UPCOMING EVENTS
For details on any of the following events, or to purchase tickets, visit our website.
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Live from New York's 92nd Street Y™ Presents A Forum on Sustainable Global Enterprise with Al Gore, Stuart Hart, H. Fisk Johnson & Ratan Tata
Wednesday,
June 3, 7 pm
Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival Presents Refusenik
Thursday, June 4, 6:30 pm
Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival and St. Paul JCC Present Stefan Braun
Monday, June 22,
7 pm
concealed/revealed Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9,
6-8 pm
LOL: Laugh Out Loud! Workshop
Sunday, July 12,
2-3:30 pm
Summer Splash
Sunday, July 19,
11 am-2 pm
Drawing workshop with artist Emily Isenberg
Sunday, July 26,
1-4 pm
Dedication Ceremony - Founders Sculpture
Sunday, August 2,
4 pm
Uncovering the Hidden Layers: Discussion with Homeopath and Whole Picture Coach Vivien Bacaner
Thursday, August 6,
7 pm
Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival and Israel Program Center Present Gilad Shalit
Wednesday,
August 26, 7 pm
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notes from stuart
Dear Members and Friends,
As we close out our 08/09 year and begin our next, we acknowledge that this is
both a challenging and exciting time for the Sabes JCC. This year marks the
50th anniversary of our organization. It was in 1959 that we were incorporated
as the JCC of Greater Minneapolis. Thanks to the foresight, dedication and
commitment of the founders, the JCC has been here to serve, enrich and enlighten
our community for the past 50 years. In April we held our 50th Anniversary
Benefit to kick off the celebration. We had the great honor of recognizing the
founders, first board members and all of our past presidents. We also recently
held our Annual meeting where we recognized the past and talked about the
challenges of today's economy and the bright future for the Sabes JCC. To get a
flavor for the history and impact made by the JCC, visit the history page of
our website to view the fantastic 50th Anniversary video. You can also access
our annual report from our website.
The JCC is also proud of how we are helping out in these
challenging economic times. In addition to increasing our scholarships for
memberships and programs, the JCC has put together the "Whole Health Plan". This
program provides "pay-what-you-can" memberships for the recently unemployed with
discounted rates on programs. Through a collaboration with JFCS we will
also be able to provide counseling and employment services. You should all be
very proud as members and supporters of how the JCC is here for everyone in
good times and bad. Please consider the JCC in your philanthropic giving to
help us continue these services and others. Dues alone do not cover the cost of
all of our programming and services. Consider our new sustaining membership as
a way of providing an annual gift to the JCC. Visit our website or call Corrie Edgerton at 952.381.3514 for more information.
As the weather warms up it is a sign that the summer season
is upon us at the JCC. That means exciting camp programs and the opening of our
outdoor pool. There are still some openings in Camp Olami
and our specialty camps so it is not too late to schedule some amazing
experiences for your kids.
In our Health and Wellness departments we continue to strive
to create great experiences and help all of our members achieve their fitness
and wellness goals. Our amazing trainers come with diverse backgrounds to help
those of all ages, needs and objectives. In addition we continue to try new
cutting edge group fitness programs to keep your workouts exciting and
challenging. Our latest addition will be
a Pilates Studio, which will be opening in July. The studio will be equipped
with 4 Pilates reformers and we have certified Pilates instructors all lined
up. See the related article in the newsletter about this exciting new offering.
I hope everyone has a fantastic summer and I look forward to
seeing you around the Center.
B'Shalom,
Stuart Wachs,
Chief Executive Officer
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newsletter name
Thank you to the anonymous
member who suggested we take part of the Sabes JCC's mission - which is bringing
the community together
in an inclusive Jewish environment inspiring life balance. Experience it! - and
make that our new e-newsletter name. Experience all that the JCC has offer and
discover what we're all about...here, in the experience
news. |
50th anniversary photos
More than 225 people enjoyed wonderful food, friends and music at the Metropolitan Ballroom as they celebrated the JCC's 50th Anniversary of the signing on the articles of incorporation. "The benefit was a success for the JCC," commented Stuart Wachs, CEO, "and we are so thankful to everyone that was able to support our agency." Sharron and Oren Steinfeldt, who have been involved with the JCC since the beginning in 1959, were honored. Danna Mirviss received the President's Award for her volunteer leadership of JCC Macabbi ArtsFest® which took place at the Sabes JCC in August 2008.
See photos from the 50th Anniversary Benefit.
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camp around the corner
Green grass and
short sleeves can only mean one thing: camp is just around the corner! We can
hardly believe that the 2009 camp season is merely weeks away. The camp staff
has been busy planning an amazing summer. We are up to our ears in schedules,
field trips, special programming and especially hiring the best staff ever.
Along with our traditional camp staff, we are also joined by 4 Shlichim
(emissaries) who come to us from Israel. Each year Camp Olami
hires 2 male and 2 female Israeli staff to work at camp as specialists. This
year they are hired to lead drama, dance, nature and Israeli culture. The
Shlichim add a unique experience for everyone at camp. They bring with them a
taste of the culture, spirit and traditions of Israel, and camp is infused with
these experiences each day by their teaching of the Hebrew word of the day,
preparing Israeli cuisine and leading an all camp program focusing on Israel,
to name a few. They leave their own unique mark on camp year after year.
Don't
miss out on the most wonderful summer of your life! There are still some
available spots in both Camp
Olami and Summer Quest.
Be sure to visit our website to
learn more. Contact camp staff at 952.381.3421 or e-mail for more information.
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summer fitness update
Dear Members,
Summer is just around the corner and the JCC will have some exciting and fun opportunities for you to remain active this summer - including the outdoor pool and cafe, a new Pilates studio and plenty of membership appreciation opportunities. I encourage you to get outside as much as you can, but don't forget about your current exercise program. Weight training and core conditioning can slide in the summer and it's such an important part of an overall exercise program. Stay committed this summer. If you need help, we have excellent certified trainers to keep you on track or try a group training class today.
Check out these great summer offerings:
Outdoor Pool
The Aquatics Department at the JCC has been growing throughout the past year with exciting new classes, swim team and programs. Participation and excitement grows every month. Be sure to stop by or check the website for more details on the JCC aquatics programs.
We opened the outdoor pool on May 23 and we look forward to bringing you a fun and safe environment for you and your family. This summer there will be one schedule change. The outdoor pool will be closed on Mondays, except Memorial Day and Labor Day. The indoor pool will remain open on Mondays; we made this decision based on low usage the past few years. We look forward to seeing you at the outdoor pool and hopefully we will have a sunny summer. Our outdoor pool café, Nosh 'n Splash, will again be offering good food, snacks and refreshments. In addition it is our commitment to our members to increase our level of service not only at the outdoor pool but throughout the entire facility. One area that will not decrease is the number of lifeguards that we have on duty at all times. Safety is our number one concern and Elliot Kohl, our Aquatics Director, is working hard to train and develop a highly qualified staff.
Don't miss this year's Summer Splash on Sunday July 19 from 11 am to 2 pm. It is my mission as the General Manager that every member who uses our facility really feels that they belong to something great and is proud to be a member at the Sabes JCC.
Pilates Studio
I am very excited to announce that we will be opening a Pilates Studio in July. This studio will have 4 Pilates Reformers.
Pilates was developed by a man by the name of Joseph Pilates in the early 1900's. In 1926 the first official Pilates Studio was opened by Joseph in New York City. Since its introduction, Pilates continues to be used by millions who want to strengthen their bodies from the inside out by developing a strong muscular core/powerhouse, increased flexibility, improved posture, and the feeling of having complete control over your body. Pilates will change you. Pilates is for everyone who wants to optimally increase the function of their bodies and remain fluid as they age.
There will be numerous opportunities to try this equipment out. Look for the upcoming fliers and posters listing class demo times. Or you can call me and I would be more than happy to get you set up for a demo.
We are making some alterations to one of the racquetball courts to create our new Pilates Studio. Efficiently using our spaces to meet member's needs is a big concern for us. Based on extremely low usage of the racquetball courts we felt this gave us an opportunity to stay current with industry standards and provide additional services for our members.
June Referral Programs
For the month of June, any member that refers a new member to us will get to choose either a Personal Training session or a massage session. Then you will be entered into a drawing where, if chosen, you get either the Personal Training or massage session once a week for a month. This is a great chance to experience one of our services at no cost to you. This offer will expire on June 30, 2009.
June Membership Promotion
Kids are off for the summer! All families that join in June will only have to pay $75 per month, June through August (a $94 value), and only $50 enrollment fee. This is a great time for your family to join and take advantage of all the JCC has to offer for families, including the outdoor pool and aquatics programs. For membership information please call the Membership line at 952.381.3414.
Member Car Wash
We appreciate you. To show our appreciation, on Monday, June 15 the Health and Wellness staff will be holding a complimentary car wash for our members between the hours of 12-4 pm. I hope to see you there.
St. Paul Saints Special JCC Member Offer
See a St. Paul Saints game and support the JCC. This summer, attend one of these three games - Sunday, June 7, 1:05 pm; Monday, July 27, 7:05 pm or Tuesday, August 18, 7:05 pm - and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sabes JCC. Packages include tickets, food and drink vouchers and Saints merchandise. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
For more information on these and all of the wonderful experiences available at your JCC, be sure to visit our website. If you have any questions about any of these updates or anything else in the Health, Wellness and Aquatics Department, please feel free to give me a call at 952.381.3418 or email me.
I look forward to seeing you around the center.
In Health,
Cari Tschida
General Manager Health, Wellness and Aquatics
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kidspark donation and photos
Climbing, tossing, peeking through, over and under and just
playing - these are all activities that the ECC children can now do with our
brand-new Kidspark equipment. Thanks to a generous donation from Sharron and
Oren Steinfeldt, the ECC's muscle room now has all new equipment, designed to
help children improve and enhance their gross motor skills and is renamed as
the Kidspark. The ECC thanks Sharron and Oren Steinfeldt for their generosity. A
few weeks ago, one of the classes threw a small party thanking Sharron with
cookies, juice, a beautiful orchid and play.
See photos of the children thanking Sharron
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chaplin commissioned
At the Sabes JCC, we recognize how important it is to promote the arts in everyday life and provide entertaining and enriching opportunities to our members. In early 2008, while planning the 08/09 performing arts season, we wanted to make sure our season was diverse and offered something for everyone. Wellstone! last September brought in record attendance during heated political times, and gave local playwright and Guthrie actor Mark Rosenwinkel a second staging of his portrait of Senator Wellstone after its successful run at St. Paul's History Theatre. In December, Anschel and the Missing Chanukah Gelt provided families with an adventurous tale of a mysterious key, which led the play's characters to realize the importance of family, friendship, and being thankful for you have. Earlier this spring, we staged the first of Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy, Brighton Beach Memoirs, to packed houses and boatloads of laughs, and are pleased to continue the trilogy with a production of Biloxi Blues this coming fall.
The final production of this season was perhaps the most exciting because of the nature of its creation. Chaplin: The Son of Isidore and Hanna Thornstein, by local playwright, Deborah Stein, was commissioned a year ago by the Sabes JCC, and was a playful and pragmatic examination of the relationship between Charlie Chaplin's style of comedy and Jewish self-image in the early part of the 20th century.
Commissioning a new play takes a lot of time and collaborative trust, and we were very lucky to have a fantastic group of artists on board throughout the development process. Deborah, along with director and collaborator Jon Ferguson, five top Twin Cities actors, and a team of dedicated designers all worked together to make sure the play's message was clear, create gorgeous stage imagery, and find the heart of a truly fascinating story.
Art like this makes an impact that doesn't go unnoticed. "The JCC's decision to fund the creation of new work despite the tough state of the economy is invaluable," says actress and University of Minnesota Guthrie BFA student Breana Jarviss. "Every artist who worked on this production has given such a gift to the community - a new play full of energy, charm, and incredible relevance."
"In this current financial climate it is extremely important that organizations and communities continue to support and fund new art and artists creating brand new work," says director Jon Ferguson. "We understand ourselves and our world better by viewing each other's expression through art. We are more united as people as we come to understand that we experience life as our neighbor does. We see this in action in the theater. It is visual, physical and spoken. For me, [Chaplin] is a very universal play. It is about identity. It is about the place in our hearts that we call home. It is about being torn between following a dream and feeling the need to remain where you are grounded. It is also about survival, and the ability to continue against the odds. Charlie Chaplin's homeless 'Tramp' character is the eternal optimist. Against all the odds, he continues, with a glint in his eye and a spring in his step. He is an inspiration to all of us - in life and in difficult times."
Audience members throughout the three week production run raved about the play, and were so thankful to have been exposed to a "non-traditional" theatre style. The play juxtaposed the dialogue and relationship struggles between three young Jewish filmmakers in Paris with the actual silent films they created on stage, modeled after Charlie Chaplin's films. Some audience survey comments after the performance included: "gorgeous and playful," "outstanding performers," and "provocative and charming!"
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installation in progress
For the past year, a committee of twelve dedicated people
and one local artist has been working quietly and persistently on a very
exciting project.
On August 2 from 4 to 6 pm in the Sabes JCC Lobby, a
dedication ceremony of the new Founders Sculpture designed by local artist
Alexander Tylevich will take place. This sculpture is a dedication to those who
had the vision and foresight to lay the foundation for our Jewish community. It
will be permanently installed in the Sabes JCC lobby and represents the bonds
that tie past, present and future generations.
"Through the generosity of the Tychman Shapiro Family, this
sculpture represents the story of one family while capturing the universal story
of us all."
-Paula Leiter Pergament, Committee Member
Remarks by Alexander Tylevich will begin 4:30 pm
with a dessert reception. This event is sponsored by the Tychman Shapiro Family
in honor of Al Tychman. The event is free and open to the community. Please
RSVP by July 29 to Robyn Awend at 952.381.3416 or e-mail. |
whole health plan
Feel proud of your JCC.
We want to let all of our members know how your JCC is
reaching out to help those in our community that have recently lost their jobs.
In being true to our mission of inspiring life balance and bringing the
community together, the Sabes JCC is proud to be offering the Whole Health Plan
(WHP), a "pay-what-you-can" membership that grants anyone who is recently
unemployed full membership privileges, plus free or low-cost opportunities for
cultural, social and vocational enrichment.
As the first known program of its kind in the nation amongst
other Community Centers and Health Clubs, the purpose of the Whole Health Plan
is to provide individuals and families recently affected by the recession with
whole health-body, mind/spirit and career assistance.
"In discussions amongst staff and our board, we recognized
the growing number of people who have lost their jobs and the struggles they
are facing," said Stuart Wachs, Sabes JCC CEO. "We felt this was an opportunity
for us to reach out to the entire community and provide these needed services
and enriching experiences. Our partnership with Jewish Family and Children's
Service of Minneapolis will help us also provide counseling and job search
services. This program speaks to the great impact the Sabes JCC has on peoples'
lives and on helping build community."
In addition to taking care of physical well-being through
our Health & Wellness
Center, the WHP also
offers opportunities for participation in the cultural and social programs at
the JCC, like complimentary tickets to a performance, and vocational
enrichment. Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) can
offer a variety of support services during this time when everyone is feeling
the stress of financial pressure, in the form of counseling, career services
and financial assistance, which are always available. By partnering with JFCS,
the WHP will also provide free monthly workshops on topics related to these
stressful economic times, such as how to talk to your family about money or how
to manage the stress of everyday life. Jewish Vocational Service, a division of
JFCS, will offer services including: free job and resume posting from the
comfort of your home on ParnossahWorksMinnesota.org; a bi-weekly resource and
support group for networking; and career counseling and employment services,
such as resume assistance or educational planning for a sliding fee. These
programs offered by JFCS are available to anyone interested.
If you know of anyone who has recently lost their job in
the past 3 months, please have them stop in or call our membership staff at
952.381.3414 so we can help them and their family find some balance in their
life at these stressful times. Others who may have been unemployed for longer
or who need financial assistance can apply for a membership scholarship which
is always available at the JCC.
Thank you for your support of the JCC; we
wanted you as members to know about this program and be proud of being a part
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annual meeting and report
The 2009 Sabes JCC Annual Meeting took place on Tuesday, May
19. A recurring theme throughout the evening was the arts. Many of our
successes and expanded outreach this year have been through the Robert and Janet Sabes
Center for Jewish Arts
& Humanities. The growth of these programs has helped put the JCC on the
map as a destination for exciting experiences in the arts and humanities for
Jew and non-Jew alike. It's little wonder that our two awards this evening both
reflect work within this burgeoning department.
Francie Ross and Festival Director Miryam Kabakov presented
Walter Elias, chair of the Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival, with the Jewish
Journeys Award, recognizing him as a dedicated volunteer who builds strong
Jewish connections to inspire others to be connected and involved. Walter's
leadership has been a critical factor in growing the dedicated army of
volunteers who made this year's film festival an unprecedented success. And
every one of the thousands of people who attended the films over the years has
benefited from Walter's passion for this project.
Chuck Selcer presented Claire
Avitabile, JCC Director of Performing Arts, with the Susie
Selcer Leadership Award, for her demonstration of outstanding leadership among
peers, fiscal and/or social responsibility, innovation and commitment to
excellence and brand delivery. Claire has the unique combination of creativity
and acumen to make the performing arts program thrive - finding ways to save on
costs while bringing a diverse array of performing arts programs and
experiences to an ever-widening audience. Prior to this award presentation,
Mark Benzel who played the lead character, Eugene Jerome from this winter's
production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, gave a short performance to provide a
sampling of Claire's department. The piece also served as a save the date for
this fall's production of Biloxi Blues, the continuation of Eugene Jerome's
story.
Another theme for the evening was the stressful times and
the impact on fundraising, staff and the community in general. The theme of
reducing costs is one that resonates with every business, agency and organization
not just in the Twin Cities but nationwide-even worldwide. The past several
months have required close management of our financial position. Like other
agencies and businesses, we've had to make difficult, even painful decisions.
At the same time, we've
remained fully committed to keeping our programs available
and accessible - meeting increased demand for scholarships and developing outreach
and programming to support struggling and laid off families. In his remarks,
Stuart Wachs acknowledged that the entire staff has truly risen to the
occasion, continuing to serve the community cheerfully and professionally
despite the increasing strain of reduced resources. Our incredible volunteers
have also stepped forward in numerous ways; planning, fundraising, implementing and
evaluating the agency's programs. Robin Neidorf recognized the work of our
dedicated board of directors. This has been a period of intense planning and
management, requiring a close collaboration between board leadership and senior
staff. Members of the board have given generously of their time, expertise and
insight to help the JCC survive and thrive. The outgoing Board Members were
thanked and the 09/10 members were confirmed.
Stuart Wachs introduced a new model for our membership,
including a new category of sustaining membership. The new Sabes JCC Sustaining
Membership category is our annual support membership which is replacing our
annual fund. This membership helps provide the JCC with the needed funding to
provide the array of services, programs and experiences that bring the
community together, enrich lives, strengthen our community and increase
people's engagement to, and understanding of, Judaism. These funds also help us
be an inclusive agency by providing some of the resources needed to provide
financial assistance and other inclusion services.
A sustaining membership helps the Sabes JCC reach its full
potential to serve the community. Our thousands of members and program
participants enjoy the vast array of unique programs and services we provide
through our Robert and Janet Sabes Center
for Jewish Arts and Humanities, Early Childhood Center,
Health and Wellness
Center, recreation
programs, enrichment classes, senior services, day camps and much more. While
the Sabes JCC charges for fee-based memberships and for many of its programs
and activities, fees do not cover a significant portion of the costs involved
in running a vibrant JCC. Your sustaining membership enables the JCC to provide
staff training; need-based scholarships; increased capacity to deliver
cutting-edge programs and services; facility excellence and community outreach.
Become a sustaining member and belong to the JCC or add a
sustaining membership on top of your existing JCC membership. The sustaining
membership is a fully tax deductible contribution. Sustaining members receive a
JCC membership card, JCC publications and notices, and truly belong to the JCC.
To become a sustaining member today, visit our Support Us page or contact our development office at 952.381.3514.
Sustaining memberships can be paid on an annual basis or set
up as a monthly draft.
Read the Sabes JCC's Annual Report. |
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