Journal Dinner 2009

Dear Friends,

Each year our Journal Dinner Dance is an opportunity to express our appreciation to exceptionally devoted members of our Congregation as we share a festive evening with dear friends. The tradition continues this year on May 31 as we celebrate the contributions of our honorees, Michele and Ken Gartner and Pauline and Stewart Ratzker.

The Gartners took off running as active contributors the moment they joined Ohav Sholom. As a valued long time member of our board, Ken is known for his calm demeanor, intellect and ability to capably articulate his ideas. He is generous with his legal expertise on all Ohav matters and we have relied on his legal wisdom on many occasions. Additionally, as a fine public speaker, Ken has taken on the role of "substitute sermon giver." Throughout the years, Ken has prepared and shared several fascinating sermons with us that skillfully weave together legal and torah matters. He is the overseer of our online newsletter, the Shofar, is on the board of the Rabbi Jeremiah Wohlberg Institute for Adult Jewish Studies, and also part of our current search committee.

Michele is an active, vital member of Ohav Sholom as well. Bright and capable, she was involved in Sisterhood for many years and is a steady, valued bingo volunteer. Michele is currently engaged in many of our Shul's ongoing efforts.

The Ratzkers, too, are deeply involved members of our Ohav family. Stu, known for his boundless energy and his ability to not only mastermind great ideas, but to always see them through, has done just that on so many occasions. He has conceived and developed, down to the last detail, what has become a popular Ohav tradition, the annual Shavuot overnight study program. Each year, so many of our members look forward to this valuable time of learning and growing together. He also began another interesting Ohav program, the Summer Fencing Group! Stu is a past Men's Club President as well as an organizer of our wine tasting events. But, of all his wonderful accomplishments, the one Stu is best known for is his role as Candy Man. It's not unusual to see him surrounded by a flock of happy kids each Shabbos.

Pauline has contributed much to Ohav Sholom throughout the years. Creative and enthusiastic, Pauline's spectacularly artistic L'shloach manot baskets are consistently a cut above. She is a past Sisterhood president and always opens her home to visitors in our community.

Together, the Gartners and the Ratzkers have supported our Shul in many, many ways -- more than can be mentioned in this letter. They have been generous not only with their steady leadership and guidance but with their precious time. We look forward to sharing more about their accomplishments at our Journal Dinner Dance. Please mark your calendar for this wonderful evening.

I look forward to seeing you there.

With warm regards,
Mario Wilkowski
Vice President of Fundraising

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