Ohio Jewish Chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-11-10, page 01 |
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nu-"V THE The Ohio Jewish Chronicle Sending Cvlumbus and the Central Ohio Jewish Coirtrnunity since 1922 VOLUME 72 NUMBER 46 NOVEMBER 10,1994 7KIS1EV5755 WpLmmm^MUm Syria for peace with Israel page 2 M. Romanoff to receive national Agudath award page 3 AfHcan-AmericaB and Jewish relatlons-looMngtoffieflitee page 4 Shifman Family cantors to present Chanukah Concert page 6 ABOUT THE COVER JCC Member Services staff Theresa Gunther (left) and Terri Batten (right) welcome new member Jean Bradley at the Prospective Member , Open House, held in September, to introduce tlte Choice Plan, the JCC's new membership structure.. early DEADLINES The deadline for the OJC issue dated Nov. 24 will be noon on Thursday, Nov. 17. The deadline for the issue dated Dec. 1 will be noon on Wednesday;, Nov.23. /,.'".•' '" • The OJC office'will be closed on Thursday, Nov, 24, anrf .Friday, Nov.. 25, - in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday; -./-, Wmm%mmm. Iii,The Chronicle ■■■■■ AtTheJCC,..5.,,...,;.........;:...;......,... ;.. IS, Calendar.....,.,........,.......,..;.......; .,,8 #: *SM|,€}1f*»v*0Il*#*»»>M X (,„ Fifty Year«\ Ago............. ........,.,..,............;.12 FrontPage .'. „"...' 2,3 In The News ;. ..,.,... 12 Mfecycie;.".....,,. ...... 14 Marketplace: 20 New-Generation,.,... .' .....18 Scoreboard .....19 Viewpoint.... ...4 ; Want Ads....; ,.'...,11 WorW,9Week..;..,w..../....v..,;.....;...M...»v...i.v..M.2 ■naaMLWManwnHMMHHnnHMMB COMMUNITY FEATURE JCC is changing with the times By Melissa Burns and Lynn Leonard "It's flexible." "It's affordable." "They really listened to us." These are responses from members of the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center (JCC) when asked about the Choice Plan, the JCC's new membership program, available thisfall. The JCC currently serves approximately 8000 members. However, in recent years the Center had not enjoyed the growth that it experienced in the early 1980s, when the College Avenue facility was brand-new and competitors were few. "Theconcept of restructuring membership was discussed three or four years ago, when we began to see some stagnation inTthe membership numbers," saidjSah'dy Meisel, chairman of the JCC's Member Services committee. "The board and president felt strongly that we needed to do something. We couldn't continue to implement fee increases each year, in part because people now have alternatives that they didn't have before—socially, for recreation, child care and camp. To keep memberships affordable, we had to bring in more members." "The Center's purpose has evolved," adds Executive Director Joel Dinkin. "Although the JCC is a social service agency, with Jewish continuity as its mission, there's competition. It's a very different world that we live in." The different world Dinkin speaks of is a shift in demographics and a change in lifestyles, "The populations the JCC serves now live in different places," said JCC President Carole Genshaft. "With both parents working and an increase in single-parent homes, households are made up differently and the traditional family has changed dramatically. The challenge for the JCC is: How can we meet the needs ofthe community in a way that's attractive to members and fiscally responsible?" To determine the answer to this question, the JCC commissioned a full-scale survey to measure the satisfaction of its members—what they liked and what they found lacking. The research, funded by a grant from the Columbus Jewish Federation/was designed to determine how people are living today and what they need and want in a membership. What did the research yield? According to Meisel, "There were no huge surprises. We learned what we knew in our hearts all along, which is that we had to lower barriers to allow people easier access to the Center. We had to create more flexible ways, and less expensive ways, to join the JCC." As a result of the research, the JCC tailored its new membership structure to meet the needs of today's members. Hence, the name, "The Choice Plan." Based on individual fees within the household, the Choice Plan offers options to fit a variety of lifestyles. For example, in the past, to encourage family membership, if one spouse joined, the other was also required to join. That structure changed about two years ago, and ultimately led to the current "unbundling" of membership options. To be even more competitive, the JCC has lowered costs almost across the board. "Our main goal in the Member Services office is to help members and prospective members find the services that fit their needs," said Member Services Representative Terri Bailen. "If I can meet a need or address a concern, I feel that I'm doing my job well. Membership is not a cookie- cutter product, but a service designed to fit the lifestyles of a very diverse population." "The Choice Plan was introduced in a rollout fashion, with the Individual and Young Adult categories changing in January, 1994," said Meisel. "In September, the Choice Plan was made available to new members. And now, the Choice Plan is being offered to current members as they renew for 1995. The response has been overwhelmingly positive." Michael Greenberg, a member for about ten years, plays softball in the summer and basketball in the winter at the JCC. He also uses the Health Center during the winter. Though Greenberg is a member of the Health Center, he uses the facilities for only about six months out of the year. In the past, he had to pay a;,full year of Health Center membership. Greenberg said he had spoken to the JCC Board of Trustees about adapting a short-term Health Center option to meet his and other members' needs, and "as soon as the Choice Plan came out, I was first in line to sign up." Greenberg is referring to the new short-term Health Center option, which offers upgraded exercise and locker room facilities for an additional fee. Although the annual fee is more economical in the long-run, this new option provides an affordable alternative to the annual Health Center membership. As a result, general members are adding Health Center memberships, and new members are joining the Health Center. It is this type of option that allows the JCC to remain competitive with other local athletic facilities. "I'm pleased with the new program," said Greenberg. "The JCC recognized a need, they're fulfilling it, and I think there will be a lot more folks like me who will take advantage of it." Katherine Arment is another new member who joined under the Choice Plan. The JCC's College Avenue facility is close to her house in Bexley, so she goes to the JCC before work. Arment's father was a swimmer, and he had told her for years that the JCC has the best pools in town. So when she heard about the Choice Plan, she and her two children joined. Though primarily a swimmer, Arment enjoys the whirlpool and sauna. She says the people who work at the JCC are very friendly, and she likes what the facility offers. "I was a little intimidated at first because I wasn't joining with a spouse. I wasn't even joining with a friend.-1 was all by myself. But I'm very comfortable there," she said. Of course, the JCC offers more than recreation services. Lauren McGarity, who now serves on the Member Services Committee, has been a member of the JCC for about see JCC pg. It J i *■ L •"H * 0 III * rV I id "A
Object Description
Title | The OJC the Ohio Jewish chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-11-10 |
Subject | Jews -- Ohio -- Periodicals |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Creator | OJC Pub. Co. |
Collection | Ohio Jewish Chronicle |
Submitting Institution | Columbus Jewish Historical Society |
Rights | This item may have copyright restrictions. Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
File Name | index.cpd |
File Size | 4437 Bytes |
Searchable Date | 1994-11-10 |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn91075643 |
Date created | 2016-10-31 |
Description
Title | Ohio Jewish Chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-11-10, page 01 |
Searchable Date | 1994-11-10 |
Full Text | nu-"V THE The Ohio Jewish Chronicle Sending Cvlumbus and the Central Ohio Jewish Coirtrnunity since 1922 VOLUME 72 NUMBER 46 NOVEMBER 10,1994 7KIS1EV5755 WpLmmm^MUm Syria for peace with Israel page 2 M. Romanoff to receive national Agudath award page 3 AfHcan-AmericaB and Jewish relatlons-looMngtoffieflitee page 4 Shifman Family cantors to present Chanukah Concert page 6 ABOUT THE COVER JCC Member Services staff Theresa Gunther (left) and Terri Batten (right) welcome new member Jean Bradley at the Prospective Member , Open House, held in September, to introduce tlte Choice Plan, the JCC's new membership structure.. early DEADLINES The deadline for the OJC issue dated Nov. 24 will be noon on Thursday, Nov. 17. The deadline for the issue dated Dec. 1 will be noon on Wednesday;, Nov.23. /,.'".•' '" • The OJC office'will be closed on Thursday, Nov, 24, anrf .Friday, Nov.. 25, - in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday; -./-, Wmm%mmm. Iii,The Chronicle ■■■■■ AtTheJCC,..5.,,...,;.........;:...;......,... ;.. IS, Calendar.....,.,........,.......,..;.......; .,,8 #: *SM|,€}1f*»v*0Il*#*»»>M X (,„ Fifty Year«\ Ago............. ........,.,..,............;.12 FrontPage .'. „"...' 2,3 In The News ;. ..,.,... 12 Mfecycie;.".....,,. ...... 14 Marketplace: 20 New-Generation,.,... .' .....18 Scoreboard .....19 Viewpoint.... ...4 ; Want Ads....; ,.'...,11 WorW,9Week..;..,w..../....v..,;.....;...M...»v...i.v..M.2 ■naaMLWManwnHMMHHnnHMMB COMMUNITY FEATURE JCC is changing with the times By Melissa Burns and Lynn Leonard "It's flexible." "It's affordable." "They really listened to us." These are responses from members of the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center (JCC) when asked about the Choice Plan, the JCC's new membership program, available thisfall. The JCC currently serves approximately 8000 members. However, in recent years the Center had not enjoyed the growth that it experienced in the early 1980s, when the College Avenue facility was brand-new and competitors were few. "Theconcept of restructuring membership was discussed three or four years ago, when we began to see some stagnation inTthe membership numbers," saidjSah'dy Meisel, chairman of the JCC's Member Services committee. "The board and president felt strongly that we needed to do something. We couldn't continue to implement fee increases each year, in part because people now have alternatives that they didn't have before—socially, for recreation, child care and camp. To keep memberships affordable, we had to bring in more members." "The Center's purpose has evolved," adds Executive Director Joel Dinkin. "Although the JCC is a social service agency, with Jewish continuity as its mission, there's competition. It's a very different world that we live in." The different world Dinkin speaks of is a shift in demographics and a change in lifestyles, "The populations the JCC serves now live in different places," said JCC President Carole Genshaft. "With both parents working and an increase in single-parent homes, households are made up differently and the traditional family has changed dramatically. The challenge for the JCC is: How can we meet the needs ofthe community in a way that's attractive to members and fiscally responsible?" To determine the answer to this question, the JCC commissioned a full-scale survey to measure the satisfaction of its members—what they liked and what they found lacking. The research, funded by a grant from the Columbus Jewish Federation/was designed to determine how people are living today and what they need and want in a membership. What did the research yield? According to Meisel, "There were no huge surprises. We learned what we knew in our hearts all along, which is that we had to lower barriers to allow people easier access to the Center. We had to create more flexible ways, and less expensive ways, to join the JCC." As a result of the research, the JCC tailored its new membership structure to meet the needs of today's members. Hence, the name, "The Choice Plan." Based on individual fees within the household, the Choice Plan offers options to fit a variety of lifestyles. For example, in the past, to encourage family membership, if one spouse joined, the other was also required to join. That structure changed about two years ago, and ultimately led to the current "unbundling" of membership options. To be even more competitive, the JCC has lowered costs almost across the board. "Our main goal in the Member Services office is to help members and prospective members find the services that fit their needs," said Member Services Representative Terri Bailen. "If I can meet a need or address a concern, I feel that I'm doing my job well. Membership is not a cookie- cutter product, but a service designed to fit the lifestyles of a very diverse population." "The Choice Plan was introduced in a rollout fashion, with the Individual and Young Adult categories changing in January, 1994," said Meisel. "In September, the Choice Plan was made available to new members. And now, the Choice Plan is being offered to current members as they renew for 1995. The response has been overwhelmingly positive." Michael Greenberg, a member for about ten years, plays softball in the summer and basketball in the winter at the JCC. He also uses the Health Center during the winter. Though Greenberg is a member of the Health Center, he uses the facilities for only about six months out of the year. In the past, he had to pay a;,full year of Health Center membership. Greenberg said he had spoken to the JCC Board of Trustees about adapting a short-term Health Center option to meet his and other members' needs, and "as soon as the Choice Plan came out, I was first in line to sign up." Greenberg is referring to the new short-term Health Center option, which offers upgraded exercise and locker room facilities for an additional fee. Although the annual fee is more economical in the long-run, this new option provides an affordable alternative to the annual Health Center membership. As a result, general members are adding Health Center memberships, and new members are joining the Health Center. It is this type of option that allows the JCC to remain competitive with other local athletic facilities. "I'm pleased with the new program," said Greenberg. "The JCC recognized a need, they're fulfilling it, and I think there will be a lot more folks like me who will take advantage of it." Katherine Arment is another new member who joined under the Choice Plan. The JCC's College Avenue facility is close to her house in Bexley, so she goes to the JCC before work. Arment's father was a swimmer, and he had told her for years that the JCC has the best pools in town. So when she heard about the Choice Plan, she and her two children joined. Though primarily a swimmer, Arment enjoys the whirlpool and sauna. She says the people who work at the JCC are very friendly, and she likes what the facility offers. "I was a little intimidated at first because I wasn't joining with a spouse. I wasn't even joining with a friend.-1 was all by myself. But I'm very comfortable there," she said. Of course, the JCC offers more than recreation services. Lauren McGarity, who now serves on the Member Services Committee, has been a member of the JCC for about see JCC pg. It J i *■ L •"H * 0 III * rV I id "A |
Format | newspapers |
Date created | 2009-11-23 |