The Charlotte Jewish News - December 2009 - Page 19
Levine JCC Annual Meeting
The 23rd annual meeting of the
Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish
Community Center was held on
October 13. The event, co-chaired
by Lisa Blau and Michael Stier,
celebrated another outstanding
year at the Levine JCC and hon
ored many of the volunteers, lay
leadership and staff who help
make your J such a special place.
Eric Kent, a member of the
Board of Directors, delivered an
inspiring D’Var Torah to the over
120 members in attendance. J
members were also treated to a
moving visual presentation that
highlighted Levine JCC events of
the year.
Directors John Box and
Jonathan Wilk introduced the
Leadership Appreciation Awards.
The following outstanding volun
teers received Program Service
Awards for their commitment and
dedication in serving our commu
nity: Lisa Cheramie, Amy Mullen,
Michelle Rusgo (theater), Ira
Slomka (J-Tribes), Dana
Kapustin, Wendy Petricoff
(Camp Mindy) and Stacey
Slomka (Holiday Task Force).
Philip Berman, CEO of the
Levine JCC, and Judy August,
Board President, presented
the Volunteers of the Year
award to Wilma Asrael, Cathy
Bogus, Gwen Orland and
Barbara Zeigler for introduc
ing, implementing and man
aging the Butterfly Project in
Charlotte. This volunteer
intensive project, established
to memorialize the children
who perished during the
Holocaust, has produced over
1,200 ceramic butterflies to date.
Butterflies have been made by
members of our Jewish communi
ty, as well as by workshop partici
pants at area schools, churches
and various civic centers.
Bill Gorelick received the
President’s and Executive
Director’s Award for his dedicated
service to the Levine JCC. Since
the Levine JCC’s inception. Bill
has generously shared his artistic
vision and business knowledge to
“make the magic happen.” Bill has
also been instrumental in planning
a permanent installation for
Charlotte’s butterflies on Shalom
Park.
Roni Fishkin presented the new
slate of Officers and Directors and
presided over the election with the
general membership unanimously
approving the slate of nominees.
Larry Schwartz is the new
President; David Berger, Lisa
Blau, John Box and David Van
Glish are the newly elected Vice
L to R, Newly elected and reelected Levine JCC Directors, Roni Fishkin, Mark
Lerner, Elise Kosofsky, Marni Eisner, Lisa Blau, David Cohen, Dana Kapustin,
David Van Glish with new Board President, Larry Schwartz.
L to R, Levine JCC CEO Philip Berman, pictured with
outgoing Directors, Barbara Levin, Linda Goldsmith,
Risa Miller and Past Board President, Judy August
Presidents. Brad Winer joins them
on the Executive Committee as
VP/Treasurer. Newly elected (and
re-elected) members of the Board
of Directors are Andy Cohen,
David Cohen, Mami Eisner, Roni
Fishkin, Larry Fleishman, Ken
Golder, Dana Kapustin, Eric Kent,
Elise Kosofsky and Peter Smul.
Seven outgoing Directors were
honored for their service to the
LJCC and received hand crafted
Mezzuzot for their dedicated serv
ice.
Outgoing President Judy
August, in her address, remarked
that relationships and “the com-
munity building mission”
is a key aspect of what the
J provides to our commu
nity. She also advised that
the Levine JCC invested
$160,000 for equipment
replacement and facility
upkeep this year to contin
ue to provide the value our
membership has come to
expect. Judy congratulated
the LJCC staff for improv
ing programming manag
ing through this difficult
economic environment.
The loss of $84,000 in
United Way Funding to the Oasis
Senior program has reminded the
Levine JCC that we need to be
able to look for additional funding
to sustain ourselves without
depending on outside resources.
Judy remarked that the relation
ships she has built with staff, lay
leadership and partner agencies
during her tenure have been very
meaningful and gratifying. She
wished Larry Schwartz great suc
cess.
New President Larry Schwartz
spoke of the importance of the
JCC to all generations. Referring
to the loss of funding to the Oasis
program, Larry emphasized the
debt we owe to our seniors and
vowed that the Levine JCC would
always honor that obligation.
Larry announced a new
Distinctive Member program that
is designed to help ensure the J’s
ongoing financial stability.
CEO Philip Berman praised our
dedicated employees for their
exceptional work and ongoing
commitment to excellence. Jessica
Myers, Mitch Ormand, Susan
Rubenstein and Tim Whitener
were specifically recognized as
outstanding employees in 2009. ^
JEWELRY ■ WALL AkJ • STUDIO & FUNCnON/\L • FURNITURE
Kity*Art»WorksI
Charlotte's
Finest
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Tom
Stan Greenspon Provides Funding For
Oasis Field Trips
Stan Greenspon, a long time
member of the Jewish community,
has recently come forward with a
generous donation to subsidize
Oasis monthly field trips at the
Levine Jewish Community Center.
When Mr. Greenspon became
aware of the $84,000 reduction in
funding to the LJCC Senior pro
gramming from the United Way,
he immediately called to find out
how he could help. It was his
desire to make sure our Oasis par
ticipants continued to enjoy the
monthly field trips and he gra
ciously offered to provide funding
to keep this important program for
our seniors. Mr Greenspon is cur
rently retired, but for many years
he operated a successful Charlotte
insurance business. He is commit
ted to making a difference in the
lives of others in our community
and has a special interest in help
ing older adults. Like Mr.
Greenspon, we need your help to
continue to provide the program
ming so necessary to our Oasis
program. If you would like to
make a donation or have any other
means to support our senior pro
gramming, please do not hesitate
to contact, Linda Bass, Senior
Adult Program Director, at 704-
944-6735. ^
Jewelry
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1630 EastWoodlawnRd,, Suite 267 • Charlotte, NC 28209 ■ 704.527.1300
UNIQUE LISHTINS • SIFTS • STEMWARE * AND MUCH MORE
HIAS
(Continued from previous page)
rarely falls below 50 degrees
Fahrenheit and only in the rainy
season. Our clients need winter
coats as well.
HIAS NC has been fortunate to
receive regular donations of these
items, especially from the Jewish
community. Demand has
increased with the increased num
ber of refugees. The agency’s
needs are greater than ever before
for items needed to comply with
the R&P grant and essentially for
the comfort of Charlotte’s newest
residents. Whatever we have not
received in donations, we must
buy out of R&P funds.
If you are redecorating, please
think of HIAS. If you are moving,
replacing or discarding furniture
or household items, think of HIAS
NC. We will arrange to pick up
your items and provide a tax letter
for your donation. Our clients will
appreciate you, and your dona
tions will be used well.
The agency receives other gov
ernment grants, which allow us to
continue providing employment
services and English as a Second
Language classes, extend case
management, follow special med
ical cases, and make available
family education classes. These
grants do not pay all of HIAS
NC’s and its clients’ bills. Cash
donations allow us to meet our
clients’ needs. Cash donations
allow us to turn on the lights for
our clients and in our office.
Miracles happen all the time
at HIAS NC. Chanukah is a partic
ularly poignant time for all of
us. Help keep the miracles alive
for everyone. To make furniture,
household items and cash dona
tions to HIAS, please call 704-
535-8803 or e-mail Ellen.dubin@
hias.org. ^
J You’ll Have Warm Heat At Your House Tonight!® J
‘We’re open for service
everyday. Call now!
Dewey Jenkins
Supreme Commander ofWarm Heat
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Must present coupon at time of service. Not valid with
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www.MorrisJenkins.com
Proud Sponsor of the
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