metro

Decision Made from page 14

ing that anchors our community."
Aronson said he wished leaders
would have given community mem-
bers more notice
than just "seven
short weeks to plan
and launch phone-
a-thons, a fundrais-
ing drive, and a
member and com-
munity survey.
"The shame
Ron Aronson
of it is that the
JCC board and
Federation only came to the commu-
nity when the clock had been allowed
— by you — to run down to one min-
ute to 12.
"I come here today to look to the
future together with you ... Our orga-
nization of over 200 people is com-
mitted to continue the operations and
functions of JPM — its Fitness Center
including the pool, the children's,
seniors', cultural and educational
programs, among others. Whoever
operates it, we are determined to keep
a Jewish community center at this
location.
"It's not just a building; it's a com-
munity center. And having a place to
go, to gather, to work out, to shmooze,
to eat kosher meals, to read poetry
and talk about current events, and
shvitz and swim, and drop the kids off
and browse books, and argue about
politics and Israel and God — hav-
ing that place where Orthodox and
Reconstructionists and Conservative
and Reform worshippers and human-
ists and atheists and non-Jews and
African Americans can gather — is
vital to our community, indeed makes
our community possible:'
Aronson said that the Committee
to Save the Oak Park Jewish Center
is targeting March 16, the day after
Super Sunday, to roll out its fund-
raiser for new young adult member-
ship scholarships and present the first
results of its survey.
For the past few weeks, the com-
mittee has been taking a survey to
determine what the community wants
and needs and to give that informa-
tion to Federation.
"We want to play a part in the
building's future Aronson said.
In his remarks to the board,
Aronson asked members to focus
not just on a repurposing, but "on a
reorganization of the JPM facility and
functions so that it can be kept open
with its current facilities, programs
and services:'
Second, Aronson asked that the
committee be allowed to participate
in the future planning for JPM.
"Above all, we want to be included
in the RFP process, in future delib-

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16

March 12 • 2015

erations and, yes, decisions:' he said.
"In these seven weeks we have given
voice to our community and, one way
or another, we want that voice to be
heard:'
A statement from the Federation
read, "Both professional and lay lead-
ers at the JCC and Federation clearly
understand the emotional impact of
the proposed changes, particularly
to residents of Oak Park, Southfield,
Huntington Woods and neighboring
cities. Over many decades, the Jewish
Federation has raised and distributed
significant funds to support this
vital and thriving area. While this is
an extremely difficult process, both
Federation and the JCC remain fully
committed to continuing to serve the
many diverse Jews in the area:'

What Happens Next?
Efforts to make operations at the West
Bloomfield JCC the best they can be
are ongoing, Berger said. With the
closure of the Oak Park facility, the
JCC annual shortfall would be slashed
to about $200,000.
"With more efficiency," he said,
"we'll work to break even:'
The Futures Committee has begun
the search for a new director to
replace Interim Executive Director
Jim Issner, who was brought in to help
the JCC sort out its financial mess,
which in late spring 2014 showed a $6
million deficit. A few candidates have
come in for interviews, but no deci-
sion has been made.
"We are looking for a professional
who has a vision for the future of
the JCC as well as someone who can
operate the JCC efficiently from an
economic standpoint:' Kaufman said.
"That is a tall order:'
Until a new director is selected,
Berger said that Issner "is open to
staying until an orderly transition can
be made:'
Berger added that the committee
has had ongoing discussions about
changing the governance structure of
the board.
"A decision will be made when the
new director is selected:' he said.
According to Kaufman, Federation
will use the surveys conducted by the
grassroots committee to help evaluate
the proposals.
"Furthermore he said, "Federation
leadership plans to meet with the
grassroots committee representatives
to hear their thoughts on the propos-
als as it is important that the proposal
selected best serves the community
and reflects their needs and interests:'
He says the community can expect
an announcement as to how the Oak
Park JCC will be repurposed this sum-
mer.

❑

