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Welcoming the National Board
Detroit Chapter President Linda Kovan with Board of Governors Chairman Larry Jackier (l) and Technion President Peretz Lavie.
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(l to r) ATS Executive Vice President Jeff Richard, Larry Jackier, Assaf Zinger, and Ron Ferber.
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Robert Brody (r), with daughter Cathy Deutchman and Dr. Bogdan Kozakov. |
Susie and Scott Leemaster, ATS National President, at the Detroit Historical Museum.
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The ATS Detroit Chapter warmly welcomed the national Board
of Directors to Detroit in early November. Board members benefitted from an
active local host committee led by Chapter President Linda Kovan, which planned
a variety of activities and events.
We were excited to be the first ATS Chapter to host Jeff
Richard, our new Executive Vice President, as he builds on the ATS legacy of
support for the Technion. The focus of the meeting was leadership and together
we explored innovative strategies and tactics to help recruit a new cadre of
leaders we need to ensure continued organizational growth and success. Some of
the most dedicated and passionate Technion supporters are from Detroit and setting
the example for future leaders were proud Detroiters Susie and Scott Leemaster,
ATS National President, and Eleanor and Larry Jackier, Chairman of the Technion
International Board of Governors.
In addition to National Board members, we were pleased to
have members of our Technion family from Israel join us for the many meetings
and local events including Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie and his wife Dr. Lena Lavie; Executive Vice President and Director General Matanyahu Englman, and Vice
President for Resource Development and External Relations Boaz
Golany.
We were honored to also have one of Israel’s and the
Technion’s preeminent leaders join us. Major General (Res.) Amos Horev engaged
with us while actively participating in many Committee meetings. We also had
the opportunity to personally pay tribute to Gen. Horev for his many
contributions as we celebrated his 90th birthday at a festive
reception, dinner and night of dancing at the Detroit Historical Museum,
which showcases the history of southeastern Michigan. Click here to view a
video from the dinner.
Another special dinner was held at the unique home of ATS
supporters and native Detroiters Sheldon and Barbara Cohn. Participants marveled
as they experienced dinner in an indoor half basketball court in the Cohn’s
contemporary ranch home.
The dinner program focused on “Global Technion” showcasing
the University of Michigan – Israel Partnership for Research, a collaborative program between the University of Michigan, the Technion, and the
Weizmann Institute. President Lavie moderated a panel focused on cardiac research that included Technion Professor Michael (Mickey) Aviram, Head
of the Lipid Research Laboratory and Senior Vice Dean, Technion Rappaport
Faculty Medicine, and Dr. David Pinsky M.D., J. Griswold Ruth M.D. &
Margery Hopkins Ruth Professor of Internal Medicine and division chief of Cardiovascular Medicine.
We also heard
from Assaf Zinger, a Technion doctoral student who
had just returned from reserve duty during the recent Operation Protective
Edge.
Other highlights from the Board’s days in Detroit
included:
-- A visit
to the Ford Rouge Factory, the birthplace of the Model A, the V-8, Mustang and
the Thunderbird, for a behind the scenes tour at this important manufacturing
factory and museum.
-- A Sunday morning art experience at the home and gallery of
watercolor artist, Julie Dawson. The ideas for her paintings come from her own
personal experiences and she has had many travel adventures on which to draw.
Her watercolors have been shown in more than 87 one-woman exhibitions,
and are in private and public collections throughout the world.
-- An insider’s tour of Jewish Detroit that traced the paths
forged by Detroit's Jewish settlers, among them the founders of the ATS Detroit
Chapter. The tour provided an appreciation for the many contributions, both
past and present, of the Jewish community to the city. Docents
shared the stories of Detroit's first Jewish settler, Chapman Abraham, a fur
trader who arrived 252 years ago and the role of Michigan's Jews in the Civil
War. Other highlights included a drive through the lush and historic island park
of Belle Isle; Detroit’s scenic River Walk and views of the Detroit River and
Windsor, Ontario; and tours of two of Detroit’s oldest synagogues, now owned by
local churches who have carefully preserved much of the original Jewish
iconography and former Jewish neighborhoods filled with historic
architectural treasures designed by Albert Kahn, one of America’s most acclaimed and
prolific architects.
-- Board members and local community members alike “danced in their
seats” to many Motown classics at Motown the Musical! Detroit is the home of
the “Motown Sound,” and this exhilarating show charted Motown founder Berry
Gordy’s incredible journey from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music
mogul.
-- An inside look at Downtown Detroit, where we experienced “Revitalization
and Renaissance: Detroit’s Transformation.” During this behind-the-scenes tour,
we witnessed downtown Detroit’s renaissance firsthand and learned more about
the efforts being made by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert to revitalize the
Central Business District into a vibrant, populated, and successful metropolis. Stops
included the Compuware Building, home to Quicken Loans.
Click here to view a photo album from the various events.
We wish you a very happy and healthy 2015!
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