October 2005
EVJCC Dedication & Open House
It was almost exactly a year ago (October 26, 2004) that our groundbreaking ceremony was announced to take place on the vacant lot adjacent to an abandoned Osco Drug Store. The Groundbreaking was the kick-off event for the Center's Capital Campaign and was an opportunity for community members to see architectural renderings of the interior and exterior of the newly renamed East Valley JCC. It was just a year ago when promises were made to design the interior of the building to accommodate the existing services with space to grow. Construction was to start in the winter with the new space and playgrounds ready to open in August 2005.
The final sentence in the article read: Together we can work miracles!
Now, a year later, the EVJCC is open with a beautiful interior including new furniture and equipment. The people who helped turn an empty building into a source of pride for the entire community will be recognized for this year-long labor of love. We still have a long way to go to complete the campaign for Phase I with a vision to develop the vacant land and provide the full service Jewish Community Center this community wants and deserves.
Please join community members and dignitaries at the Dedication & Open House of the new East Valley JCC to celebrate the founding of a permanent home during this meaningful holiday season. Mazel Tov to all the individuals who helped make this part of our dream a reality.
New Executive Director Hired
The Executive Director Search Committee and the Board of Managers are proud to announce the hiring of Steven Tepper as our next Executive Director. "After a nine month search process, we are so excited to have found Steve. He is an absolutely perfect fit our JCC", said Jay Scherotter, Chair of the Search Committee.
Steve is currently the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio, Texas. In San Antonio, Steve supervised five full-time employees within four departments, and over 50 part-time staff. He conducted agency wide staff training, development and maintenance of the agency web site, program oversight and development, departmental hiring and training and lead the agency marketing efforts Before his three years in San Antonio, Steve was the Director of children, youth, family, & camping services from 1998-2002 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
The Search Committee felt that finding our next executive director was one the most important decisions in the history of our agency. The committee analyzed over 40 resumes, interviewed six candidates, and narrowed their choice to Steve. Steve brings a remarkable programming background, strong leadership and administrative skills, a sense of vision and purpose, and most of all an enthusiasm to grow our agency to a full-service JCC. The staff, Federation leadership, as well as local community leaders participated in the interviewing process. The support to bring Steve to our community was unanimous.
Steven, his wife Karen, and two year old daughter Zoe are in the process of moving to the East Valley. Steve's official start date is December 1. Steve will be here at our October 23rd Dedication and Open House - come and welcome Steve and his family!
AROUND THE CENTER
Break the Fast
Please join us for our first Break the Fast supper and ceremony on Thursday, October 13th at 6:45 p.m. A catered feast featuring noodle kugel, bagels and cream cheese spreads, egg salad, hummus, fresh fruit, sour cream cake, chocolate bread pudding and assorted beverages will be served.
Cost for the event is $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under are free. Prepaid reservations are due by October 7th. Call the JCC for reservations.
East Valley JCC Casino Night
Michael Pollack's "Party Ranch"Saturday, November 5, 2005
7PM - 11PM
Join your friends at this absolutely awesome event at Pollack's Party Ranch! This fabulous fundraiser which benefits children's programs at the JCC, features a barbeque dinner, raffles, open bar, casino and arcade games, and silent and live auction items. Michael Pollack's band featuring Jesse Maquire and three vocalists will provide three hours of listening and dancing enjoyment. Invitations will be in the mail soon! The EVJCC will host a Parent's Nite Out for babysitting services from 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. at the JCC.
We Need Your Help
The Casino Night Committee needs auction and raffle items to add to the the success of this fundraiser. If you can help us obtain desirable items such as jewelry, weekends at vacation homes, dinners for two, home accessories, dinner with a celebrity, sports tickets, and memorabilia, golf packages.... you get the picture.... please let Ilene or Meg know. Think creatively of any business or personal contacts you may know which could help support our children's programs. A thoroughbred puppy would be nice!
Seniors' Terrific Tuesdays
Tuesday, October 11th @ 10:30 a.m. - The topic, "Stolen Art," the docent Judy Washor of the Phoenix Art Museum. Great art has been stolen through the ages and spans many different periods. Sounds interesting! Please attend our only program for the month of October!!
Super Sunday
An EVJCC team is taking the 11 a.m. shift at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix for "Super Sunday" on Sunday, October 9th to make phone calls asking for community support of our local agencies and Israel. If you would like to volunteer to help, let us know! Call Ilene at 897-0588.
Book Club
Enduring Love
By Ian McEwan
Monday, October 17, 2005 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by Linda Rickel
Call 897-0588 for information
Theater Tickets
The JCC has reserved a limited number of tickets for the April 16, 2006 matinee performance of Golda's Balcony starring Valerie Harper as Golda Meir. Part of ASU's Gammage Theater Broadway series, Golda's Balcony is a one-woman show which runs for 95 minutes, portrays the rise of Golda Meir from Russian school girl to Israel's Prime Minister. Tickets are $56 each and all orchestra level and will be sold on a first-come basis. Call Ilene at the JCC for seat selection.
Softball Anyone?
- Do you still own a glove (that fits)?
- Can you still hit a softball - slow pitch style?
- Do you run, or do you wobble?
- Would you like to play Softball on a Sunday afternoon?
The East Valley JCC is forming a Co-Ed ADULT Softball team to play different Jewish organizations around the valley. If you are interested, start stretching and please call Lisa at (480) 897-0588! We would like to play a game in October.
Todah!
Many thanks to Daryl Edson and Ray Forbes who assembled the lofts for three of our classrooms. Amazingly, Daryl dug right in and assembled two of the lofts solo, in just a few hours! Needless to say, the children are having a ball!! Thanks guys!
Much gratitude also goes to Daryl Edson's friend, Jay Quarton, from Billiards 4 U, who donated a beautiful pool table for our lounge.
ADULT • YOUTH
Adult
Adult Education Classes
The EVJCC in conjunction with Chabad of the East Valley and the Bureau of Jewish Education will offer adult education classes on Wednesday and Thursday mornings starting in November. All classes meet for six weeks and do not meet Thanksgiving week.
Bureau of Jewish Education - Begins November 3, 2005
| Class Title | Day | Time | Instructor | Cost |
| Maimonides | Th | 9:30-10:30 | A.Scholar | $18 |
Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, known in Hebrew literature as the Rambam and in Western culture since the Renaissance as Maimonides, is unquestionably one of the outstanding figures of Jewish history - a figure whose commanding influence has been widely recognized by non-Jews as well as Jews. We will study his teaching about G-d, the Existence of Evil, Free Will, Repetence, the World to Come, Idolatry and Superstition, Health and Hygiene, the Messiah and the Messianic Era.
| Class Title | Day | Time | Instructor | Cost |
| Ethics of Our Fathers | Th | 10:40-11:40 | A. Scholar | $18 |
Ethics of Our Fathers will be studied in English using the actual text. This course will examine the Jewish approach to piety, ethics, purpose of life, love of G-d and man, etc. Ethics of Our Fathers is a section of the Talmud. Open to new and continuing students.
Jewish Learning Institute - Begins November 16, 2005
| Class Title | Day | Time | Instructor | Cost |
| Beyond Never Again: The Holocaust Speaks to Our Generation |
W | 10:00-11:30 | Rabbi M. Dietsch | $89 |
Explore the ways in which the Holocaust continues to affect our generation and colors what it means to live as a Jew today. Cost includes study guide.
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out is back! For those of you who have no idea what Parents Night Out is let me tell you! This is your chance to spend an evening away from your children and leave the babysitting up to the JCC! We provide the staff, snacks and fun while you go out for a night on the town! This Parents Night Out is in conjunction with our Casino Night. What better way to spend the evening - drop your kids off at the JCC then go play Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, etc? If you can't make Casino Night you can still take advantage of our Parents Night Out!
Here are all the details!
WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 2005
WHERE: East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler
TIME: 5:30pm - 11:30pm
COST: $3.50 per hour per child
A $5.00 Non-refundable deposit (This will be deducted from your total cost.) per child is required to reserve a space. Parents must supply diapers and formula for those children requiring them. To sign up or for more information call or see Lisa.
Youth
Fall Break Camp
Join the East Valley JCC for another fun-filled Fall Break Camp! The dates are Oct 10, 11, 12 & 14. We will be closed on Thursday, October 13th for Yom Kippur. You may sign up by the day or for the week. Our daily themes are:
| Oct. 10th | Magnetic! - Fuzzy magnets, Scarecrow magnets, Fall Magnets... You choose, but get ready to have a magnetic time! |
| Oct. 11th | Puzzled - Color your own puzzle, put puzzles together, play puzzling games and have a pieced together great day! |
| Oct. 12th | Skateland! - That's right, we're walking to Skateland for an afternoon of skating fun! The morning will be filled with crafts & fun! |
| Oct. 13th | CLOSED FOR YOM KIPPUR |
| Oct. 14th | Play Ball! - No, not Baseball...Paddleball, Basketball and all kinds of ball games! |
Camp hours are 9:00am - 4:00pm with extended daycare hours from 6:30 - 9:00am and 4:00 - 6:00pm.
The cost is $25/day or $95/week for JCC Members; $27/day or $105/week for non-members.
The cost for extended daycare is $3.90/hour. 10% discount for the second child. A DAIRY LUNCH is needed everyday. Please call Lisa at (480) 897-0588 for more information or to sign up.
Youth Clubs (Club 12, Club 34 & Teens & Tweens)
Wow! What an exciting month we have planned for you! We're off to Game-On (located on the S.E. Corner of 32nd Street & Chandler Blvd.). Game-On features one of the largest inflatable arenas (It's the size of a basketball court and has giant mazes, obstacle courses, net climbing, slides and basketball!) We will meet on Tuesday, October 11th at Game On at 6:30pm for one and a half hours of jumping, bouncing and running fun! Don't forget to wear your socks! The cost is $7.00 per person (This includes the inflatable park and 4 arcade tokens per person. You may bring extra money for the arcades games if you wish!). 10 paying people minimum! Call Lisa at (480) 897-0588 for more information or to sign up.
Daddy & Me
We have an exciting Daddy & Me activity scheduled this month! We're off to Stratum Laser Tag! Please sign up with Lisa as soon as possible!
DATE: Sunday, October 30th
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00pm
PLACE: Stratum Laser Tag (just North of US 60 and Stapley)
1455 S Stapley
COST: $15.00 per person. Each person will play 3 games
RSVP: Reserve your spots with Lisa at (480) 897-0588 by Thursday, October 27th. We must have a minimum of 10 paying participants.