Your opportunity to see
where opportunity thrives.

"It shows he is a good listener,"
Siegel said. "He took it upon him-
self to go around the country and
speak to congregations, synagogue
presidents and rabbis, and he took
careful note of what have been long-
term issues. Its refreshing to see
him respond to these concerns as
quickly as he has.
"Obviously, it is going to take
some time to create mechanisms
to properly respond to the needs of
synagogues, but he deserves to be
commended for the good work he has
done in such a short amount of time."
Siegel added that the actions
taken by the United Synagogue
board may have been "historic"
in the way it addressed "an array
of issues and came up with con-
crete changes. United Synagogue is
responding in ways I have not seen
in my 27 years in the rabbinate. But
one should not get confused with
what is taking place at the board
level and the long-range strategic
plan Hayom is working on."
He said a professional would be
hired soon to manage the plan,
which should be completed no later
than next September.

New Strategy
In an interview, Wernick insisted
that his organization has made a
"strategic decision to change the
way we do business and to move in
a more directed way, and to under-
stand that more adaptation will be
needed in the future."
"On Sept. 13, we took steps to start
restoring our value-added tools," he
said. "Synagogues want strengthen-
ing. They want meaningful relation-
ships with our staff and a reinvest-
ment in our youth department. We

want a sharing of best practices
and models of success, and we want
United Synagogue to play a role with
other groups in the movement —
coming together as a movement with
a compelling message of who we are."
Wernick said a proposal to change
the dues structure for synagogues
would be discussed as part of a
long-range strategic plan. Dues are
now based on the number of mem-
bers in each congregation. Under
consideration is a plan to base dues
on the size of the congregation's
budget and financial position.
The board approved the elimi-
nation of the group's 15 regional
offices and the creation instead of
six district offices, each covering a
similar number of congregations.
It also approved shrinking the
board from 180 members to 75 and
creating a national assembly "that is
designed to be more representative
of congregations," Wernick said.
The bylaws must be ratified at the
United Synagogue's biennial conven-
tion in December in Cherry Hill, N.J.
With the United Synagogue's oper-
ating budget coming largely from
congregational dues, Wernick said
this year's fiscal plan has been cut
by $1 million, to $13 million.
He also said that last year's $1.3
million shortfall was covered by
unrestricted reserves, and they will
be tapped again this fiscal year to
cover transformation costs and
another budget shortfall. At the end
of the fiscal year, $3 million in unre-
stricted reserves will remain.
"I'm creating a clear vision of
what United Synagogue should
aspire to," Wernick said, "and the
reorganization is to create the means
to get there." II

Nominations Sought
Do you know someone who has made
a real difference in our community?
The Jewish Community Relations
Council of Metropolitan Detroit seeks
nominations for its 2009 Activist of
the Year.
The award is given to a volunteer
who is passionate about the Detroit
Jewish community and works to
secure the Jewish future by champi-
oning Israel's cause, reaching out to
our diverse neighbors or advocating
on behalf of Jewish interests with
governmental partners. Nominees do
not need any affiliation with Council.

(Council past presidents, current
officers and congregational clergy are
not eligible.)
To nominate a candidate, go to the
Web site www.detroitjcrc.org or call
(248) 642-5393, ext. 9. Nominations
must be received by Friday, Oct. 23.
Board member Sharon Lipton chairs
the award committee. Past recipients
include Zina Kramer (2009), Beverly
Baker (2008), Richard Bernstein
(2007), Hilda R. Gage (2006), Dennis
Bernard (2005), Dulcie Rosenfeld
(2004), David Techner (2003), Elaine
C. Driker (2002) and the late Nate
Shapiro (2001).

Please join us at Cranbrook Schools for an

Open House, where our students themselves
will tell you why q_Crapbrook education is
so challenging and so enriching.
You will also be able to visit with some
of our world-class teachers, get an
up-close look at our facilities, and begin
5
to understand why a Cranbrook
education truly offers opportunity that
you'll find nowhere else, opportunity that
last a lifetime
Info at 2'1.8- 6'15-3610 or wwwschoolacranbrook.edc.1

GRANBROOK
OPEN HOUSE

Oct I I X009

t

r9411, 1 - 5 ?Ml.,

.

RANBRO

SCHOOLS

Challenging and Comprehensive College Preparation

Cranbrook Educational Community admits students and makes its services, activities, and
education programs available to students without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion,
national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status as
required by state or federal law.

1440640

October 1 • 2009 21