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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

TAKING THE "J" OUT OF THE JCC

■•■

JHAS Slates
Annual Forum

Jewish Home & Aging Services will
hold its annual meeting 8 a.m. Tuesday,
June 18, at the agency's Fleischman
Residence/Blumberg Plaza in West
Bloomfield.
Douglas Bloom will deliver greetings
from the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit. Rabbi Lee
Buckman, head of the Jewish Academy
of Metropolitan Detroit, will speak on
"Intergenerational Programming."
The 2002 Award of Excellence will be
presented to Marvin and Betty Danto,
honoring their commitment and sup-
port of programs and services that pro-
vide a con-
tinuum of
care for
older adults
on the
Eugene and
Marcia
Applebaum
Marvin and Betty Danto
Jewish
Community
Campus in West Bloomfield.
Geri Margolis, past president, auxiliary
for Jewish Home & Aging Services, will
install the slate of incoming 2002-2003
JHAS officers and board members.
The slate is comprised of Mitchell A.
Kantor, president; Leo Eisenberg, first
vice president; Dan Greenberg, second
vice president; Mark Kowalsky, secretary;
and Carol Dawes, treasurer.
Board members are Michael Banks,
Pearlena Bodzin, Anne Castiglione,
Marvin Fleischman, Barbara Frankel,
Dr. Michael Freedland, David Gans, Dr.
Dan Guyer, Zina Kramer, Irving Laker,
Dr. Ruth Lerman, Evelyn Levine, Geri
Margolis, Judge Susan Moiseev, Hannah
Moss, Michael B. Perlman, Gary Ran,
Rona Rones, Dr. Michael Rontal, Verne
Royal, Jack Schon, Cindy Schwartz, Joel
Smith, Dr. Louis Soverinsky and
Howard Tapper.
Carol Rosenberg, associate director,
will install the officers and trustees of the
JHAS Foundation: Hannah Moss, presi-
dent; Gregg Orley, vice president;
Pearlena Bodzin, secretary; and Kenneth
Goss, treasurer.
Trustees are Herbert Aronsson, Dr.
Joseph Berke, Barbara Bockoff, Paul
Borman, Daniel Clark, Leo Eisenberg,
Marvin Fleischman, Sharon Fleischman,
Barbara Frankel, Dr. Dan Guyer, Jerald
Kaufman, Robert Kraft, David M.
Miro, Robert Naftaly, Rona Rones, Jack
Schon, Janice B. Shatzman, Larry
Slutsky, Robert Steinberg and Gerald
Stollman.

When you made donations to the Jewish Federation or The Jewish Community Center for renovations
to the Maple/Drake JCC, did you know how your money would be spent? The Federation and the JCC
Board of Directors apparently intend to turn our Jewish Community Center into a public community
center, the new mission of which will be to create profits. Your donations will be used to destroy the
racquetball and squash courts. In place of the courts, the JCC intends to build an extra gymnasium pri-
marily for outside rental, a new fitness center to compete with private clubs, and to lease the current fit-
ness center to Beaumont Hospital.

The remodeling plans have been in the works for about 3 years, but have always been cloaked in secrecy
from the members. We were led to believe however that some racquetball and squash courts would
remain; the question was, how many. It was only after rumors began to fly in late April that David
Sorkin, Executive Director of the JCC, agreed to hold meetings with the players. At these meetings we
learned that we had been disenfranchised. Mr. Sorkin told us that they definitely would eliminate all
courts and that the decision was final. He explained the board believed racquet sports to be "dying".
We mentioned the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association 2002 survey which stated that racquetball
is growing in popularity and is popular among all age groups, with an average age of 34.9. We demon-
strated that neither squash nor racquetball are "dying". Mr. Sorkin remained steadfast. The board con-
sidered the sports less profitable than other activities and therefore the courts, and those of us who had
formed a community of players, were expendable.

By eliminating the courts, it is estimated that over 200 people will be forced out of the JCC. We love
the JCC; it has become an important part of our lives. We told Mr. Sorkin that we have formed a corn-
munity of players, a camaraderie, and that racquetball and squash are an important part of our lives.
Many of us have been playing together for 25 years or more. None of that seems to matter. Mr. Sorkin
actually suggested that the affected members and their families look for other places to play racquet
sports, such as the YMCA. No one in the Jewish community should have to look to the Young Men's
Christian Association to meet his/her needs. The JCC should not act to push out its active, long-stand-
ing members. Isn't it ironic that we donate to a Jewish organization that gets rid of Jewish members to
make room for the non-Jewish public?

The JCC should continue to be a focal point for Jewish social, cultural and athletic activities. It should
provide for ALL of its members, young and old alike.

To finally have our voices heard, we are asking
all of the Jewish community to join us at
the JCC Board of Directors
open annual meeting on
Wednesday, June 19, 7:00p.m.
at the Maple/Drake JCC

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

The Racquetball and Squash Community at the JCC.

4•Neliiegioomft4iiii00"041111.0"6411110"411.100"

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2002

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