|
|
Nov. 17, 2006
The end of an era for JCC
Gerry Zipursky overcame obstacles for today's success.
KYLE BERGER
Almost 22 years ago, it started off with a report titled "New
Beginnings." When Gerry Zipursky says goodbye as the executive
director of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC),
new beginnings will be the focus once again.
At the end of the year, Zipursky will step down as the leader of
the JCC – ending an era that has seen changes and growth that
no one could have predicted when he took the helm in 1985.
At that time, the facility was barely keeping out the rain, rarely
used and struggling to forge an identity in a growing community.
In "New Beginnings," Zipursky identified his vision of
building community, focused around a vibrant, developed community
centre.
Today, the JCC is recognized as the heart of the community, bustling
with active members of all ages. There is little doubt among those
who have been a part of the centre's success that Zipursky was the
heart and soul of the turnaround.
"He has turned the centre from being a dirty, run-down and
usually fairly empty facility to without a doubt the most successful
institution in the Jewish community," said Gary Averbach, a
former JCC president who has worked with Zipursky since the beginning.
"Gerry did it. Not singlehandedly, but he was the driving force.
[He was] the guy at the wheel and, through the strength of his amazing
personality and dedication, he made it happen."
While Zipursky's supporters suggest he has many strengths that allowed
him to lead the community the way he has, most identify a unique
ability to build relationships and convince key people to buy into
his philosophy.
Arnold Silber, a current member of the JCC's board of governors,
never had any meaningful connection to the centre until he got to
know Zipursky in the mid 1990s.
"I was born in Vancouver but was never a JCC person,"
he said. "I was introduced to Gerry and came on the board.
And one of my own personal reasons for staying on as long as I have
is Gerry.
"He is an interesting, likable person and has done a tremendous
amount for the community, not just the JCC," Silber continued.
"He was able to involve good people and he manages to keep
them going. He's like the Jewish mother who would lay the guilt
on you."
Under Zipursky's leadership, the JCC staff has grown from approximately
12 to more than 80. The centre's annual budget has grown from $5,000
to $7 million – and the building has grown from an original
55,000 square feet to nearly 130,000 square feet today.
Zipursky has seen troubles, as well as successes, during his tenure
as executive director – including substantial cost overruns
in development projects. At one point, the JCC parking lot was almost
sold in order to secure enough funds to keep the centre running.
"We were in real trouble," explained Silber. "It
even got to the point where we considered selling the JCC."
"We went about 40 per cent over the budgeted costs [during
construction] and there were a lot of problems that came along,"
said Averbach. "People were coming down on the centre, saying
that we were irresponsible and Gerry was a target for all the people
saying that we shouldn't have gone ahead."
There were others who even suggested that the money would have been
better spent in the development of a satellite facility in Richmond's
growing community.
"He has overcome a lot of criticism and he was the goat,"
said Roslyn Kushner Belle, director of the JCC's early childhood
education department, who has been working at the centre as long
as Zipursky. "You can't take away the fact that he fought like
a tiger to get this building."
Zipursky headed a bid to raise money for the JCC through alternate
means, including developing a relationship with the Weinberg Foundation
in Baltimore that led to a substantial grant being offered. A significant
contribution also came from the Diamond Foundation.
"We raised well over $10 million," Averbach said, "largely
because of the people [Zipursky] built relationships with."
For his part, Zipursky said there was never really any choice but
to stick to his game plan and see it through. However, he takes
as much pride in the efforts of the staff and leadership he surrounded
himself with over the years as he does in his own work.
"I know I have played an important contributing role and I
don't diminish that but I am not of the mind that this is all here
because Gerry Zipursky did it all," he said. "It required
a tremendous amount of team play with our leaders in the community
and we did extremely well working together. I was lucky enough that
people supported my vision and played with me."
Kushner Belle said that Zipursky's sincerity showed in many of the
relationships he built with staff over the years and his deep understanding
of their contributions.
"When he gets to know you, he gets to know you really well,"
she said. "The staff that he's gotten to know, when they've
left [the JCC] or celebrated some special occasion, he can speak
eloquently about all of their strengths and skills that made the
JCC a better place."
Zipursky admitted that leaving the organization he loves so much
was not a simple decision.
"There is no question I will miss the centre and it is going
to be an adjustment," he said. "I made the centre my life,
for good and bad. So no doubt when you step down it is difficult.
Having said that, I feel it is right. I think it is time for a new
beginning."
Zipursky's term as executive director will be celebrated at his
final annual general meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m., at the JCC's
Wosk Auditorium. For more information, call 604-257-5111.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
^TOP
|
|
