Metro
Faces
Michigan ORT
recruits new members
and ideas.
Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News
B
lending time-honored traditions
with contemporary concerns can
be difficult for any organization,
especially one that has been around for
more than a century. The Michigan Region
of ORT America is meeting this challenge
with fresh leadership, a newly formed
advisory committee, and a restructured
board that combines proven experience
with youthful energy.
At the helm is Nicole Muchnick, who
took over as director of ORT's Michigan
Region last year. An attorney and former
events planner, Muchnick began working
with ORT five years ago as lead coordina-
tor for its largest annual fundraiser, Rub-
a-Dub.
New board president Brad "Bubba"
Urdan, a business consultant, became
involved with ORT eight years ago because
its "educational mission struck a chord."
In an effort to rebuild the organization
from the ground up, Muchnick and Urdan
enlisted the help of Doreen Hermelin,
who, along with her late husband David,
were very involved with ORT. Doreen most
recently served as national president.
Muchnick, Urdan and Doreen Hermelin
8
March 24 • 2011
Photos by Jerry Zo ly ns
Fresh
Above: Paula Wolfe of Bloomfield Hills, left, gets tutored by Brian Kwiatkoski of Farmington Hills and Ruth
Klueger of White Lake is helped by Shaindle Braunstein. Wolfe and Klueger are members of the National
Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section.
Above left: Michigan Region ORT America board members, standing, Julie Marx and Andi Wolfe, both of
Bloomfield Hills; and seated, Harriet Jacobson of West Bloomfield, Dr. Beverly Katz of Southfield and
Arlene Barris of Bloomfield Hills.
developed a strategy that included bring-
ing back some of the original ORT sup-
porters and reinvigorating the board with
a new group of younger philanthropists
and active volunteers. An advisory com-
mittee consisting of several past presi-
dents, many who have served ORT on the
national level, was formed to mentor the
newer members.
"It was what we needed:' said Urdan.
"You can't go into the future if you don't
know what you had in the past."
Urdan is enthusiastic about the new
ORT team. He believes the new board
members and advisers are the perfect
complement to Muchnick.
"Nicole is unbelievable he said. "She
understands and lives the mission of ORT
on a daily basis. She educates the people
she works with as well as the donors:'
The new board has set some ambitious
goals: increasing fundraising donations
by 25%, expanding participation in local
programs and events, and spreading
awareness about ORT's accomplishments
in Metro Detroit and around the world.
Urdan recruited new board members
who were willing to commit not only their
names but their hands-on time as well.
Most of the members have been actively
involved in the Jewish community.
An example is Steven Tapper, who has
participated in many charitable endeav-
ors, both personally and through his busi-
ness, Tapper's Diamonds and Fine Jewelry.
"The possibility of someone getting a
better education really touches me said
Tapper, adding that his involvement with
ORT has allowed him to reach out and
meet a lot of new people.
The funds raised by ORT Michigan
are given to ORT America, which raises
money for World ORT. Fundraising
is accomplished through four major
annual events, plus individual donations.
Approximately $750,000 was raised in
2010, according to Urdan, who hopes to
increase the amount to $1 million this
year.
Scott Marcus, Bloomfield Hills attorney
and real estate developer, joined the board
after serving on last year's Rub-a-Dub
fundraiser committee.
"When you have an older organization,
sometimes they're not receptive to new
ideas and changes:' said Marcus. "This
board is completely different; they realize
the world changes, and the organization
has to change with it."
As one of the largest non-governmental
educational organizations in the world,
ORT has empowered more than 3 million
people through its network of 800 schools
and programs in 63 countries. ORT serves
men, women, teens and children repre-
senting every nationality and economic
status. Students range from professionals
and unskilled laborers to college gradu-
ates and high school drop-outs. The one
thing they share is a desire to become
productive citizens, making meaningful
contributions to their families and corn-
munities.
ORT maintains its longstanding pres-
ence in Israel by pumping new energy into
the country's troubled public education
system, especially in some of the poorer
areas with high unemployment and drop-
out rates. The "Science Journey" program
provides interactive whiteboards and
laptop computers to students in border
communities so they can enjoy the same
advantages as their peers in Tel Aviv and
Jerusalem.
It is almost prophetic that an organiza-
tion founded in 1880 by a small group of
Russian Jews is even more relevant today
than when it began. The explosion of new
technology combined with the recent eco-
nomic downturn, locally and worldwide,
has required many people to learn differ-
ent skills and acquire new proficiencies.
The local manifestation of the orga-