Community
GREAT OUTDOORS from page 29
they like," he said. "We get people
together in a friendly, stress-free
environment where they don't feel
pressure or have loud music."
The nonprofit group, which organ-
izes outdoor activities and cultural
events for individuals 21 and older.
Annual dues are $25 for individuals,
$35 for couples. Members participate
in local events organized by the
chapter's board of directors and also
take part in events jointly sponsored
with other chapters. A national event
takes place over Labor Day weekend.
"Our intent is just to have a good
time away from it all," he said.
"People have stress on the job and at
home — here people smile a lot and
people laugh."
While many people come seeking
new friends, he said, some also come
in search of romance.
"It's about making friends you can
travel with, go and see movies with,"
he said. "Some people come to find
spouses — we say that should be a
bonus, not the goal."
Michigan Mosaic Club President
Neri Mazur-Taubes, an Oak Park res-
ident and co-founder of the chapter,
has been involved in other Mosaic
Club chapters and said she enjoys the
instant connection she feels among
members and the positive feedback
the program has received.
As chapter president, she said she
often receives e-mails from members
talking about connections they've
made with others at club events and
the comfortable atmosphere that
made them want to participate when
they might have otherwise stayed
home.
She said people often first come to
events out of curiosity because they
may be interested in the outdoors or
have never heard of the club, but
that they leave with new friends and
attend more events because of the
people they meet and because they
find an atmosphere they like.
"That's how Mosaic is, people have
to experience it to believe it," she
said. "They come and it's friendly
and it's cordial and you feel in an
instant that you're home. You don't
have to pretend to be somebody else,
you can be yourself, and it's just a
natural way people interact and react
with each other."
❑
For more information on the
Mosaic Outdoor Club of
Michigan, go to its Web site:
wwvv.mosaics.org/michigan/
"7. , ,%="
8/ 1
2003
30
SDT Names New Officers
The Sigma Delta Tau Southeast Michigan Alumnae Chapter elected new
officers for the 2003-2004 programming year. They are: president, Ida
Warshay; vice presidents, Diane Caskey, Jean Gilbert, Diane Lonnerstater,
Judie Dubin; secretary, Jennifer Teper; treasurer, Sharon Daitch.
On Sunday, Aug. 17, the group will have its kickoff event, a family pic-
nic at Bloomer Park in West Bloomfield from noon to 4 p.m. Area alum-
nae and their families are encouraged to attend.
For information about the event, call Diane Lonnerstater, (248) 624-
1384, or Diane Caskey, (248) 363-3873.
For chapter information, call Ida Warshay, (248) 968-4354.
The new SDT offzcers: Diane Caskey Jean Gilbert, Diane
Lonnerstater, Ida Warshay, Judie Dubin, Jennifer Teper, Sharon Daitch.
James Grey Leads Genealogical Society
At the recent annual meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of
Michigan (GS), James D. Grey was installed as president. He also serves
as the Speakers Bureau chair for the society. Grey is a life member of the
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, JGS and the Elk Rapids Area
Historical Society.
In recognition of his community involvement, Grey has been honored
by the Jewish War Veterans as a recipient of its Brotherhood Award; and
he was honored as Man of the Year by the Temple Israel Brotherhood.
Grey has created a consulting firm called Genetrex Inc., which provides
compilation services
of genealogy, and
family history for
others.
JGS member elect-
ed to serve as board
members are Pam
Gordon, Steven
Gold, Boomi
Silverman, vice presi-
dents; Esther
Tschirhart, Barbara
Wiener, secretaries;
Irwin Alpern, treasur-
er; Gayle Saini,
librarian; Leah Bisel,
Marc Manson, JGS past president, hands over the newsletter editor.
gavel to the newly elected president, James D. Grey
Appelman Named
Education Officer
Harlene Appelman has
been named chief Jewish
education officer for
Detroit Jewry, leading the
Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's
Alliance for Jewish
Education.
Appelman
"The title is new and
signals the bold direction
and creative steps Federation is taking to
deepen its commitment to Jewish educa-
tion," said Arthur M. Horwitz, who co-
chairs Federation's Alliance along with
Peter Alter and Penny Blumenstein.
"Harlene clearly has the experience and
vision to lead the charge towards our next
level of achievement," said Horwitz, who is
also publisher of the Detroit Jewish News
and president of its parent corporation,
Jewish Renaissance Media.
Appelman heads a new Federation
department formed by a partnership
between Federation's Affiance and the for-
mer Agency for Jewish Education. The
newly constituted Alliance serves as a think
tank, staging ground and service provider
for Jewish education and identity forma-
non, partnering with congregations and
their educators and rabbis, the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit and the Fresh Air Society.
Appelman sees the change as a signifi-
cant opportunity to integrate formal and
informal education into one seamless com-
munity endeavor. "Our dream is to open
doors," she said, "so that we may create
more knowledgeable individuals and fami-
lies committed to a lifetime of Jewish
learning."
In eight years of service to Federation
and more than 20 years working in the
community, Appelman has created and
implemented JEFF (Jewish Experiences for
Families) and championed an array of out-
reach and education programs.
As director of Federation's Alliance, she
has played a key role in numerous educa-
tional initiatives, including JEEEP (Jewish
Early Education Enhancement Project),
TEAM (Teacher Education Advancement
Model), Synagogue 2000, the Grand
Resort Family Camp and the Florence
Melton Adult Mini-School of
Metropolitan Detroit.
She has been a partner in the planning
and stewardship of the educational pro-
grams that have grown out of Federation's
Millennium Campaign, as well as the
development of Shalom Street, the com-
munity's new address for Jewish discovery,
to open by year's end at the JCC in West
Bloomfield.