up to eight quarts of blood. Students, EMTs and other first responders can train on delivering babies that cannot wait to get to the hospital. MCA members also saw a group of nursing students from Florida Gulf Coast University practicing placing IV lines in mannequins.

These simulations also require “actors.”

The Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center has a need for volunteer actors: no experience needed. Contact Tesa-Ann Smith at (239) 624-1250 to learn more about being a volunteer.

New season about to get underway

Start the season with a weekend of events: Join us for the Fall Dance Saturday night, Nov. 9, followed by a Welcome Back BBQ and Tailgate Party featuring food, games, prizes and NFL football on Sunday, Nov. 10.

Review the MCA website and weekly e-blasts for further information on these events — and all events in the coming season.