THe Charlotte Jewish News - Juhe-Jaly, 1997 • Page 6
A conversation with, Mai^vin Goldberg
I I
By Sus(^'Kramer '
One year ago, Marvin and
Renee Goldberg made a major
life change. Not only did they
move from Worcester, MA to
Charlotte NC, giving up snow and
ice for Bradford pears and
warmer temperatures, but Marvin
also made a career jump from
Executive Director of the Jewish
Healthcare Center, a 141-bed
facility with a staff of 200, to
heading up the Jewish Federation
of Greater Charlotte, with 4
offices and a staff of 6. It is worth
noting that Marvin is the first
person in Federation history to
make such a move from the
Jewish home field into the ranks
of Federation professionals.
"I've spent my career in Jewish
communal service," Marvin
explained when asked why he
made such a major change. "I
think that its important to give
back to the Jewish community
and to make sure that there is a
Jewish community for our
children." Marvin had always
been active in the Worcester
Jewish Federation, heading up a
major component of the
community planning process
sponsored by the Federation.
After 19 years as director of the
Jewish Healthcare Center, he felt
it was time to make the leap into a
larger arena of Jewish communal
service and joining the Federation
as a professional seemed to be the
most logical move. Now here he
is, 12 months later, reflecting on
the year just ended and the
challenges that lie ahead.
And what a year it has been!
At the annual meeting held on
May 8, the accomplishments of
the past year were enumerated by
Rich Osborne, Federation
president. A major demographic
study — the first ever for the
Charlotte Jewish Community —
was completed. L'Chaim
Charlotte, a festival celebrating
Jewish life in Charlotte, brought
3,000 spectators to Shalom Park
to sample Jewish culture and
community. The Bernstein
Leadership Development
Program completed a successful
year, training over 40 young
adults in the intricacies of Jewish
community leadership. 13 teens
were given funds to travel to .
Israel for the summer. The
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community spent "An Evening
with Elie Weisel." Perhaps most
remarkable, in an era of stiff
competition for shrinking
charitable dollars, the Annual
Federation Campaign grew by
10.1% to an all time high of
$1,572 million.
When asked how so much was
accomplished in a single year,
Marvin was typically self-
effacing in his reply. "It was a
joint effort," he says. "We got the
message out that every individual
is important — every contribution
counts. And of course, we had
marvelous lay leadership in Bill
Gorelick and Jill Newman.
So after such a stellar start,
what can we look for in the next
twelve months?
A lot, apparently. The results of
the demographic study will be
published before the High
Holidays, and the information
gleaned from the several hundred
pages of statistics will give
direction to the Federation as it
heads into the 21st century. The
demographic study covered a
broad range of topics, delving
into the community’s opinion on
everything from funding a Jewish
day school to the need for senior
housing. "There will be a
Federation Long-Range Planning
Committee formed that will
digest the information and come
up with a plan to implement the
changes that the community has
indicated it wants," Goldberg
states.
In addition, the Federation is
planning a year-long salute to
Israel’s 50th Anniversary,
featuring an even bigger and
better L’Chaim Charlotte in the
spring of 1998.
"Mainly, we will be building on
and refining the programs that we
IT
«
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte President Rich Osborne with
Marvin Goldberg, Executive Director, JFGC
started this year. We are building
a solid foundation, but that takes
more than just one year. All of the
successes of the past year were
made possible by our donor’s
contributions. They should all be
proud of the work they've done."
And what has Marvin learned
about Charlotte in the last twelve
months, aside from the difference
between Bradford and Bartlett
pears?
"Charlotte is a growing Jewish
community," he responds quickly.
"There is a lot of opportunity and
promise here. I was surprised at
the . . . intensity of the Jewish
community here in Charlotte —
Shalom Park is a very close
family."
And, as with all close families,
some conflict is bound to occur.
"We need to learn to be more
together than apart," Goldberg
states. To that end, he and the
other Park professionals meet on
a monthly basis to try to identify
and iron out differences before
they become crises. His self
described management style
could also be a description of the
purposes of that group: treat each
other as professionals, allow
others to do their job, and above
all, if you value what people say,
you have to listen to them first.
"We’ve done a lot of good," he
says at the end of the interview.
"But there's a lot more that needs
doing. We need to be mindful and
respectful that some things are
beyond our control, but with less
knee-jerk reactions and more
thoughtful planning, there is no
limit to what this community can
do. The bottom line is, I like
Charlotte and I enjoy being here "
Yes, Marvin, we know, it
shows. ^
Salute To Summer
Beach Party
The Membership Department
of the JCC is organizing a
"SUMMER NIGHTS CELE
BRATION" — a Salute to
Summer party on Saturday, June
21st from 7:30 -10:30pm.
"The Beach Party event, at only
$5 per person, is part of our
ongoing Membership Appreciation
campaign," states Roni Fishkin,
JCC Membership and Marketing
Director. "This is the JCC's way
of saying "Thank you" to our
members."
"It is for members only," echoes
committee member L^ Beirer,
"and costs only $5 per person
which includes beer and wine,
munchies, ice cream, games,
prizes and musical entertainment
by ’Magic Barry and the JukeBox
Hero'." Dancing music from the
'60's '70's '80's and '90's will be
featured.
"Magic Barry," also known to
Charlotte Hornet fans as
"Dancing Barry," has been
providing distinctive entertainment
for corporate functions, reunions,
proms and weddings in Charlotte
since 1994. Prior to moving to
Charlotte, he reached celebrity
status in L.A., where he danced at
Laker games. He has made
numerous television appearances
including the David Letterman
Show, The Gary Shandling Show
and Soul Train.
The Summer Nights Celebration
decorations committee headed by
Terri Dubin, Vicki Berman, Beth
Gordon and Cathy Shait will
transform the JCC into a veritable
private beach club with a dance
floor! Casual dress is suggested.
Other "Summer Nights"
committee members include
Sharon Katz, Cheryl Comen, Jodi
Cohen, Judy August, Robin Stier,
Beverly Grey, and Jodi
Valenstein. Tickets ($5 per
person) can be purchased from all
committee members as well as the
JCC Front Desk. Please purchase
tickets early. After June 15th,
tickets will be $7.50 per person.
Please call Roni Fishkin or Lee
Beirer at the JCC at 366-5007. 0
A Healthy Baby Girl
June 19, 1997 • 7:30 pm
Gorelick Hall
Free & Open to the Community
The JCC's Adult and Jewish
Family Living Departments and
Temple Beth El will be hosting a
screening of the documentary
film "A Healthy Baby Girl." The
film is a video-diary of Judith
Helfand's experiences with cancer
that were a direct result of her
mother taking the widely
prescribed drug diethylstilbestrol
(DES) during her pregnancy. This
film raises a number of issues
including how reproductive
technology and infertility are
specific to the Jewish community
and how as Jews we reconcile
our ethics, values and our
commitment to Ukun Olam with
our status and responsibilities
with the cor|x>rate world. A
discussion and reception will
follow the screening of the film.
Other sponsors of this event
include The Mint Museum,
Charlotte Women for the
Environment and Grassroots
Leadership. 0
For a review of Ae film, please
see page 14.