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

continued from page 10