As I look back on my first year as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, I am amazed at how fast the year has gone and how much has occurred.

The theme of this year’s annual meeting is taken from the Bob Dylan Song, The times they are a-changin’. Although events of this year have lived up to this statement, it is important to remember that the mission of the Jewish Federation has not changed.

Last year I shared with you my vision for the Jewish Federation: To ensure a strong, vibrant and diverse Jewish community in Dayton which strives to meet the needs of Jews both locally and around the world. This is the work we do as volunteers and staff of the Jewish Federation and this work has not and will not change.

Over the last year we have:

• Raised $1.7 million, of which more than $400,000 was sent overseas to support Israel and Jews in need in places such as the former Soviet Union and Argentina.

• Provided outstanding adult education through the Florence Melton program to more than 50 adults.

• Provided community-wide Jewish education for more than 40 high school students through B’yachad.

• Provided early childhood education for more than 73 Jewish toddlers through 4-year-olds in our DJCC programs.

• Provided 8,501 meals to seniors either at home or at the senior lunch program at the Jesse Philips Building.

• Provided quality nursing home care, in a Jewish environment, to more than 60 residents at Covenant House.

• Inaugurated a new chore service through Jewish Family Services with support from the Schear Family.

• Presented highly successful cultural and educational programs such as our Passover Expo, Jewish Book Fair and Jewish Film Festival, Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Independence Day Celebration and the Yom Hashoah Memorial Service and its Max May Memorial Art Contest and writing contest for youths.

• Reaffirmed our advocacy for the Jewish state, sending a delegation to Israel for United Jewish Communities’ General Assembly, sending four teenagers to Israel through the Birthright Israel program, and brought several Israelis to meet with us in Dayton, including IDF soldiers, singers from the Ghetto Fighters’ Kibbutz in the Western Galilee, camp counselors to the DJCC, a rock band for Yom Ha’atzmaut, and Israeli vendors for our Joffe Day of Jewish Learning and Passover Expo.

• Celebrated our victorious teenagers, returning from the Maccabi Games in Columbus with 28 medals.

• Received more than 20,000 unique visitors at our Web site, JewishDayton.org, who spent an average of 17 and a half minutes per visit there.

• Won the first-place award for Best Religion/Values Coverage from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists because of the high-quality work of writers for The Dayton Jewish Observer.

The Jewish Federation remains focused on the development of quality programs and services that will strengthen our community.

We want to be there for those in need and continue to ensure that the Dayton area offers programs that stimulate the social, cultural and educational interests of all community members.

The inevitability of change has been upon us this year as well, and I would like to address some of the more important issues.

Jesse Philips Building
First is the recent agreement between the Jewish Federation and United Theological Seminary for UTS to explore the purchase of the Jesse Philips Building and its adjacent land.

Under the agreement, UTS has 120 days to do the necessary due diligence and make a final decision on the purchase.

This agreement marks a significant change in the delivery of services by the Jewish Federation.

As most of you are aware, the Federation has been experiencing serious financial challenges over the last several years.

This situation has been brought about by several factors including a decrease in our annual United Jewish Campaign and the demographic shift from north to south and the resulting decline in membership and usage at the Jesse Philips Building.

Presently Jewish membership at the Jesse Philips Building stands at 35% and usage is even lower.

Over the last few years, we’ve shared with you the situation facing our annual Campaign as well. Despite many generous contributors and workers, the Federation’s annual Campaign has declined from a high of $2 million to approximately $1.7 million.

This loss in revenue is mostly attributable to donors who have either moved or unfortunately passed away. The good news is that because of the hard work of our Campaign volunteers and staff, we do believe that the Campaign has stabilized and is moving in the right direction.

However, the financial reality is that Campaign revenues are $300,000 lower. Therefore, it was both the financial situation and the low level of Jewish membership using the Jesse Philips Building that led the Federation Board of Directors to enter into the purchase agreement with UTS.

Over the next several months, while UTS performs its due diligence, the Jewish Federation will address many short-term and long-term planning issues.

The boards of the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Family Services will review all services presently provided at the Jesse Philips Building and will determine appropriate transition plans.

We remain strongly committed to providing quality programs and services to our north community and look forward to partnering with the Jewish institutions located in this area.

With respect to long-term planning, our Programs and Services Committee, chaired by Bill Franklin, has been working over the last year to develop a framework to evaluate what programs and services the Federation should provide and what gaps presently exist.

Executive search
A second issue of significant note which occurred this year was the announcement by our executive vice president, Peter Wells, that he will retire in February 2005 after 32 years in Dayton.

Peter has led our Federation for 27 of those years, and has guided us through many exciting and challenging periods. He has been instrumental in almost all aspects of community building and we owe him a great deal. He will be greatly missed.

However, as I said before change is inevitable, and a national search is now underway for Peter’s successor.  A search committee headed by past- president Barbara Sanderow hopes to present candidates to the Federation board this fall.

In closing, thank you all for giving me this wonderful opportunity to serve as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

I am optimistic that the changes we now face, though difficult, will result in a community that may look different, but in reality will be the same warm, caring and committed community that it has always been.