3 minute read
Welcome to our new home!
By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Coordinator
When WCA began, its “home” was located in Federation’s offices above a sandwich shop in a not-so-busy shopping center. We had access to the David Willens’ Community Room for our speaker series, where we also played bridge and mahjong. Of course, attendance at these programs had to be limited due to the lack of space. (The building had less than 4,000 square feet!) Our WCA board met in the Federation board room, but all of us were not able to fit around the table. We held planning meetings in any office that was not being used at that moment!
That was then – today, we are pinching ourselves as we enter our new home!
The Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, which opened Jan. 15, serves as a social hub, not just for us, but for many other Federation constituents. The 20,000-square-foot building features a spacious reception area, a community room that can hold as many as 400 people for lectures or be divided into two large meeting spaces, and a board room in which everyone on our board can find a seat at the table!
There is a large classroom, several allpurpose rooms, a caterer’s kitchen that can be used for demonstrations, a place to sit with friends (or soon-to-be friends) as you grab a snack from the vending machines in the Roth Lounge, the BBYO lounge (which is a also a wonderful venue for our WCA art classes), numerous conference rooms, an outdoor terrace, a large yard and multiple restrooms!
WCA even has a private office on the second floor. And, as you can see from the photos below, WCA members are enjoying it all!
In the near future, when you walk into the building, look for a paver that says, “WCA Welcomes You to Our New Home!”
Modern Playwrights enjoy holding their discussions in the Boardroom.
Susan Pittelman and Barbara Suden put WCA nametags in the Roth Lounge.
Robin Mintz picks up a copy of the Federation Star from receptionist Michelle Cunningham, who sits in the spacious foyer.
Nancy Suslov (standing on left) taught “Portraits in Charcoal” in the BBYO Lounge to Ellen Weisberg, Linda Miller, Cary Jeremias (seated from front to back), Terry Kline and Doris Parker (standing in back).
Fun with Legos instructor Debbie Kohler (right) and Anne Girod
Patti Boochever (right) welcomes Leslie Feldman (center) and Shelly Bell (left) to the first WCA Board Meeting in the new boardroom.
Glass artist Judy Belmont organized the WCA Artisan Showcase.
Some WCA Board Members posing on the lovely grassy area
Elaine Soffer and Patti Boochever with popular lecturer Ellaine Rosen (center) after her presentation “Art History through a Jewish Lens.”
Volunteers are ready to check in the 300 people attending WCA’s 2023 Artisan Showcase.
Marilyn Davidson demonstrates “It’s all in the Presentation” in the demo kitchen.
The 2023 WCA Community Volunteer Expo was held two days after the building’s Grand Opening! WCA member Gail Rothenberg (right) represented Books for Collier Kids.
WCA members play Canasta, Mahjong, and Bridge throughout the building.
Joyce Lembert, Loris Dallal, Estelle Rauch and Joanne Sohn play duplicate bridge in Schiff Family Hall.
Gail Morris, Harriet Berneman, Penni Blaskey and Darlene Muller play canasta in the BBYO Lounge.
Terri Binder, Adrienne Block, Debby Small and Shari Gold play a NextGen game of canasta on the terrace.
