Site Committee

Joe Mann Joe Mann, Chair
jmann@cre8iveinc.com
401-273-6200

Site Recommendation to the JCDSRI Board

Site Committee Meeting Schedule
March 21 Minutes | June 13 Minutes

From: JCDS Site Committee
To: JCDS Board
DATE: June 22, 2006

RE: Site Recommendation to the JCDS Board

On June 20th the Site Committee met to fulfill its mission to recommend one of the two sites under consideration for the future location of the JCDS facility. The two sites under consideration are the Tamarisk location in Warwick and the JCC site in East Providence.

The Site Committee hosted three (3) community meetings inviting the greater Rhode Island Jewish community. Further, the Site Committee reviewed and discussed the comments of each of the meetings, survey results of the first two meetings, available demographic data regarding the Jewish community as well the information provided by our panelists at our 3rd forum.

The following was unanimously AGREED to by the Committee:

The Committee reached a conclusion that there is inadequate information upon which to base an informed decision AND that the impact to the community is too great for a decision of this magnitude not to be fact based.

Therefore, the Committee recommends to the JCDS Board that a Demographic AND Marketing study be undertaken by a professional research firm to better evaluate:

• potential student enrollment (whom will we attract and where will they come from);

• risk assessment to enrollment by remaining on the East Side as well as a relocation to a
  south county location (near term / long term) including bussing options in either
  direction;

• impact evaluation of a JCDS relocation on the East Side community and its institutions.

Under general discussion, the Site Committee further agreed in principle that, to aid in the communication and promote cohesiveness amongst the community, that the JCDS Board should issue an open letter to the community addressing the following:

• recommendation of the Site Committee;

• possible enumeration of sites considered in the past; and possibly

• some of the key pros / cons of both the JCC site and Tamarisk sites.
  

The Site Committee also discussed, and was in general agreement (no vote taken), that a committee be formed to develop a study “scope” and participate in a selection process of an outside independent consultant / consulting organization. This committee would serve as a point of contact with the consulting firm to review proposals, provide direction as needed and evaluate on-going progress. This committee would be comprised by selected members within the community who possess experience of research techniques and data mining dealing with demographic and/or marketing data. It was further stated that the chair of this committee not be a scientist but a generalist to assure that the data gathered is application oriented and suitable to be used in a decision making process.

On behalf of the members of the Site Committee, we thank the JCDS Board for its consideration and expectation of a favorable approval of our resolutions. We would also like to recognize and extend a hearty vote of appreciation to Dani and Meredith for their guidance and efforts in coordinating all of our community meetings.

Sincerely,

Joe Mann
Site Committee Chair

Site Committee Meeting Schedule
March 21 Minutes | June 13 Minutes

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