Page 30 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN <strong>July</strong>-<strong>August</strong> 20<strong>09</strong> <strong>August</strong>a Federation’s annual meeting celebrates community involvement O n June 8, the <strong>August</strong>a <strong>Jewish</strong> Federation held its annual meeting at the <strong>August</strong>a <strong>Jewish</strong> Community Center. <strong>The</strong> meeting was opened with welcoming remarks by Al Grinspun, president, followed by the singing of “<strong>The</strong> Star- Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah,” led by Gary Katcoff. Leah Ronen, executive director of the Federation, reported that the 2008 campaign closed with a record 385 pledges. She highlighted the services that had been rendered to the members of the community because of the generosity of the <strong>August</strong>a kehillah. She and Al Grinspun challenged members to make every effort to encourage individuals to continue their support, even if the present economic climate makes that difficult. As Ronen said, “It is time for all hands on deck!” Officers and board members for the coming year were elected. Officers are: Al Grinspun, president; Louise Aronow, vice president—campaign chair; Debbie Katcoff, vice president—allocations; Bob Botnick, secretary; and Jack Weinstein, treasurer. Board members with terms ending 2010 are Alyssa Bogorad, Lou Scharff, Jon Shoenholz, Joan Steinberg, and Jack Weinstein; those with terms ending 2011 are Louise Aronow, Ziva Bruckner, Marc Gottlieb, Al Grinspun, and Margie Ruben; those with terms ending 2012 are Bob Botnick, Jeff Broder, Paul Graboff, Debbie Federation President Al Grinspun Executive Director Leah Ronen Anne Pomper receiving the Outstanding Volunteer 20<strong>09</strong> from Al Grinspun Katcoff, and Beverly Lowenstein. After the election, Sumner Fishbein conducted the installation. Anne Pomper was named Outstanding Volunteer 20<strong>09</strong> for her untiring efforts in telling the story of Federation to donors. Pomper, on her own, undertook the work of Stephen Steinberg presenting the Maurice Steinberg Achievement Award to Bob Botnick making personal contact with members of the community; as a result, there was a marked increase in participation. Bob Botnick was honored with the Maurice Steinberg Achievement Award. Stephen Steinberg, Maurice’s son, made the presentation, saying, “<strong>The</strong> recipient shares One Good Deed serves residents’ needs I t’s hard to know how a person with a disability or disadvantage feels, unless you have experienced that life yourself. Sharon Spiegelman experienced a typical, healthy life, until beset by physical ailments that landed her in a motorized chair. That may have slowed down others, but not Sharon, for she has continued to be an active and cheerful person who has found ways to help others in need of everyday services. Sharon was born in New Jersey and, at a tender age, moved to Georgia with her parents and two siblings. She went through the Atlanta school system and attended the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in Sharon Spiegelman communications in 1981. She didn’t know what she might do with that degree, but shortly after graduation, she went to work for the CIBA optical company and rose from customer service rep to supervisor. Her next job took her to Florida, where BY Leon Socol she worked for Scott Foresman, the textbook publishing company. <strong>The</strong>n she returned to Atlanta and had a 15-year career with Perlis Real Estate Development Company, selling commercial real estate. After that, she developed a bone disorder that resulted in multiple leg fractures. Her doctors advised her to give up walking and use a wheelchair, in order to avoid more serious fractures in other parts of her body. Her younger sister, Lisa, had married Atlantan Marty Halpern, who was in commercial real estate. Four years ago, the Halperns took a trip to Israel and saw how volunteer programs worked and flourished there. Marty thought some of these programs might work for senior groups that didn’t qualify for programs then being offered in Atlanta. When they got home, he contacted Sharon and told her about the programs he had seen. He asked her to help him find people who were older or suffered long- or short-term disabilities and needed help with life’s daily tasks. Sharon had, by then, been reduced to working part time. Marty said that he would finance the venture for several years if she would organize and run it. Thus, One Good Deed was founded in February 2006. Its primary area of operations was Northeast Atlanta. <strong>The</strong> non-profit’s mission is to help seniors and other persons with physical or long-term health needs maintain their independence, remain in their homes longer, and avoid costly institutional care. Through friends and word of mouth, Sharon set about to enlist volunteers. Over the last three years, Sharon has gathered a group of 133 volunteers, whom she matches with clients. <strong>The</strong>re is no charge for One Good Deed’s services, and volunteers are rewarded with the joy they bring to those they serve. Satisfaction in serving others is truly a wonderful feeling, says Sharon. Sharon and Marty’s One Good Deed is partnering with the Toco Hill and Meyer Balser NORCs (naturally occurring retirement communities); <strong>Jewish</strong> Federation of Greater Atlanta; <strong>Jewish</strong> Family & Career Services; Life Enrichment Services; Center for the Visually Impaired; and Caregiver CARE Atlanta. Volunteers of all ages provide help such as changing a hard-to-reach light bulb or smoke alarm battery, shopping for groceries, running errands, doing household chores, preparing and/or delivering a meal, providing companionship, filling in for a Maurice’s belief in our tradition of tzedakah and his faith in the ability of the <strong>Jewish</strong> people for tikkun olam.” Botnick moved to <strong>August</strong>a in 1962 to begin his practice of medicine. During the ensuing years, he became a respected member of the medical community, but always found time to volunteer his time and energy in the service of others. Botnick has served as president of the Georgia Society of Internal Medicine, chairman of the Richmond County Health Department, board member of MAG Mutual Insurance Company, board member of the <strong>Jewish</strong> Educational Loan Fund, a founding physician of Doctors Hospital of <strong>August</strong>a, co-chairman of a Jaycees campaign that distributed free doses of the Sabin polio vaccine to residents of Richmond County, chairman of the Israel Bond Drive, board member of Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, and member of the board and president of the <strong>August</strong>a <strong>Jewish</strong> Federation. In his retirement, he serves as a volunteer physician at the Faith Care Medical Clinic, a medical facility operated by Wesley United Methodist Church for indigent residents of Columbia County. After closing remarks by Rabbi David Sirull, of Adas Yeshurun, the meeting was adjourned. Volunteerism is alive and well in <strong>August</strong>a. caregiver, and providing transportation. Current plans are to extend services to residents living in the area north of the Meyer Balser Home, in Northwest Atlanta. Financing and expanding the services of One Good Deed is a daunting task, especially in the present economic climate, but Sharon and her helpers have received grant money from local and national sources. Sharon even sells sympathy cards, with all the proceeds going to One Good Deed. Sharon literally lives a life of service to others. She has spread the word about One Good Deed via the numerous organizations of which she is an active member. She and her husband (also named Marty) reside in Decatur, in a home modified to accommodate wheelchairs. Her husband, victim of a robbery years ago, uses a wheelchair, too. But that doesn’t hamper either Marty or Sharon Spiegelman. <strong>The</strong>y both lead active and productive lives that challenge individuals without disabilities. If you would like to volunteer with One Good Deed, it’s easy. Just contact Sharon Spiegelman at 404-460-7842 or www.1gooddeed.org. You will need to submit an application with references, participate in a brief interview, undergo a criminal background check, and spend 1-2 hours a month doing a good deed. No special training is required, and One Good Deed liability insurance protects both volunteers and clients.
<strong>July</strong>-<strong>August</strong> 20<strong>09</strong> THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 31