Derby 'Just Ducky'
Hadassah
In Jerusalem
AL H
er two years of planning,
adassah is not backing out
of holding its 87th convention in
Jerusalem. More than 550 dele-
gates from the United States and
200 from Israel will gather there
three years ago. While on Hadassah's 10-day young leader-
SHARON LUCKERMAN
Aug. 5-9. It'll be the largest con-
ship mission, she met another Hadassah member selling the
StaffWriter
vention in Israel this year.
plastic ducks on Masada. They became fast friends and
"When in Israel, we like to
Simko decided to try the project in Detroit.
ressed in pastel bib overalls, with one of her
show off our projects," says vice
But implementing the derby was "an uphill battle," says
three tattoos visible, Randi Simko, 37, of
chair of the convention Annette
Simko, who is co-chair of the Ruach Group, local Hadassah's
Farmington Hills, is not the typical old-guard
Meskin of West Bloomfield.
youngest group, with her sister Cindy Atler, 34, of Farmington
Hadassah woman. She does, however, symbolize
Hadassah has a lot to crow
Hills.
the new blood in the organization.
about as the second-largest
"I jumped in before understanding the enormity of the
Last year, in between managing her husband Sam's
employer in Jerusalem, after the
project, she says.
plumbing business and caring for their blended family of
government.
three children, Simko organized 100 volunteers for
The delegates will visit
HADASSAH on page 19
Detroit's Ducky Derby, a Hadassah-sponsored event that
Hadassah hospitals (on Mt.
attracted 750 people to Kensington MetroPark.
Scopus and EM Karem) that treat
The event raised $10,000 for pediatric oncology
the Arab and the Jewish COIT111111-
research in this country and at Hadassah's hos-
nines.
pitals in Jerusalem.
The members also will visit the
Next week, Hadassah will present Simko with
Hadassah College of Technology
the Judith Epstein Memorial Award at its
and Hadassah's Career Counseling
national convention in Jerusalem. A trophy also
Institute.
will be presented to Simko in Detroit this
Dignitaries, including Prime
October at Hadassah's opening meeting.
Minister Ariel Sharon and
"It's a big, prestigious award for younger
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert,
women," says Elaine Sturman, president of the
will greet the Hadassah members.
Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah. "There
But first on their agenda,
are many nominations from around the country
Hadassah will hold a morning
and only one person is chosen."
¬ mitzvah ceremony for
It's the only award Hadassah is presenting at
American and Israeli women
this year's convention.
who've studied for it over the past
Paula Jarnicki, chair of Hadassah's National
year. The service, Meskin says, will
Youth Leaders Advisory Council, the group that
overlook the Old City
selected Simko, says she was a unanimous
The delegates also plan to do
choice.
their "Legacy for Life Walk" for
Though the derby is not an original idea,
awareness of organ and tissue
Jarnicki says, Simko made it work for Detroit
donation. The walk down Jaffe
by "reactivating young women marginally
Road to Safra Square "may or may
involved" in the planning and implementation
not happen," Meskin says. "We
stages. Simko's event also promoted Hadassah to
won't know till the last minute if
the community and recruited more than 25
it's safe or not."
new members.
The convention ends with a
This year, the Ducky Derby will take place
light and fireworks display at the
Aug. 26 at Kensington MetroPark near Milford.
amphitheater on Mt. Scopus
Free festivities before the race include face
which, like all the events, will
painting, carnival games, and a magician.
reflect the convention's theme,
In preparation for the derby, volunteers sell
"Dwelling Together in Unity."
"adoption papers" for a single duck ($5) or up
"Most important about this
to a "flock" of ducks (30 for $100). The day of
convention is supporting Israel,"
the race, families come to watch a big truck
says Randi Simko, one of Detroit's
dump all the plastic fowl into the lake. Those
seven delegates and winner of
whose ducks are corralled first in a distant metal
Hadassah's Judith Epstein
ring are the winners. Prizes include a variety of
Memorial Award for young leader-
goods and services donated by local merchants
ship. "I feel Americans are desert-
as well as a Mexican vacation and a chance to
#A1 ing Israel, and not going sends a
win a million dollars.
bad message ... There are ways to
go and be safe."
"This is where we belong," says
The Winner Is
Randi Simko with award-winning ducks. "Hadassah is my passion; it's
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Meskin.Li
Simko first heard about the Ducky Derby in Israel like my career;" she says.
Randi Simko, winner of a national award for Detroit's Ducky Derby,
represents a new wave of younger membership.
D
.
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