Parting Shot

board members were asked to stay
while he spoke. The speech did not
change the board's decision, said
David Sorkin, JCC executive direc-
tor. (See related story at right.)
"The Center has lots of problems
and always has. That doesn't mean
we have to all agree on all subjects
JCC President at all times. It does mean, though,
SHARON LUCKERMAN
we must stick together," said Hugh Staff Writer
Sharon Hart
Greenberg, past JCC president,
after the tribute to him and his
fter the Jewish
wife, Carolyn. -"The JCC is grounded in the philos-
Community Center of
ophy of the unity of the community."
Metropolitan Detroit
Discussing the coming construction, JCC board
annual meeting June;
member Todd Sachse said work on the sports and fit- 19, the voice selected by the rac-
ness wing will begin in. July and take 1 0 1 2 months.
quet sports players to represent
The new administration offices will move upstairs to
them had a chance to address
make room for the new Weinberg Judaic Enrichment guests as well as current and new
Center, construction of which will begin in 2003 and JCC board members.
include the Ford Center for Exploration and
Eugene Perle, 66, of West
Discovery and the David B. Hermelin ORT
Bloomfield, a retiring Wayne
Resource Center. Also planned is the renewal and
State University professor and a
reopening of the Henry and Delia Meyers Library.
national squash champion, spoke
"Whatever we are doing here, we are doing the
against the planned elimination
best, and of the highest quality," Sachse told the
of all racquet sports at the JCC.
gathering.
"The JCC has produced
Hart introduced West Bloomfield native David
tremendous discord amongst a
Stone, the new assistant executive director. He will
large number of sports enthusi-
be responsible for recreation services (including
asts and health club members,"
sports and recreation, aquatics, in-line hockey and
he said, while other players qui-
the health club), the day camp, and youth and
eted those leaving to be able to
membership services.
hear Perle.
Sorkin noted the contributions of the JCC's
When he asked "his cohorts"
employees, ranging in age from 15 to more than 80.
players and their supporters -- to
"We're one of the biggest job-training institutions in
rise, about 75 people stood.
Oakland County," he added. "Many young people
Players say about 200 people use
get their first job experience working at the JCC."
the JCC racquet courts. An addi-
tional show of support came from
100 Jewish Academy of
The Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan
Detroit (JAIVID)
Metropolitan Detroit's 2002-2003 officers
students
and
staff
who had earlier
and board members are: Sharon Hart, presi-
signed
a
petition
protesting
the
dent; Lawrence A. Wolfe, vice president and
end
to
racquet
sports
at
the
JCC.
chairman of the executive committee; Miriam
"Members
of
the
board
are
sup-
Bergman, Hannan Lis; Ken Marblestone,
posed
to
represent
their
con-
Terry J. Nosan, vice presidents; Marc Kahn,
stituency," Perle said. He added
treasurer; Gerald Wolberg, secretary; and
important decisions should ,,
Irwin Alterman, Bill Eisenberg and Todd
involve those affected and who
Sachse, members-at-large.
have expertise in the subject. The

Squash champion Eugene Perle tries in vain to persuade JCC
board members to reconsider decision to close all courts.

A

-

.

❑

DEALER ANNOUNCES*

SUPER SALE

players were informed of the deci-
sion to close the courts nearly five
months after it was made, said
Gerald Wolberg, JCC board secre-
tary. The decision came two
months before construction was
scheduled to begin.
Perle and other players are dis-
tressed the decision was not
based, in their view, on solid
information. "We spent $400,000
on plans, and the plans are done,"
Wolberg said after the meeting.
JCC Executive Director David
Sorkin said it's important to move
quickly because the Center sorely
needs profits from the planned
sports and fitness wing that will
overtake the court space. The
JCC has a mandate from its board

and executive committee and the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit to balance its $10 million
budget.
But Perle and other players
persisted. Perle refuted the claim
made by Sorkin and Hannan Lis,
a JCC board vice president, at
the first of three meetings with
players that squash and racquet-
ball are crying sports. The JCC
position was backed by Steve
Becker, of the New York-based
Jewish Community Centers
Association of North America.
He said JCCs around the coun-
try are closing racquetball courts
and turning them into aerobic
studios.
PARTING SHOT on page 14

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13

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Hannan Lis talks to racquet player Al Rosen o Farmington Hills -before
the JCC annual meeting.

AS

MO.

*39,000 miles, 20e per mile for overa,9e, SS75.00
refundable security deposit, Plus tax, title &
license 51,645 due at delivery. MSRP 538,150.
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6/28

2002

13

