Today when I walked into my office, there was a small, feisty ant patrolling my desk, scarfing up crumbs from my computer keyboard. You may not know that I spent a lot of lunchtimes working at the computer. It’s a great time to catch up—eat a sandwich, type a letter, you know how it goes. Inevitably, some crumbs find their way into the keyboard. And so, occasionally, does a foraging ant. “Okay, Miss Ant,” I said to her, “enjoy yourself today, because I can’t promise the same good pickings from the next tenant.” And with that, she scurried away, and I sat down to write to you.

My retirement is just a week away.

First, an answer to the question everybody’s been asking me: “What are you going to do with yourself when you retire?” Answer: Play a lot more basketball, help plan Rebecca’s wedding (actually, she’s been planning her wedding since she was seven years old), and take some long-deferred trips with my husband, Mark. And, continue as a consultant to JFS, which lets me stay part of the agency I love and the people we help.

Since this is my last blog entry , I want to leave you with one thought: it is central to what we are about, and the heart of what we have accomplished in these years. It goes beyond our emergency response abilities, our incredible programs, our emphasis on accountability, and the all-out commitment of our great staff and volunteers. Together we have done more than serve people who need us. We have redefined the meaning of “community”.

We have taken our precious Jewish heritage of compassion for those who need help, respect for the aged among us, commitment to our children and their future, and we have put it all at the service of our beloved San Diego. We meet the needs. Stay the course. Claim the future. And in the process, we have redefined what community is all about.

For that, and for all these wonderful years, I thank you. Thank you for your devotion, friendship, and support. I am the most fortunate of social workers. And I know it very well.

With Appreciation,
Jill

In 2008, the On the Go program was born. It provided free and low-cost transportation for older adults to help them feel more independent and connected to the community. Transportation to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, the theatre, shopping, and more. It’s astonishing that we are now celebrating our 100,000th On the Go ride – just four years after the program began. We couldn’t be happier and more proud.

Last Friday, dozens gathered at Congregation Beth Israel for a lovely lunch and celebration of this huge milestone. KUSI news was there and ran a brief piece on it that night (watch it again here). I was honored to be able to thank the amazing people who’ve made this program the success it is today– among them, the staff, donors, volunteers, Jewish Community Foundation, and the Jewish Federation.

The volunteer driver who gave the 100,000th ride was Bill Farmer, a retired police officer who has provided nearly 100 rides since May 2010. The rider was Sara “Suzanne” Tell, 80. Both received a plaque commemorating the honor.

I have to say, I’ve never seen a more committed group than those volunteers who drive for On the Go. Time after time, I hear drivers say that they get more out of the program than the riders do!

Another example of a dedicated volunteer is Wayne Bradbury (recipient of our Jack Stern Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2010), who has given over 3,000 rides in four years. At the celebration, he addressed the crowd and said with a smile, “You don’t get any money, but it’s the best job in the world.”

Now that it’s reached 100,000 rides, On the Go isn’t content to rest on its laurels. The program currently has more than 250 volunteer drivers with a goal of adding 100 more this year. Please help us reach this goal and make it easier for more seniors be mobile and independent. I promise you, it will be a rewarding experience. For more information, click here.

Brenda Bothel (On the Go Director), Bill Farrar (volunteer driver), Suzanne Tell (lucky rider!), and David Weinberg (Eastern San Diego Rides & Smiles Coordinator)

Michael Hopkins & Jill Borg Spitzer

Happy New Year! The big news at JFS: the transition of JFS CEO is well underway! My official last day as CEO of Jewish Family Service is January 24, but I will still be part of the JFS family as a consultant. For the past month Michael (read more about CEO Designate Michael Hopkins)and I have been meeting to discuss the agency: programs, staff, Board of Directors, community, and many other topics.  The list goes on and on.  After 26 years, I’ve discovered there is so much inside my head and not on paper. I’m glad I’ll be around to help fill in the blanks over the next few months as Michael becomes more and more conversant about the agency.  I’m impressed with Michael’s curiosity, thoughtfulness, calm demeanor, and passion for our mission. He’ll be a great leader for JFS and the community. I hope you get a chance to meet him soon. I know you’ll be impressed.

I now have boxes in my office to pack up my belongings. Of the papers and books that I thought would have meaning to someone else, I now realize there are several newer editions that make what I have obsolete. But then I find that gem, a fundraising letter written 20 years ago by a past President, a client letter from 15 years ago, a photo of us launching a new program—evidence of how JFS has helped so many and how we’ve redefined the meaning of community. More on that in my next post.