Feeling the warmth in Motown

FEELING THE WARMTH IN MOTOWN
After working all day in my office this past Thursday, Richard and I took a Delta Airlines flight to Detroit. Marv Sonne was at the airport waiting for us, and drove us to our host home at Chateau Schaumburg. Even though we arrived at Chateau Schaumburg after ten o’clock, Ellie and Joel had a delicious platter of selected delicious cheeses and wines ready to greet us. Marv stayed about a half hour, and then left to get home to Fran while they were both awake. Ellie and Joel Schaumburg were our hosts for the weekend, sharing their home, putting us up, and showing us warmth as only they can.
The next morning, Joel drove us to the Vista Tech Center at Schoolcraft College. The Detroit Chapter had Richard Brody as their speaker for their Spring Seminar, a full-day seminar called, “Getting the ‘Yes’ in Any Situation - - Professional, Fraternal and Professional Relationships” that ran until about 4:00 PM. The seminar was so well received that Joel commented on how unusual it was for there to be as many people in the audience after lunch as before lunch. While an interactive demonstration was being shown on getting out one’s comfort zone, and getting to know things about someone we meet, we all learned all about Frater Daniel Lipnick, and we will all remember him as a result of this exercise. While, obviously, I have heard Richard numerous times, the group seemed to enjoy both the content as well as the interactive content.
Fraternalism abounded as a group of fraters joined us at an excellent local restaurant for Shabbat dinner. The Detroit fraters are a close group, obviously truly liking each other. What was really great that while some fraters attended all the events over the weekend, others attended one or two events.
After taking us to a delicious breakfast at Woody’s on Saturday morning, Ellie and Joel took us to the unique Henry Ford Museum and to Greenfield Village. We had a fabulous time with this fun loving couple, and we all totally enjoyed our authentic late 1800’s lunch at a restaurant in the Village.
After returning home for a short rest, we soon left for another great Alpha Omega event, where a number of fraters and their spouses met at a different local restaurant, and thoroughly enjoyed each others company. We talked AO, the convention and family both AO and otherwise.
Sunday morning, we attended the Spring Paid- Up Brunch and Installation of Officers. I had the honor of helping in the Installation of Detroit’s chapter officers, and presenting 50 year pins to: Henry Citron, Donald Gale, Arnold Golnick, Lawrence Haber, Robert Lavine, Jerome Lesson and Eugene Smoler. I was honored to address the group with my vision for AO, and my goal of making this year truly, “The Year for Our Members.” It was gratifying that so many Detroit members are planning on attending the Convention in San Diego, and I hope many of you do too! Info regarding the convention is available at: aosunnydays2010.ao.org. I enjoyed meeting the Alpha Nu President Jonathan Blattand and Adam Garfinkle Chi Chapter President and their members. The event was presided over by outgoing President Marc Dwoskin, who served in that capacity for the past two years. The Detroit Chapter is indeed fortunate that Marvin Sonne has agreed to once again serve as the chapter President for the next two years. How could any chapter be in better hands? The function ended with a one-hour Keynote presentation by Richard, “Becoming a Better Listener.”
The Detroit Chapter is certainly an AO alumni chapter that we all can point to as an example of a chapter that exemplifies what AO is all about. They exhibit superb fraternalism, outstanding professionalism, and their commitment to the Judaic principles of Tzedaka and Tikun Olam. A little over one year ago, the Detroit Alumni Chapter began the Jewish Dental Clinic, which is dedicated to providing basic and essential oral health care to the needy Jewish community of metro Detroit. What a GOHI model for all our future GOHI projects to emulate!
It was great catching up with the Detroit chapter members that I knew, and to make the acquaintance of so many new friends! As always, it was a pleasure seeing regular convention goers such as Ester and Steve, and Joyce and Steve. Fran and Marv Sonne, Ellie and Joel, and Jamie Feldman. They are all magnificent hosts. Special thanks to Detroit’s Editor Bob Lavine and Bylaina, Outgoing Chapter President Marc Dwoskin and Chicki, and Detroit Chapter’s Secretary Gail, for all their extra efforts in our behalf. Many of us know Mark Luria for his extraordinary service to Alpha Omega in coordinating the Externship program, as well as a regular at Conventions, the father of an Alpha Omegan and he is another integral member of his local chapter.
One of the chapter’s members, Milton Gordon, is retiring and has orthodontic equipment available, if anyone wants or needs some. Please contact me if you would like to get into contact with Milton regarding these items.
Anyone who is interesting in seeing photos from this great weekend, thanks to Jamie Feldman, they are available to view at: http://president.aodetroit.org.Check out Marvin's tie and my dress,we match and coordinate so well.
While I was in Detroit, I received a great e-mail from Gary Solomon, the present President of the Dallas Alumni Chapter. Dallas splits the year in half, and has their Chapter President serve six month terms. Gary brought me up to date on all that’s going on with the Dallas chapter, as well as the new leadership that will be taking the helm next year. Dallas’ two Presidents this year decided they needed to be strong leaders and very hands-on to attract and maintain membership, and they have been attracting significantly larger turnouts to their events. Gary also worked closely with Mark Luria, to help bring students to “shadow” dental practices, to see first-hand what a dental practice is like. Here, through the hard work and outreach of Mark, he was able to get Gary (an enthusiastic local leader) to arrange for a local Detroit student Frater to come to Dallas, and learn.
As you are reading this blog, I am in London at the Annenburg Lecture. I look forward to my visitation with our UK Fraters, and other fraters who travel to attend this prestigious meeting. At the same time, Mike Tenenbaum is coordinating the Leadership Seminar in Seattle. If you were unable to attend, you will have another opportunity in the fall at the Boston Leadership Seminar Oct 15-17. At both events, a special presentation by Steve Anderson is occurring the same weekend.
As you can see, there is a lot going on at Alpha Omega. I urge you to get more involved, and you will feel even more connected. I hope you seriously consider attending our terrific Annual convention from December 25th to January 1st. Convention Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have created a fabulous value packed program, filled with events, functions, continuing education, a community service program, and Fraternalism- AO Style! Try it – You’ll like it!

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