The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2005 - Page 8
Roni Fishkin, New JCC Board President
Roni Fishkin and her
husband Glenn came to
Charlotte in 1992 with
two small children, one
on the way, and no
intention of staying.
They were from New
York and the South was
a very unlikely place
for their family to set
tle. “We’ll just be here
for a year or so and then
move back home,” they
decided. On October
10, 2005, thirteen years
later, Roni Fishkin was
elected as the Levine Jewish
Community Center’s first woman
Board President.
When Roni Fishkin arrived in
Charlotte, she became a volunteer
member of the day camp commit
tee right away. Alan Feldman, for
mer Executive Director of the
JCC, saw the high caliber of work
she was doing for the day camp
and persuaded her to accept a
position as the new Membership
Director in 1994. Alan Feldman
remembers, “Roni really under
stood the Jewish Community
Center as one of the primary
places for people to ‘connect’ to
their community. Coupled with
her dynamic drive, engaging per
sonality and relentless energy she
had all the right attributes to be
successful as a member of the
Center’s professional staff team.”
Roni is a graduate of Cornell
University with a degree in
Pyschology.
Over the next decade, Roni has
held many positions within the
Charlotte Jewish Community. She
held Board positions at Temple
Beth El, the Federation and the
Jewish Community Center at the
same time. Shortly thereafter, she
was elected to the JCC Executive
Roni Fishkin
Introducing 24 new homes
fij
Whitby Pond honors the neighborly charm
of the Craftsman tradition: Exteriors with
Hardiplank simulated wood shakes and
brick foundations. With rocking-chair
porches, Craftsman design and a fishing
pond, there’ll be more than a hint of
pastoral geniality in the middle of the city.
From the $400s. For more infcxmation, call
First Charbtte Prcperties at 704.377.9000 or
visit www.whitbypondccm
• Ten-foot ceilings on
the first floor
• Designer perks, such as
kitchens with granite
countertops
• Ganges behind the home
or under
• Master suites available
on first floors
NOW UNDER
CONSTRUCTION!
Five homes scheduled -
for Fall move-in.
Board and then
became a Vice
President. Roni has
said, “The JCC
gave so much to our
family as newcom
ers that we wanted
to give something
back. One of the
many reasons we
stayed in Charlotte
was the sense of
community that
Shalom Park offers.
Now I want to help
insure the Levine
JCC’s future for other families.”
Philip Berman, outgoing
President to the Levine JCC, stat
ed, “Roni has a vast and accom
plished history of leadership and
dedication to our entire communi
ty in both volunteer and staff
roles. Her unique background will
serve her well over the next two
years and bode well for continued
success. Her past involvement on
campus provides her with a com
munity perspective that few other
presidents have experienced.”
Roni Fishkin has a clear vision
of her goals for the next two years
as President. “The Levine Jewish
Community Center is a partner
ship between lay people and staff
who direct vision and set and
implement policy to enrich our
community,” explains Roni. “The
President’s role is to be an ambas
sador for these efforts. I have been
entrusted to be the caretaker for
the next two years to ensure finan
cial stability and the integrity of
the center. One of my missions is
to re-engage members and create
leadership opportunities and pro
gramming for generations to
come.”
On Roni’s first day as
President, she was able to usher in
a new, exciting era for the Levine
JCC with the opening of the long
awaited Main Street. “As a result
of the extreme generosity of the
Charlotte Jewish Community, we
now have a tremendous facility
that we can call home,” states
Roni. “Because the Levine JCC is
not a stand alone agency, all of
Shalom Park will achieve great
success by building stronger con
nections and relationships among
its organizations and the commu
nity at large within these walls.”
Roni Fishkin, her husband,
Glenn and her three boys, Eric,
18, Jason, 15 and Andrew, 13, live
in an incredibly active, sports-
driven household. Glenn Fishkin
is presently the President of the
Consolidated High School of
Jewish Studies (Hebrew High)
and operates his own video pro
duction company. Roni also works
part-time at Mann Travel and
Cruises in Special Event Planning.
Their favorite recent family vaca
tions include a bike trip through
Italy, snow skiing and spending
time with their large extended
family. Roni and Glenn just cele
brated their 20th wedding
anniversary. Roni concluded,
“What drives me personally is
forging relationships and I am
grateful to have landed in such a
vibrant community where I can
now hope to contribute in a mean
ingful way as the Levine JCC
Board President.” 4*
Sandra oml y»on La^rm Jewiaii Comnumlty Centar
Oasis Annual Thanks-in-
Deed Luncheon
On November 18, w^hope you
will join the Oasis Senior
Enrichment program for our annu
al Thanks-In-Deed Luncheon.
This is a wonderful opportunity
for friends, families and Charlotte
newcomers to socialize and enjoy
a feast of traditional Thanksgiving
cuisine. Chef Tommy will prepare
our kosher fare and as in years
past, there will be live entertain
ment. Please feel free to extend
this invitation to friends, family
and newcomers. Show the world
your “thanks” by bringing non-
perishable food items or blankets
to be donated to charity. Or, make
a contribution to Oasis and spon
sor another senior to be a guest of
this fine event.
Lunch will be from noon to 2
PM in the Sam Lemer Center for
Cultural Arts at the Sandra and
Leon Levine JCC. Price:
JCC/Oasis Members: $6. Non
members: $7.50. RSVP by
November 8 to Stephanie Click
704-944-6730.
Senior Raffle is a Huge
Success
On behalf of all the participants
of Oasis Senidr Enrichment
Programs and the Senior Adult
staff, thank you for making the
2005 Senior Raffle a great suc
cess. Our heartfelt thanks goes out
to the local businesses that so gra
ciously donated a wide selection
of fabulous prizes, and to the com
munity at large for their support of
senior programming. The pro
ceeds, which exceeded $2,700.00,
will go directly into senior adult
programming. Listed below are
the businesses that helped to make
this raffle possible. Thank you.
Contributors to the Senior
Raffle - 2005
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
(Arboretum), Charlotte Symphony,
Consolidated Theaters, Cotswold
Florist Crystal Shoppe, Elizabeth
House Flowers, Levine Jewish
Community Center of Charlotte,
Le Peep, Manhattan Bagel
(Arboretum), Kosher Mart, Opera
Carolina, Pasta and Provisions. O