JCL Update 09/11/09

[Archived from September 11, 2009]

Editor’s Note: Through this column, elected members of the Jewish Community of Louisville Board provide updates on progress made since JCL’s formation and share their thoughts with readers.

by Shannon Levine

As we approach the period of introspection also known as the High Holidays, we stop to reflect upon the many changes that have happened throughout our community in this past year. We also pause to look forward towards a new year of exciting changes brought about most notably by the merger of the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation.

As progress takes place each day, let’s take a moment to look at the many exciting things that have recently taken place in our community, which JCL is making happen.

•    The new JCL logo was unveiled last week by e-mail and is in this paper. It embodies a fresh approach to Jewish communal leadership – one that integrates community-wide participation and integrates fundraising and programming activities. The new logo incorporates the warmth and support that have been cornerstones of both founding agencies for more than a century.

•    Thirty-one Louisville high school students participated in the BBYO Regional Kick-Off Convention the weekend of August 28 at Camp GUCI.

•    More than 220 people attended the YAD picnic at Hogan’s Fountain on Sunday, August 23.

•    Hillel started its year of activities with bowling on September 10. Many more programs and activities are being planned for the year.

•    Melton classes are beginning. The second year class has already begun to meet.

•     More than 100 people attended the program with Daniel Levine, author of The Last Ember.

These are just a few of the many examples of programming already taking place throughout the community; and this is just the beginning.

In addition, the committee work is in full swing. The Program Committee is hard at work, evaluating current programming from early childhood to senior adults.

Senior Adult Subcommittee Chair, Angeline Golden, raves about her new committee. She states, “What do a newly retired psychologist (Bill Braunstein), a retired social worker (Sandy Braunstein), a newly retired librarian (Evie Topcik), a dedicated community volunteer and leader in senior adult programming (Carolyn Neustadt), a law school professor and devoted scholar (David Leibson) and a medical administrator and educator (Ruth Greenberg), have in common?”

They are all dedicated thinkers, questioners and active participants in local Jewish affairs who want to help JCL serve the best interests of our Jewish community. All are busy, active, and involved citizens who made time to examine current senior adult programming at the JCC and to look at ways to make programming even more responsive to current and projected needs and interests of seniors.

These volunteers let no grass grow under their feet. They have already met with current senior programming staffers, arranged to attend programming activities, are gathering data and reviewing past reports and studies in order to make suggestions and recommendations to the JCL Program Review chairs. They are an exciting and dynamic committee to work with. “If you need them they will come,” Golden said, certainly applies to this wonderful group of volunteers.

The Search Committee is also busy as they begin the process to name a new executive director. Other committees are either hard at work or in formation.

As we enter the New Year, 5770, hopefully we as a community will use this New Year as a fresh start, and continue to unite, connect and contribute to the myriad of opportunities for progress already taking place!

Shana Tova to each of you!

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