2019 JFGO Annual Meeting, Aug. 25

It has been a year of unprecedented change for the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. Much of that change—and what it means for the larger Central Florida Jewish community—will be discussed Sunday, Aug. 25, during JFGO’s 2019 Annual Meeting at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center in Maitland.

The annual meeting comes nearly seven months after the Federation and JCC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to share certain staff and services while both organizations continue to operate independently. The shared services have included executive leadership and marketing services. Executive Director Keith Dvorchik is expected to share the organization’s insights about this experience so far, with an eye toward pursuing additional efficiencies in the year ahead. Dvorchik is also expected to talk about the planned Community Trip to Israel in April 2020.

The past year has also seen the apparent elimination of the debt that has saddled the Jewish Community Campus in Maitland since the 1980s. A successful four-year Campus 2020 Debt Retirement Campaign, which this year boasted a 24-hour Focus on the Future fundraising blitz that raised $56,500 (doubled to $113,000 with a match from the Harris Rosen Foundation), effectively ended the public fundraising component of Campus 2020, with the remaining debt erased by the sale of the vacant campus building. That sale is expected to close within a few weeks, likely before the Annual Meeting takes place.

In other Annual Meeting business, Federation members present will vote for a new secretary and a new treasurer for the Board of Directors. Names of nominees have not yet been announced. Board President Brad Jacobs and Vice President Ming Marx will serve in their roles through the 2020 Annual Meeting, with Rhonda Forest continuing as immediate past president. Current Treasurer Danielle Krise and Secretary Carol Feuerman will move to at-large director seats on the Board.

Nominated for director positions on the board are Seth Hymen and Scott Miller, with Miller representing the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center.

It wouldn’t be an Annual Meeting without awards. As announced earlier this month, the Heritage Florida Jewish News Human Service Award will be presented to Dick Weiner for his decades of service to our community. The Federation will honor Rob Gebaide with the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Award, and Abby Nelson, recipient of the Byron B. Selber Young Leadership Award.

The Annual Meeting will be held in the Harriett and Hymen Lake Cultural Center Auditorium at The Roth Family JCC in Maitland. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 25 and will wrap up by noon. Bagels, pastries and coffee will be served. You can RSVP online at jfgo.org/meeting or call Office Manager Marisa West at 407-645-5933 ext. 236.