New Hadassah president installed by her children
By ALAN SMASON
When her three daughters were born, Charisse Sands made sure they were all made life members of Hadassah. So, it was only natural when she was due to be installed as the new president of the Greater New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah that her daughters were given a prominent hand in the ceremony.
Charisse Sands, third from right, stands with daughters from left Mirit, Chaviva and husband Marc with Sara and son Josh at right in front of Chanukiah lit to denote new officers and the chapter. (Photo by Alan Smason)
All three daughters – Chaviva, Sara and Mirit – flew in from New York where they work or are in school to take part in the installation ceremonies by lighting a Chanukiah, denoting the eight officers being installed including their mother as president. The shamash candle stood for the entire chapter and the impetus and spirit behind each of the officers.
The ceremonies took place on Sunday, January 17 at the home of former Southern Region president Lee Kansas in Lake Vista from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
“I spoke with each one individually and I said I would be vey honroed if she as well as her sisters would install me as their president,” Sands told the CCJN in an exclusive interview.
Starting when they were toddlers, Sands said she has exposed her daughters to Hadassah programs. “They’ve always come to various program and even after they reached college, they would come to something,” she recalled. “They’ve been involved as much as any child or teenager would (be).”
Sands’ husband Marc and son Josh, also were on hand along with dozens of Hadassah members and associates, who witnessed the first part of the ceremonies administered by Julie Schwartz.
Sands has been a life member of Hadassah since 1982 while she was still living in Houston. She and her husband moved here with two of her daughters 28 years ago.
Charisse Sands watches as her daughters Sara, Chaviva and Mirit install her as the new New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah president. (Photo by Alan Smason)
She started her Hadassah career as a board officer – vice-president for education – but after the children became grown and she was responsible for shuttling them back and forth to practices and sports activities, she removed herself as a board member for a time.
In the last several years, though, she returned to the board and was nominated with a slate of mostly new candidates to move the chapter forward from retiring president Ilana Reisin. Reisin will remain as an ex-officio officer with the chapter board.
Prior to Sands’ installation, Schwartz presided over the vote that brought the new slate of candidates into line. Joining Sands on the board for a two-year term are vice-president for programming Joy Feldman, vice-president for fundraising Fran Simon, vice-president for education, Cindy Denn, treasurer Arlene Hines, recording secretary Helen Stone and corresponding secretary Carrie Pailet. The membership chair, Barbara Polikoff-Katz, will serve, but not on the Hadassah board, according to Sands.
Among her goals, Sands says she is looking forward to increasing her new life members by 36, a number she hopes to bypass. She is ready to take the reins of leadership and knows what she is expected to do as the incoming president.
“The main thing is educating people about Israel and also our advocacy work that we do,” she explained.
“It’s all wrapped up with education. We advocate for legislation that affects women, children and families.” Among the advocacy proposals she mentioned are the Lillie Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and gender equality in medical research to ensure that female patients are included in studies just as men are.
“The other major goals that we have are to raise funds to support our major projects,” Sands continued. She specifically pointed to the Hadassah Hospitals and medical research facilities and three youth aliyah villages they support in Israel. “We (also) have Hadassah Academic College that is also located n Israel and we have programs here as well,” she said.
Sands noted that Hadassah supports Young Judea and their gap year program called Year Course. She also touted several medical initiative such as Hadassah’s “Every Beat Counts” for heart health and “Check It Out,” a breast cancer awareness program.
In stressing the goal of new life members, she pointed out that a life membership is only $212. “The biggest bonus is not only are y0u part of this wonderful organization, but you never have to pay a membership fee again,” Sand boasted.
“Not only are they investing in themselves, but they are investing in Israel as well as for all we do for Israel,” she stated. “It’s the gift that you give yourself that lasts a a lifetime and it goes wherever you go too.”
