JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Special to The Jewish News
.
ll around Dr. Gary
Wellman lay the injured,
battered and bruised victims
of the JCC MaccabiGames.
To his right was a Philadelphia •
sprinter with a possible sprain, to his
left a relay anchor from Great Britain
with a nasty scrape on his elbow. Over
his shoulder brooded a coach from
Great Britain. And more injuries were
on the way to the tent in the middle
of the track and held events at
Anderson Middle School in Berkley. •
So, why did this West Bloomfield
family practitioner associated with
Detroit's St. John Hospital choose to
spend his day off in this manner? "I
am a runner myself," Weltman said,
adding that he has volunteered for sev-
eral Jewish community- events in the
past. "Since this is the first time I have
done anything with the games, I
wanted to contribute in the best possi-
ble way. This is a natural fit for my
interests and my professional abilities."
Weltman was one of hundreds of
volunteers who took time off from
work last week or spent what would
otherwise be leisure time laboring at
the games' sites. With competition at
28 venues for 17 sports and activities,
people power was needed to make sure
events were timed, scores were kept
and posted, official calls were made,
security didn't lapse, medical
attention was available, awards
were properly given, refreshments
were available for coaches and
players, and equipment was avail-
able.
For the five days of competi-
tion, the 400 volunteers at the
competitions logged more than
10,000 hours, said Ari Berris,
associate director of the games.
A volunteer herself, Sandi
Matz, co-chair of swimming
events, said she and co-chair Dr.
Howard Schwartz would not
have been able to handle hundreds of
swim heats last week without the help
of their 75 volunteers.
"People were great. They did any-
thing and everything they could to
make sure this was a success," said
Matz.
Some volunteered because their
children were competing or had com-
peted in the past, some had a little
free time and others just wanted to see
their friends.
Ron Stoffer of Oak Park played
bouncer/security guard at the Jimmy
A
Big Givers
Volunteers at the sports events pitched
in to make the games run smoothly.
9:
-
Prentis Morris JCC for five days dur-
ing the basketball competition. A
physical education instructor with the
Detroit Public Schools, Stoffer spent
his last week of summer vacation vol-
unteering for Maccabi.
"I had been hearing about the
Above: Erica
Solway, a former
Maccabi athlete,
stayed in shape
running the track
times to the scor-
ing table.
Right: Natalie
Epstein spent four
cl ays helping out at
the track meet.
games for weeks but I wanted to make
sure that I could help out here because
it is closer to my home," Stoffer said,
adding that the job was relatively easy
as he didn't have to throw anyone out.
"The kids were very good and the par-
ents only wanted to know where they
could go and eat."
Lou Milgrom, on the other hand,
was initially lured to the games by his
friend and Maccabi organizer, Jay
Robinson. When Robinson died in
April, Milgrom could have easily
bowed out; instead, he signed up for
more volunteer slots.
"Because of his passing, I felt more
of a commitment to the games. In a
way, I am helping to continue his
legacy," Milgrom said.
Volunteers also came from all ages
and walks of life. Russian immigrants
and American socialites kept score side
by side while retired professionals
labored with teenagers to make sure
games ran smoothly.
Franklin resident Milgrom, 77,
spent his four days handing time
sheets and scores to former Maccabi
athlete Erica Solway, 17, of
Birmingham, who then sprinted up
the Anderson grandstand steps to the
scorer's table.
"I am giving back," said Solway,
who was too old for Maccabi competi-
tion this year. "Besides, I made a lot of
friends who are competing here today
and I wanted to spend some time with
them." Some volunteers truly went the
distance, becoming so enmeshed in -
the activities that they left their homes
before the sun rose and returned
shortly before it set day after day.
Natalie Epstein of Farmington Hills
took time out from volunteer work at
Providence Hospital and the Detroit
Institute of the Arts to keep score at
track and field events. For four days,
she arrived at 8:30 a.m. to set up her
work area. For five hours each day, she
made sure the athletes' times were
recorded and kept track of who got
which medal.
After closing shop around 1:30
p.m., she raced to the Maccabi hous-
ing office where she ironed out hous-
ing snafus until as late as 7:30 p.m.
"I wanted to be anywhere that they
needed me to be," said Epstein who
returned to her regular volunteer posi-
tions this week. "The more people you
have involved in helping with the
games, the more smoothly the games
run."
Others took precious vacation days
to help the kids. Dr. Schwartz, along
with countless others, took the entire
week off to chair events or simply help
out.
Said Matz, "The announcer, my co-
chair and nearly everyone who helped
with swimming took either the whole
week off of at least some days." And
the athletes seemed grateful.
Eric Brumberg, 14, a swimmer
with the South Jersey team, said he
owes part of his success to the volun-
teers who slaved away at the
Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School
natatorium. After collecting silver
medals in three events and a bronze in
one, the second-year Maccabi athlete
said he appreciated the efforts of the
volunteers.
"I think it is great that they are will-
ing to give their own time to help the
athletes. There wouldn't be a games
without them," Brumberg said. ❑
8/28
1998
Detroit Jewish News
33