77th ERJCC Annual Meeting

Donald Brodky David H. White Award Recipient

Maxine Silberstein Jerry Wische Staff Excellence Award Recipient

Richard Stetzer Stanley Rosenblatt Volunteer  Excellence Award Recipient

Bobbi Samuels Incoming Board President

Thursday, May 9 • 7:00 p.m.

The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston's Annual Meeting will highlight 77 years of committed service to the Houston community. “Our Annual Meetings provides an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and recognize our leaders,” said Joel Dinkin, ERJCC Executive Vice President. The program will honor many leaders in the community including outgoing President Sam Stolbun, who has completed a two-year term.

“The ERJCC has continued to thrive guided by its mission to bring Jewish values to families and building a strong and active Jewish community,” said Stolbun. “We are proud that we have brought many new programs that impact families to the ERJCC including Mishpacha and Me, a resident Shaliach, host city for the JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest and the live streaming of programs via ERJCC Live.”

The annual meeting highlights the creativity and leadership of several key members of the community. The Selection Committee, chaired by Carol Goldberg is pleased to announce that Donald Brodsky is the 2013 recipient of the David H. White award.

“Don Brodsky is a most deserving recipient of the David H. White Award,” said Goldberg. “Don has given his time and tremendous talent for many years in service to the Jewish people and our Houston community. In addition, he is a true mensch and an asset to any organization in which he becomes involved. We are fortunate to have Don as an active member of our community and I am delighted we will have the opportunity to honor him.” 

Brodsky has been active at the ERJCC since he was a teenager. He is past president of the JCC, past president of the Houston American Jewish committee, is currently the long-range planning chair and an officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and is a Vice-Chair of the JCC Association in New York. He is a senior securities partner at the law firm of Baker Hostetler. He graduated from Duke University in 1970 and the University of Texas Law School in 1973. Don and his wife, Joanne, are the proud parents of Harris, Charles and Lela Alexis.

“It's a fabulous honor to receive the David H.  White award,” said Brodsky. “It means a great deal to me, having had the opportunity to get to know and work with most of the stunningly talented and dedicated past honorees. I am especially touched to follow in the footsteps of my mother, Ruth Brodsky, who received this award in 1986.” 

ERJCC staff members will also be honored for their contributions. ERJCC Director of Dance Maxine Silberstein will be presented the Jerry Wische Staff Excellence Award. Silberstein has been teaching at the ERJCC Dance School for 39 years and is now in her 29th year as Dance Director for the Arts & Culture Department. She has performed with the Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Joan Karff’s New Dance Group and JCC’s Lehakat Shalom Israeli Dance Group. Silberstein currently serves on the board of Uptown Dance Center and SPA Education Outreach Committee.

“Maxine Silberstein represents everything the ERJCC is,” said Marilyn Hassid, ERJCC Assistant Executive Director. “She is a devoted staff member who touches all ages of the ERJCC spectrum from 2 ½ year olds dancing like butterflies to 80 plus year olds tap dancing. Her vision and innovative programming has kept the ERJCC ahead of the game, not just in dance, but in theatre, mind/body, and fitness. The ERJCC is a better place due to the ever-present Miss Maxine.”

“Over my 39 year tenure at the ERJCC, not only have I had the unique opportunity to meet, to teach and to develop programming for so many children and adults, I have also had the privilege of interfacing with many dedicated staff who have supported me throughout my professional journey. I feel deeply honored to be the recipient of the Jerry Wische Staff Excellence Award,” said Maxine Silberstein. 

Richard Stetzer will receive the Stanley Rosenblatt Volunteer Excellence Award. Richard is receiving the award as a result of his long time commitment as a volunteer at the ERJCC. He has chaired many committees and projects including both the Tennis Center and Fitness committees. He has served on the board of trustees, the budget and finance committee, served as a volunteer for the JCC Maccabi Games and currently is the chair of the Ronnie Arrow Sports Hall of Fame committee. Richard is an active sports enthusiast and is a regular user of the Tennis and Fitness center. Richard and his wife Celine live in Meyerland. 

In addition, the Board of Directors will announce new officers and formally elect Bobbi Samuels as the new President of the ERJCC. 

The Annual Meeting is open to the public. Click here to view the invitation. RSVP by Thursday, May 2 to Janey Finger, jfinger@erjcchouston.org or 713-729-3200 ext. 3121.