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July 9, 2010
Five honored at AGM
JSA has some fun while getting down to business.
DENA DAWSON
Planners of the annual general meeting for the Jewish Seniors Alliance knew they had to come up with some good ideas if they wanted healthy attendance this year. And that, they did.
A mix of entertainment and awards presentations merged easily with business, beginning with a review of the previous year’s accomplishments. JSA president Serge Haber said that the organization had one of their best years yet. With cuts to seniors programs occurring and more looming, Haber spoke of the importance of JSA making itself more known in the community, citing the Jewish Seniors Directory and the Senior Alliance magazine as excellent achievements in terms of information provided to the community at large.
JSA’s educational forums were particularly well attended in the past year. At the forum on elder abuse, for example, 40 percent of the attendees were not from the Jewish community, a result stemming from what Haber suggested was a good public relations campaign. Next on the agenda was JSA’s work on transportation, which focused on increased accessibility and cooperation with the B.C. Health Federation and HandiDart.
Haber thanked Michael Ross, who maintains the JSA’s website, and Ida Gitlina, the liason for JSA’s Russian members, and announced that Milton Adelson would join the executive. Haber also thanked Karon Shear, JSA program and membership coordinator, Stan Shear and AGM chair Geri London.
Joking that he would not punish those gathered with further reports, Haber brought the business end of the meeting to a close and the Elgar Strings, a group of senior musicians with conductor Roger Wecker, played Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Gershwin, among other selections.
The awards presentations honored five volunteers, nominated by various community agencies, who have devoted themselves to working with seniors.
Sheila Gendis was recognized for her more than 10 years of volunteer work with the Jewish Family Service Agency, driving a group of seniors to lunch and home each week.
Gloria Levi was honored for her volunteer work with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. Levi has made many contributions to policy for Jewish seniors on Federation’s planning council and, in particular, in her role as co-chair of the Council of Aging. Levi also advocates for accessible, quality services.
Betty Carr and Shirley Chess were awarded for their work with Jewish Women International-British Columbia. Carr has been a member of JWI-BC since 1951 and served as president of the Lions Gate chapter many times, among her other roles there. Since becoming a member of JWI-BC in 1974, Chess has been driving for Meals on Wheels and coordinating tours to a tulip festival in Washington state. She also has served as president and as art auction chairwoman of the Centennial chapter.
Pat Hoffman, a strong advocate for senior issues, was honored in her role as a volunteer with Kehila Richmond Jewish Seniors. She coordinates a phone tree and is a volunteer driver and greeter for Kehila’s lunch program. She was also instrumental in starting up L’Chaim, the adult day program at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.
Haber had two roles, as speaker and also as honoree, nominated by Congregation Beth Israel, where he has been a volunteer for 30 years. Haber also has been a long-time board member of both the Louis Brier Home and Hospital and the Hillel Foundation. Haber chaired the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Seniors Advisory Council.
After the presentations, dessert was served and shmoozing was encouraged. Now, remember: serious, fun, serious, fun – that’s how it’s done.
Dena Dawson is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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