12 | OCTOBER 22 • 2020
VIEWS
one even remember there was a
dining room for HC members?
I thought we were so cool.
I learned to play basketball
from Burt Hursche when I
was about 8 or 9. I honed my
skills with Greg Kelser as I got
older (and better). Eventually,
I became a counselor with
John Long, Earl Cureton and
Lindsey Hunter in their basket-
ball camps. I was “the girl” that
played countless 4 on 4 games
under the famed windows.
That gym is where I blew
out my knee for the first time.
Spent hours trying to help
Dennis Rodman shoot free
throws (didn’
t help). Met my
first real boyfriend. Played
BBG volleyball during Regional
Convention. Watched countless
JCC Maccabi tryouts. Fast for-
ward to coaching my children
in Kenny Goldman, celebrating
birthdays and cheering them on
during their RC.
Thousands of participants
streamed through that gym as
part of the JCC Maccabi Games
and ArtsFest. It was as if I was
personally escorting them
through my home. I was part of
the Health Club committee. It
was because of that connection
that my husband and I ran the
snack bar at the pool for two
summers. I was asked to be the
Young Adult Division liaison to
the JCC board in 1996 and, ulti-
mately, became a full-fledged
board member. I felt as if I got a
huge promotion when I became
part of the Executive Board. I
was recognized by the board in
2006 as a recipient of the Susan
Alterman Leadership Award. I
was honored by the Michigan
Jewish Sports Foundation as
a Pillar of Excellence, and my
plaque hangs on the walls with
so many other notable Jews in
our community. I have literally
given my blood, sweat and tears
for the JCC. I am so thankful.
Today, I emptied my locker
for the last time. I was surpris-
ingly emotional. Afterward, I
worked my way down to the
gym. But first, I had to take a
photo with the famed KG logo
written on the glass case in the
stairwell going down to the gym
from the baseball display. That
was tagged by my Assistant
Games Director Lindsey Fox in
2008. Do the math.
As I walked into the gym,
so many more memories came
back. I could see my mom run-
ning the track above, “kvelling”
at her daughter keeping up with
the guys below. I was “kvelling”
that my mom was such a run-
ner. I could see packed gyms
with fans from all over the
world cheering on their teens
during a close Maccabi volley-
ball game. As I walked out of
the gym, I looked up through
the windows as if I was looking
back on me as a young girl.
That brand-new water fountain
then, since replaced by touch-
less faucets to fill water bottles,
will soon be dusty again.
Karen Gordon is a JCC Board member.
guest column
Voting: The Most Important Community Role
R
egardless of what type
of role you play in the
community, we all have
an opportunity to play the most
important role of all — voter
— in the coming weeks. This
includes our
neighbors and
family members
with disabilities.
Especially in
this pandemic,
everyone who
wants to vote in
Michigan has the
constitutional right to accessible
voting through secure mail-in
ballots and safe in-person vot-
ing.
In my role as chairperson
of the Friendship Circle of
Michigan, I see the challenges
often faced by people with
disabilities and support efforts
to provide accessible voting
to them as a basic democratic
right.
Prior to the pandemic, voting
for many people with physical
or developmental disabilities
was often difficult or not pos-
sible. This includes people with
mobility issues, hearing and
visual impairments and those
with autism. This year with the
pandemic, the barriers are even
greater. That is why safe options
are so important for our neigh-
bors with disabilities.
In my role as an attorney, I
have studied how the demo-
cratic process is most effective
when everyone is able to par-
ticipate. In 1973, the federal
Rehabilitation Act provided that
it is unlawful to discriminate
against people on the basis
of their disability. This was
expanded in 1990 under the
Americans with Disabilities Act
to prohibit discrimination on
the basis of disability in employ-
ment, government, public
accommodations, commercial
facilities, transportation and
telecommunications.
Then in 1993, the National
Voter Registration Act provided
for more accessible voting for
people with disabilities.
In Michigan, new for 2020,
all voters, even those without an
excuse, now have the option of
using an accessible absentee bal-
lot. In addition to mailing them
in, they can be dropped off at
clerk’
s offices and drop boxes.
For voting in person,
Michigan law also mandates
that each municipality provide
an accessible polling location
and accessible voting machine.
The law also requires that each
polling place have a voter assist
terminal available. That is all in
addition to the PPE and social
distancing that cities and town-
ships plan to provide to keep
in-person voting safe.
The Friendship Circle is now
in its 25th year of operation. I
have seen children with all dif-
ferent abilities and skills grow
into adulthood with many chal-
lenges. Providing accessible vot-
ing to them now that they are
of voting age is one right that is
not taken for granted.
In my role as a father, I look
forward to seeing my two sons,
now old enough to vote, partic-
ipate in the process, safely and
conveniently for them, despite
their special needs.
Because of all of my roles, I
have endorsed the bipartisan
VoteSafe Michigan campaign
because I strongly believe in the
basic principles of allowing all
of us to vote safely and securely.
I hope you and your family and
friends will join me in voting
safely on or before Nov. 3.
Ronald Hodess is chair of the Friendship
Circle of Michigan and a principal at the
law firm Miller Canfield.
Ronald
Hodess
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