Feeling Freedman’s Pain
August 7, 2008 on 3:29 pm | In Local |
Just got a call from a source who wishes to remain anonymous. She thanked me from the bottom of my heart for the story I did in today’s print edition on the reduction in programs for senior citizens at The Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village (part of the campus is pictured at left).
These seniors have been looking to have a forum to express their displeasure for a few weeks at least — ever since I began getting calls from elderly campers and their supporters lobbying me for a story.
I feel bad for them, especially since some of them are about 90 and have been coming to the camp for 20 years or more. Fairly or unfairly, I think it’s safe to say they feel betrayed by the camp. They think the new director does not like the elderly and is trying to push them out altogether.
One woman who is a Holocaust survivor had some especially tough words for the director and suggested he was not fit for the job. Just about everyone I interviewed was convinced Isabella Freedman was casting the seniors off in favor of the other more expensive programs offered there (Elderhostels, environmental stewardship, spiritual retreats), which are far more profitable.
For all I know, that could be true and, if so, it would be a shame. But, as my look at the camp’s tax returns revealed, Isabella Friedman ran an operating deficit in 2006 of almost 7 percent. That’s not sustainable by any reckoning, unless the camp’s board of directors want to open their wallets even wider every year.
The simple fact is that sometimes organizations need to refocus and do what’s required in order to become or remain solvent. We just did something similar here at the LJ. As I write this, the pressman and his assistant, along with various collators and mechanical helpers, are putting in their last day of work printing our paper in the press room.
Printing our papers off-site in Fairfield County will mean the loss of more than a dozen jobs locally. It was a painful decision for our board of directors to make, but it had to be done or we risked having our vintage 1973-era press fall apart without the means to replace it and with no way of getting our product out.
It’s tragic for the LJ employees who will lose their jobs and for those seniors who grew to love Isabella Freedman and cannot afford to come back. As the saying goes, but for the grace of God, go I …
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I have been familiar with Camp Freedman for over 30 years, working there as a waitress, having our wedding reception there, and also having the Camp as great customers at our business. We have watch the Camp evolve over the past few years from a bit of a shabby summer camp, to a place that has modernize, expanded and turned itself around to a showplace. It’s enviromental programs are very impressive and productive. The Camp employs many people and has opened itself up to the community more. No longer is it a mystery to the townspeople. It is a place that is to be greatly admired, thanks to it’s hardworking staff and especially to Adam’s visions and business sense. Although it is sad that the seniors are not the main focus anymore, I can understand that the place must do what it has to in order to continue operating. All businesses have to make hard decisions and sometimes change their direction if they want to prosper. I believe the Camp is making a wise decision and I look forward to watching them continue with their worthy endevours.
Comment by Judy Jacobs — August 9, 2008 #
Judy,
Thanks for your comment. As I said, sometimes organization have to change to remain viable and the results are not always pleasant for everyone.
It happened to me when I was on the faculty at the Forman School in Litchfield. The school made the decision to dramatically reduce its student body in order to protect the quality of its applicants.
That means they had to reduce the size of the faculty proportionately, which means I and many others got the axe. It was painful at the time but it was best for all concerned.
Comment by Terry — August 11, 2008 #