metro
Results Are In
Jet ECOND'i
CHANCE'
;,,AAT LIFE
Community responds to
Oak Park JCC survey.
I
Jackie Headapohl
Managing Editor
R
esults are in from a survey
of Oak Park JCC members
undertaken by the grass-
roots group Save the Oak Park JCC.
The Oak Park JCC is scheduled
to close Aug. 31 due to an annual
deficit approaching $1 million.
Proposals are being accepted by the
boards of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and the Jewish
Foundation for the facility's repur-
posing. Leaders from the Federation
have said they want the facility to
maintain its Jewish flavor and con-
tinue to serve people in the commu-
nity. Save the Oak Park JCC wants to
preserve the facility as a community
center.
The online survey, which was
supported and encouraged by the
Federation, was sent to 695 email
addresses, with 147 responses, a
response rate of about 20 percent,
good for an online survey.
One interesting finding from the
survey, according to Ron Aronson of
the grassroots committee, was that
two-thirds of respondents said they
would be willing to contribute extra
money to their dues to continue the
facility as is. Almost all respondents
(except two) said they wanted the
Oak Park JCC to continue as it is —
a mostly Jewish facility open to non-
Jews as well.
A very high percentage of survey
respondents (109 of 147) live within
three miles of the Oak Park JCC in
Oak Park, Huntington Woods and
Southfield.
The health and fitness facili-
ties and the kosher restaurant are
the two main draws to the center,
according to survey results.
Ninety percent of respondents
said they use the health and fitness
amenities at least monthly, while
70 percent use them weekly. The
numbers were similar for the kosher
restaurant.
When it comes to general activi-
ties, 70 percent said it would be
essential to maintain youth sports,
while culture and education pro-
grams came in a close second.
Specifically, respondents placed
great value in being able to preserve
rental services, the playground, the
kosher restaurant, IRP classes and
discussions and Russian Jewish Life.
However, respondents were
ambivalent when asked if they would
attend current Oak Park JCC pro-
gramming at another location. About
90 percent said "it depends:' Only
five people answered yes.
Almost a third of respondents said
that if the health club were closed,
they would end their membership.
A quarter of respondents would end
their memberships if the pool were
closed.
"A lot of people want fitness class-
es that separate men and women.
The gym is essential to more than 80
percent of respondents; the pool is
essential to 85 percent of the respon-
dents:' Aronson said.
The survey results have been
shared with leaders at the
Federation.
"Throughout this process, one of
our primary goals has been to listen
to what the community is saying,"
said Ted Cohen, marketing director
at the Federation. "The results of
this survey and other feedback that's
been provided to us will be shared
with those reviewing proposals to
inform their understanding of the
community's needs and interests as
they work to find the best use of the
facility:'
The Save the Oak Park JCC is not
done collecting information. A new
community survey — for members
and nonmembers alike — is avail-
able until May 13 at www.
savetheoakparkjcc.com .
"While the survey we just complet-
ed asks about the Oak Park JCC as it
is now, this new community survey
asks questions about the future of
the center:' Aronson said. "What
does the community want to see in
the future? We'd like to provide the
responses to the Federation before
its May 15 deadline for RFPs."
Aronson said he wants Federation
to know what the community is
hoping for while it reviews the pro-
posals for the center. Federation
has said a decision on the facility's
future should come before the end of
August.
"We ask as many people as pos-
sible to take the community survey,"
Aronson said. "We are motivated to
preserve a community center in Oak
Park:'
❑
PARTNERS IN CARE
6
RENEWAL
ANNOUNCE A
KIDNEY DONATION
EDUCATIONAL EVENT
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
SUAITAy 31
DAY
AT THE
JCC OF OAK PARK
15110 W. 10 Mile Rd. Oak Park, MI 48237
Speakers
RABBI ELI MANSOUR
is a dynamic, highly acclaimed international lecturer
on Ahavat Torah and Ahavat Yisrael appealing to Jews
of all cultures, backgrounds and every educational level.
He is Senior Rabbi of Bet Yaakob, a prominent Sephardic
Congregation in Brooklyn, NY.
DR. JASON DENNY
Senior Staff Surgeon, HFH Dept. of Surgery and
Surgical Director, Living Donor Kidney Transplant
Program at Henry Ford Transplant Institute
also featuring
Q&A PANEL
with 3 DONORS
CHAIRPERSONS
Sushi and Salad Buffet
WRTNERS
IN CARE
.n of Ye
Vehudall
(Renewa
www.renewal.org
]Plir AAA
THE CENTER
TO RSVP OR FOR MORE INFO
call 248-JUDAISM (583-2476)
or email info@partnersdetroit.org
Renewal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting people suffering from various forms of kidney
disease. They are a multi faceted proactive team that is dedicated to saving lives through kidney donation.
2002950
May 7 • 2015
27