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JCC And Federation Boards
Need To Retool Methods
I am responding to the article in the
Jewish News titled "JCC Board Must
Restructure Itself To Avoid Pitfalls" (Jan.
29, page 68).
Although on target regarding the JCC
(JPM) facility in Oak Park, it appears that
the financial and governance problems
are due, in part, to operational issues
"higher up stream." As the former direc-
tor of Oakland County Community
Mental Health Authority, I have noticed
that from the late 1980s until today
the Detroit Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit has rarely required its partner
agencies to live within their annual bud-
gets.
Historically, the Detroit Federation has
been all too quick to rush in and provide
a "bailout" so agencies will have a bal-
anced budget at the end of their fiscal
year. Donated dollars are not meant to
cover the overspending of agency bud-
gets.
The leadership of the Jewish Federation
does not even mention the board of direc-
tors on its leadership Web page
(jewishdetroit.org/about-us/
jfmd-leadership) although I am certain
they have one, if in name only.
The IRS recommends that nonprofit
governance should be composed of per-
sons who are informed and active in over-
seeing a charity's operations and finances.
It further states that nonprofits that want
to succeed in fulfilling their mission need

to ensure those providing oversight are
not only passionate about the organiza-
tion's mission and programs, but are also
skilled or trained in accounting, finance,
compensation matters and ethics.
Under well-established principles
of nonprofit corporation law, a board
member must meet certain standards of
conduct and attention. These standards
are usually described as the duty of care,
the duty of loyalty and duty of obedience.
The basis for the latter lies in the public's
trust that the organization will manage
donated funds to fulfill the organization's
mission.
I suggest that the boards of directors of
both the Detroit Federation and the JCC
closely review the plethora of literature on
nonprofit board governance and retool as
deemed necessary. Effective governance is
long overdue.
As Margaret Mead shared with the
world, "Never underestimate the power
of a few committed people to change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has:'

Richard Cooper

Waterford

Who Is Clamoring
For A War With Iran?
I am puzzled by the current thinking on
Iran. There is no viable military option.
Even the United States would not be able
to completely destroy the Iranian nuclear
components which that are held deeply
underground.

Do we want another Mideast war that
accomplishes little and creates tremen-
dous havoc? Do we want the price of oil to
skyrocket and tank our economy again? I
don't think so.
Certainly, it is not ideal that Iran may
ultimately produce a nuclear weapon. Is
it great that Pakistan has nuclear weap-
ons? No, but the case can be made that
Pakistan is more unstable than Iran and
no disasters have occurred.
A defensible agreement is better than
nothing. At least there will be intrusive
inspections, and the Iranians will be at
least one year away from building an
actual device. You can't permit the perfect
to be the enemy of the good.
Finally, the excoriation of President
Obama is mindless and factually incor-
rect. Historically, Iraq and Iran have acted
as counterbalances to one another so nei-
ther side can become dominant.
The completely senseless Iraq war, sup-
ported by President George W. Bush and
the neocons, destroyed that delicate bal-
ance and made Iran the hegemonic power
in that area. Plus, the current government
in Iraq is Shiite-dominated and has per-
mitted Iran to largely control the country.
Who pushed for the Iraq war? The
same people who are now clamoring for
an attack on Iran.
They who do not learn from history are
condemned to repeat it.

SINK

A social network for teens

and young adults with

disabilities to meet new

people, try new things and

have/

Michael Golob

Bloomfield Hills

Send I 16 Your

Snap/iota!

The Jewish News invites readers to send in
their own nonprofessional photos of their
simchahs for our annual "Community Photo
Album," which will be published in Celebrate!
in the March 19 issue of the JN.
Please send your high-resolution photos
(1 mb jpgs) to jheadapohl@renmedia.us with
"Photo Album" in the subject line. Photos
should be of simchahs within the last year.
Along with a photo, send a caption that
identifies all people by name and city of resi-
dence (for children, please include their age),
the type of simchah, the venue and the date it
occurred.

Check us

eiv

7ace6-019V

Search JARClinkup

For more information:
Kendall Bear
248.488.7546
kendallbear@jarc.org

7

•

Alt

All photos must be submitted by Feb. 25.

jarc

www.jarc.org

February 19 • 2015

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