metro Fixing The Deficit from page 8 community moved north and west so fast it kept leaving JCCs behind and building new ones, Kaufman said. "The Futures Committee has to look at the footprint of the JCC, including modifications to the real estate if that makes sense. Nothing is off the table In the late 1990s, prior to when a capital campaign of $25 million for renovations at the West Bloomfield JCC was considered, there was discus- sion of knocking the building down and starting from scratch. That sce- nario is not currently being discussed, Kaufman said. Added Lester, "I would be sur- prised if the current footprint of the JCC undergoes zero change when the Futures Committee makes its final re- commendation:' 100% Pesticide Free w/Thermal Remediation Heat is the most effective way to eliminate bed bugs. Requires only one treatment vs. 2-4 w/pesticides. Chemical free, no toxins, completely green. No furniture or mattress disposal required. 100% Guranteed A full 60 Day Warranty is provided for residential properties. Although unlikely, if a live bug is found within the warranty period a re-treatment is scheduled at no additional cost. Canine Scent Detection Canines work quicker and more effeciently than trained technicians. Discounted rates with regularly scheduled Proactive Plan. Optimal for multiple units. Completely Discreet - Non-descript name and around-the-clock service to keep our presence and our purpose unknown. CALL 855.828.0800 www.green-titan.com Call it a "BREEZE" Replaceable Hair • Light • Airy • Affordable • Today's Style • Wearer Friendly • Looks Natural Consistently • Almost goof proof $100 OFF - First time clients — exp. 6/28/14 SAMPLE DEMONSTRATION AVAILABLE Call 888-569-9898 ASK FOR DONNA THE APARTMENT 17125 W. 12 Mile Rd. 1913720 10 July 10 • 2014 The Future Of The JCC This year's expected added revenue from the Maccabi Games was not a part of the FOC's budget, Lester said. "Maccabi is a fantastic event, but it doesn't have a place in fixing what's going on at the JCC." Next year, Kaufman says, the JCC plans to hold a gala, which is also a high-revenue opportunity. "It doesn't bring in as much revenue as Maccabi, but it doesn't have the expenses associated with it either; he said. The Futures Committee, led by JCC past-president and Federation Larry Wolfe President-elect Larry Wolfe, is composed of JCC and Jewish Foundation board members, as well as a few people from the NEXTGen community. It first took an extensive look into the JCC, touring the buildings, studying the core business and all its programming. It's now work- ing in sub-committees to draft substan- tive recommendations. "One of the challenges of the Center is that it became all things to all people. I don't think you can run it that way on a budget the community can live with:' said Kaufman. A changing JCC has to adapt to a changing world. "I think the world has changed faster than many Jewish institutions:' Kaufman added. "If you go back to the JCC's heyday, it was a very different community. It was denser. You had very few options for Jewish com- munal life outside of the JCC 50 or 60 years ago. "Now, according to the Pew Study, we have a generation growing up that's less connected to Jewish identity and com- munity:' he said. "It's a different world now But I do believe people long for that sense of community. The challenge is how do we build community in a 21st-century milieu? We still need it just as much as our grandparents did." JCC's Core Mission As the committees do their work, they're trying to answer one core question: What is the JCC's mission, its core pur- pose in the community? "I believe it should function as the central point of Jewish community, a place where the community gathers, a place to provide high-quality program- ming that helps to build Jewish identity and community But I see it more as a deliverer of programs than as a building:' Kaufman said. Added Lester, "For probably thou- sands of people in our community, it is the central link to their Jewish identity, which makes it an incredibly impor- tant facility:' What the JCC will eventually look like is still being decided. "That conversation is taking place now:' Kaufman said. 'And we're looking at all sorts of avenues to get there." The committees are exploring strate- gic partnerships with for-profit compa- nies as well as looking at demographics, market share, program areas, strengths and weaknesses, and other JCCs across the country. Last week, representatives from the San Francisco JCC talked with the Futures Committee about how it solved its similar challenges, Wolfe said. "We know that our JCC has to change to meet the needs of our changing community:' he added. "We intend to create a new Center meet- ing the needs of our new population, including young people." Wolfe said the Future Committee's goal is to report to the boards of the JCC, Federation and Foundation within the next 90 days. Lester added that he envisions a series of town hall discussions or focus groups with members of the general public. "I anticipate significant community partici- pation. I can't imagine it any other way:' he said. There is one thing everyone involved in fixing the JCC agrees with. "We are not going to kick the can down the road:' Kaufman said. "We are going to make the hard choices and deal with the pain over the next year or two and get this Tighe Lester said his position on the Financial Oversight Committee has been the most demanding of his career at Federation. At the same time, it's been an incredibly awarding experience he said. "Members of the Financial Oversight Committee have been dedicat- ed and phenomenal. It's a great example of the community coming together to solve a legacy problem and set the JCC on a path for the future." ❑