Sunday in the Park chairwoman to be honored at JP Connections

The Jewish Pavilion exists because of its vast amount of volunteers. For this reason, every year the Pavilion recognizes all its volunteers and honors two specifically at the annual JP Connections. This year Jane Edelstein and Lois Silverberg are the honorees.

Talk about jumping in with both feet-Jane Edelstein wears two hats at the Jewish Pavilion. Three years ago, when she first got involved as a volunteer with the Jewish Pavilion's Friends Board, she became the chairwoman of the fall Sunday in the Park festival and the Taste in the Park festival in the spring.

"Jane is a superb volunteer," said Nancy Ludin, executive director of Jewish Pavilion. "She joined the Friends Board and immediately began serving on planning committees. She volunteered to chair a new event-A Taste in the Park and did a fabulous job! The following year she chaired Sunday in the Park and again exceeded all expectations. Jane has excellent people skills. She is warm, compassionate and very bright!"

When Ludin introduced a new intergenerational program and was looking for a person to develop the program, Edelstein applied for the job and was hired last August.

"So, I have the paid position as intergenerational program director, and I still do my volunteering," she said, emphasizing that she keeps both "jobs" separate as best she can.

After graduating from Ohio University in Athens, Edelstein started as a writer/editor and sold advertising. She became the publisher and vice president of a business magazine in New York, eventually launching a magazine in the early 1980s for professionals.

With a background in business magazine publishing, Edelstein came to Central Florida in 2008 from Shaker Heights, Ohio, to accept a job as the director of convention marketing of the Convention Business Bureau. She was there until 2011. Now, in addition to her volunteer work and development of the intergenerational program at the Pavilion, she still writes and does marketing.

Edelstein is excited about the intergenerational program. "It goes two ways now. Seniors benefit from the young people and the young people have a lot to learn from the seniors," she said.

"We've just scratched the surface of intergenerational programming because there are demands on both sides," Edelstein stated.

For example, the first program she did was with Amy Geboff and the Congregation Ohev Shalom teens. "We had 10 -12 teens and 24 seniors. Amy led a structured discussion where we talked about different Jewish values. Each table consisted of some youth and seniors who rated the values. So, basically, they ended up talking about the values."

What kind of values? Jewish learning, family, monetary success, involvement in synagogue.

"The exchange of thoughts and opinions was very lively!" Edelstein said, adding that all the teens and seniors unanimously desire to do this on a regular basis.

Other intergenerational programs include one-on-one programs in which bar or bat mitzvah students do their projects with a senior, and new miscellaneous programs such as classes and parties.

Whether volunteering or developing the intergenerational program, Edelstein works closely with the four Jewish Pavilion program directors and the assisted-living facilities activities directors, all of which keeps her very busy.

JP Connections will be held Thursday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m., at the Altamonte Hilton. Couvert, $25; Patron tickets for $50 include $25 in shopping bucks; Patron tickets for $100 include $75 in shopping tickets.

Register online at http://www.jewishpavilion.org or call 407-678-9363.