Metro

Public Welcome

■ Complete Vehicle Service
■ Wheel & Tire Service & Sales
■ 4-Wheel Factory Laser Alignments
■ High Performance Tuning
▪ Vehicle Sales & Consignment
▪ Auto Detailing

JCCouncil approves board meeting
guest policy.

Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer

into the meeting during the
announcements section at the begin-
ning of the meeting, then asked to
n an effort to be more responsive
leave.
to the community it serves, the
Another round of angry letters
Jewish Community Council of
appeared in the Jewish News, prompt-
Metropolitan Detroit approved a for-
ing action by the board.
mal policy on Dec. 1 for guests who
"When Council President Wendy
want to sit in on Council board meet-
Wagenheim established a committee
ings.
to look at this issue, they met three
"All members of the
times, going over differ-
media and the Jewish
ent policies, and the
community are invited to
board discussed it
attend, as guests, for the
twiCe," said Allan Gale,
announcements, reports
Council associate direc-
and public comment sec-
tor. "There was a lot of
tions of board meetings
discussion, and we came
of the Jewish Community
to a consensus.
Council;' the policy states.
"It was a recognition
"The reports section
by the board that we
includes the president's
needed to open our
report, the executive
meetings to some
director's report and any
Pearlena B odzin
degree he said. "Where
committee reports."
it will lead in the future
Guests must notify the
— whether it will lead
Council no later than noon the day of
to further opening or some pulling
the meeting, and no recording or pho- back — remains to be seen."
tographic equipment is allowed.
.Council board member Pearlina
The policy was precipitated by an •
Bodzin said the guest policy was
incident involving Council's former
• needed. The Council will close its
executive director, David Gad-Harf, in
doors after the public comment sec-
his last public appearance before tak-
tion if a policy or strategy session is
ing a job in New York last summer.
needed.
On June 10, he shared the podium
"The Council is very open; we don't
on the steps of the Islamic Center of
have any secrets to hide, but there are
America in Dearborn, joining Imam
issues that have to be discussed before
Hassan Qazwini in condemning
public knowledge comes about:' said
instances of alleged desecration of the Bodzin of Southfield. "A lot of times
Koran by U.S. military personnel.
it's stressful, it takes a lot of back-and-
According to press reports, the imam
forth, putting our heads together and
over the years has urged the United
thinking the items on the agenda
States to cut its support for Israel and
through.
is supportive of Hezbollah, which is on
"Because the Council is becoming
the U.S. list of terrorist organizations.
more and more familiar in the corn-
A story about the rally appeared on
munity through the media, we needed
the front page of the Detroit Free Press to have a guest policy in place she
the following day, surprising council
said. "We love guests to come, and we
board members who were unaware of love the community to know because
Gad-Harf's involvement at the rally.
we are representatives of the commu-
Because the Council's next meeting
nity."
wasn't scheduled until the fall, board
The Council board will next meet
members and other members of the
7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the
community voiced their opinions on
Max M. Fisher Federation Building in
the matter in the Jewish News.
Bloomfield Township. Copies of the
Once the bOard met again in
visitor guidelines will be made avail-
September, non-members who wanted able at the door.
to voice their opinion were allowed
Call (248) 642-5393 to attend. ❑

I

The Path to Wellness Leads to
Dr. Robert Levine, MD

Board

Certified

Complimentary &
Alternative Medicine

(248) 646-8600

www.naturalandholistic.corn

1055820

ir--*• ■ ,,,•Budget Generators

Home & Commercial Generator Systems

Back Up Sump Pump Systems

Power Problems — Outages?

Never Lose Flower Again!

Call For
Your FREE
Estimate

Mike Hovey 248.722.5090

'3995

Installed I Permits Additional

Repairs

Oil Changes

1029420

36

December 15 2005

JIT