STAFF MEMBER BOBBY LAYMAN MEET YOUR NEW BOARD ...

center LEADERSHIP mazel tov
Melanie and Herb Dubin, Hal Zeitlin to be Recognized at Annual Meeting
FLORA STETSON
DISGINGUISHED SERVICE
AWARD
Melanie and Herb Dubin
In the fall of 1990, Melanie and Herb Dubin
responded to an advertisement in the Center
Scene seeking volunteers for the Gudelsky
Exceptional Swim Program. Answering that ad
VIVIAN AND
MORTON
RABINEAU
TEEN
VOLUNTEER
AWARD
Hal Zeitlin
Hal Zeitlin has held B’nai Brith Youth
Organization leadership positions on the chapter
and council levels. He has logged more than
430 hours of community service, including
Passing the Torch, Continued from page 2
to better the Center and our community and
through all of their efforts, we have been able to
work within a balanced budget. This is quite an
accomplishment given that this was a period of
severe economic downturn.
And of course, you, our members and
participants, also play important roles in carrying
out the Center’s mission. Without your continued
participation and support, we could not remain
the vital and vibrant Center that we are, serving
so many in our community in such meaningful
ways.
When putting into perspective that our Center is
5 June 2011 • jccgw.org • 301.881.0100
marked the launch of their 21-year association
with the program, 16 as volunteers and the last
five as coordinators.
Funded by a grant from the Isadore and Bertha
Gudelsky Family Foundation, the Gudelsky
Exceptional Swim Program is for children, teens
and adults with physical challenges. It has
been taking place at the JCCGW indoor pool on
Saturday mornings for decades.
“It is exciting to watch someone who encounters
difficulty ‘on land’ learn to swim and feel at home
in the water. It is a wonderful way to spend a
Saturday morning,” Melanie and Herb relate.
“We are a community,” they say of this
supportive network that benefits not only
the participants but also their families and
the volunteers. It provides an opportunity to
volunteering at the Hebrew Home of Greater
Washington, helping peers with disabilities
through Best Buddies and Kol Echad Youth, and
assisting at Wayside Elementary School.
The Winston Churchill High School junior has
served on his school’s student government as
vice president and has been a member of the
Mock Trial Team. Hal has been involved with
the Anti-Bullying Committee as leader; “Each
One Reach One” as chief of staff; and founded
Churchill Green, a program of increased student
eco-awareness and action, as founder.
For Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS),
almost 100 years old, one must pause and realize
all that has been accomplished. I so wish that
our forefathers were here with us today to see
how we have become the nucleus of Jewish life
for so many members of our community. I know
that they would be enormously proud of not
just the bricks and mortar, but of our staff, our
programming and our more than 300 volunteers
who make it possible to keep our doors open.
While I am leaving my post as president this
month, I am committed to staying involved in all
aspects of our Center. I look forward to working
with our incoming president, Scott Cohen, who I
know will bring fresh ideas, energy and inspiring
leadership to the board. I also am excited to be
socialize, share information and resources,
offer encouragement in challenging times, and
celebrate together on happy occasions.
Karla Kramer, whose son Lucas has muscular
dystrophy and participates in the program, relays
how fortunate she considers herself to have
found “this great program of people and support”
where she and Lucas are welcomed with open
arms.
The Dubins have donated countless hours to this
unique and valued program that has affected
many lives in a profound and meaningful way.
“Melanie and Herb are dedicated, committed
and caring individuals who give 110% to the
Gudelsky Swim Program,” reflects JCCGW
Aquatics Director Caroline Cardullo. “They are
truly amazing.”
Hal has been a Student Member of the Board
school representative and lobbying coordinator.
He has also served on the county Student
Government Association as the events manager.
A youth co-chair for Shirley Brandman for the
Board of Education campaign, Hal has also
assisted Craig Rice’s county council campaign
and has served on the Maryland Youth Advisory
Council.
Hal has worked at Giant Foods and Peer2Peer
Tutors. He lives in Potomac with his father Kim
Zeitlin and brother Sam Zeitlin.
an active participant as we begin the next 100
years, and am looking forward to celebrating in
all of the centennial festivities.
Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that
nobody need wait a single moment before
starting to improve the world.” I couldn’t agree
more. And, I would say, “How wonderful that
our Center never waits a single moment before
starting to improve the lives of everyone in our
own community.” This is why I am so committed
to staying involved and devoting my time, energy
and resources in our Center. I hope you will
join me in this journey and get involved in the
continual discovery of what our Center has to
offer.