elected items from Men & Women ^^'^ Spring collection
2e;^5 Granville St. (at II^KAve.)
-2000'
at Back
Singles
A question to be asked
Are Jewish singles willing to support a professional?
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
In last week's issue of the Bulletin, the editorial focused on the challenges that the Jewish singles of Greater Vancouver face as a result of a lack of stable leadership.
It was also recognized that the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver has more pressing issues to which to commit finances in the community than Jewish singles.
The editorial then suggested the idea of asking singles to pay an annujU fee of $50 in order to support regular programming. The theory was that if at least 200 people contributed $50 each that would be enough to fund a part-time singles co-ordinator for a year.
This week, the Bulletin follows up on that idea; we called singles within the commimity who ranged in age from mid-2Cte to late 503 and asked them if they would pay $50 per year to support regular programming.
Of the community members we reached, most said they would be willing to help foot the bill.
"I thought I knew everybody in the Jewish community who was in my age group but I've been realizing that there are a lot of people I don't know," said Mark David, 23. "A professional that would run regular events would provide me with the chance to meet a lot of people who I have never met before and expand my network of friends around Vancouver."
Debbie Rootman, who is now dating someone she met while organizing singles events in the past, said she would support a singles co-ordinator if it could provide opportunities for other people to meet
"There really does need to be some type of venue for people to meet that isn't some kind of a meat market," she said.
A few of the singles questioned said they would be willing to pay more money for a particular event tliat interested them, rather than an annual fee, in order to help cover the costs of a profession^.
Only one person who was questioned, Alan Rees, who is in his 50s, said he wouldn't pay to support a professional co-ordinator because he thinks the programming will only be successful if it comes from volunteers within the community.
"I don't believe it is the soi:]t of thing that a professional is capable of doing," he said. "I believe that the only way it can work is if it is a community effort."
However, of those who were willing to support the efforts of a professional, most felt that a commimity organization such as the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver should take the project under its wing.
"It should be under the auspices of the JCC," said Murray Shapiro, 55, "because, as the name implies, it is the Jewish Community Centre and I think that is part of the programming they should provide."
"The JCC is a logical choice because everybody is familiar with it and it would give the programs instant respectability," said Josh Ail, 24.
When asked what type of programming they would like to see a singles co-ordinator organize, Shapiro, suggested dances, dinner parties, boat cruises, bowling tournaments or line dancing.
David thought a good opening event for the younger singles in the community would be a pub night that would allow people to socialize.
He would then like to see other monthly social events, occasionally combined with the Seattle singles community. □
Rainbow lunch aids icids
The B.C. chapter of Jewish Women International is preparing for its annual Rainbow Lxmcheon to benefit the organization's children's home in Israel as well as the B.C. Children's Hospital. The event, which takes place June 11 at 11:30 a.m., will honor Marie Doduck and Tzvia Estrin. Guest speaker is Barbara Rabkin, JWFs international president. The luncheon will take place at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel and Marina. The deadline to register is June 2. Call 264-9610 for information. □
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