From the Director: "It's Tuesday it must be When I came to Michigan, one of my goals was to raise the profile of the HMC at every level from local to interna- tional. Working Stephen M. Goldman toward this goal, we have become active members of the American Association of Museums, the Council of American Jewish Museums and the Association of Holocaust Organizations. In January, the AHO held its annual gathering La Memorial de la Shoah in Paris — for the first time outside of the United States. This was the first truly international gathering; I was among colleagues from the United States, Italy, China, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Poland, and Canada. We traveled to the Museum of Jewish Art and History, were wel- comed at both the City Hall of Paris and the Ministry of Defense, and toured the site of Drancy, the main transit camp in France, where a memorial archive is being developed by the SNCF (National Railway Company, whose new CEO recently apologized and acknowledged the company's responsibility for its role in the Holocaust). During the post-con- ference trip, we visited Normandy, the museum at Caen and Omaha Beach. The following week, I took advan- tage of being in Europe and traveled Have You Considered Including the Holocaust Memorial Center in your Will? A planned gift can benefit you and your family as well as the Holocaust Memorial Center. The benefits are multifold. You will know that you are making a lasting impact in our community. You will have the satisfac- tion of contributing to our mission of educating the community about the Holocaust, honoring those who suffered and perished, and celebrating those who took a stand against the forces of evil. Indeed, donors will be recognized during their lifetime as individuals committed to leaving a last- ing legacy of remembrance. In addition to your personal satisfaction, the tax benefits of a planned gift are meaningful, especially if you donate appreciated assets while you are living. Whether your gift becomes effective while you are living or at your death, you can achieve estate tax and income tax savings by contrib- uting to the cause. In some cases, you can even retain a stream of income for yourself or a loved one from the contributed asset, yet still benefit the HMC. To learn more about planned giving opportunities and options, please contact David Moss at 248.553.2400, ext. 23. Judy Fertel Layne Dickinson Wright PLLC Megan Dziekan: Why !Volunteer The decision to volunteer at the Holocaust Memorial Center was easy to make; I wanted to volun- teer there because I have a strong Megan Dziekan interest in World War Two, especially the Holocaust. Studying such a sensitive subject matter gets difficult at times, but it is rewarding to be able educate others in the hope of preventing it from happen- ing again. I was worried because I had so little time to offer; I'm a student at Central Michigan University and I hoped to volunteer a few days a week for three weeks over the winter holiday break. To my relief, the HMC staff was happy 2 n61_0.6.401 e.444Alm, CoOkik ViaL4W4 Pgai_1( CAMP M 12011 no.1 to allow me to volunteer and was ex- tremely flexible with the limited hours I had. My time spent at the Holocaust Center was very enlightening and I enjoyed every moment of it. I spent most of my time in the offices en- tering data and doing other clerical work, but I especially enjoyed my time working alongside Dr. Guy Stern. He introduced me to the Ritchie Boys, a specially trained unit with Military Intelligence during World War II. I appreciated his stories about the details of the camp. My experience at the Center was definitely worth my time and I am certainly looking into returning dur- ing the summer. Volunteering at the HMC has been a very rewarding op- portunity and I am very grateful. to Berlin, where I met the Director of Cultural Affairs to discuss project funding, visited the Associate Director of the Jewish Museum, the Holocaust Memorial, and the new Topography of Terror Museum at the former SS headquarters. In Poland, I visited the Galicia Jewish Museum and later toured the new conservation labs at Auschwitz with Deputy Director Pawel Sawicki, where a staff of eight is working to preserve the thousands of artifacts that stand as testimony to the atroci- ties there. In Vienna, I met with old friends and the new director at the Ji_idisches Museum Wien (Vienna Jewish Museum) to discuss exhibit loans. The director of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg gave me a tour of the fabulous facility and I paid a visit to the German Railroad Museum. In Frankfurt, I met with the staff that had assembled an exhibit for me in Florida and now express a willingness to work with us here in Michigan. In every instance, I was welcomed as a colleague, and I gave each a folio about the HMC and our activities. I look forward to working with these institutions and their esteemed staff and hope to have each of them visit Michigan. We can all be proud that our Holocaust Memorial Center has become a citizen in the international community of Holocaust memorials. President's Message Each year brings new chal- lenges and oppor- tunities for every organization. At the Holocaust Memorial Center, we also adapt in Gary Karp order to lay the foundation for addressing needs and ensuring institutional growth. To that end, the HMC's bylaws were recently updated and continue to maintain the HMC's core values and mission. Ultimately, the success of the HMC is dependent on the unwavering commitment of our loyal and dedi- cated staff, volunteers, docents, Board members and YOU! As we anxiously anticipate the arrival of Spring, the annual time of renewal, new oppor- tunities to become involved in the HMC are blooming. Indeed, there are countless ways to be part of what was just recently described to me by a longtime docent as "the most reward- ing and gratifying thing that I've done in my life outside of my family." We are always evaluating how to take full advantage of our uniquely talented and passionate group of volunteers, docents and staff, who represent the bedrock of our foundation and are the link to the thousands of visitors that pass through our doors. Our nominating committee is in place for the Board term commencing July 1, 2011. We are actively seeking people to be involved who have a pas- sion for "illuminating the past and en- lightening the future." We have much work to do and welcome those who have been involved, those who have wanted to be involved and those who haven't thought about it before and want to make a contribution. Please contact the HMC office if you'd like to be an integral part of shaping the HMC's future. Your dedication will help ensure our continued relevance, viability and sustainability! Oral Histories: "The Holocaust Memorial Center honors as Survivors any persons, Jewish or non-Jewish, who were displaced, persecuted, or discriminated against due to the racial, religious, ethnic, social, and political policies of the Nazis and their collaborators between 1933 and 1945. This definition includes, among others, people who were refugees or were in hiding." If you or a member of your family could be defined as a Survivor, we invite you to arrange an appointment for a videotaping. There is no charge and appointments are arranged at mutually convenient times and dates. Trained interviewers will make the process as comfortable as possible and each person interviewed will receive a complimentary copy of the video. We urge our members and readers to encourage those eligible for our Oral History Program to preserve their legacy for future generations by calling Selma Silverman 248.553.2400, ext. 12.