It all started when Alex Hallenstein’s grandmother purchased him a $7 membership to his local JCC in New England. Little did he know that he would spend the next 40-plus years involved in some capacity with JCCs across the country.
On Thursday, July 2, Hallenstein’s 33-year tenure as the executive director of the Schenectady JCC will end as he retires. His career started on April 1, 1976 as the assistant director of both the JCC and the former Schenectady Jewish Federation, and in November of 1977, he was named the executive director of the JCC.
I think the success of agencies is a partnership between staff and volunteers, said Hallenstein.
He said that he believed his greatest accomplishment came in two parts: the first part is administrative and the second part is the development of the services and programs that the Schenectady JCC has offered over the years.
`I think the fact that the staff and the departments maintain a fiscal health [is important] because if an agency continually has deficits, it’s ill and it can’t develop because its always worried about paying bills,` said Hallenstein. `I think over the years we reached fiscal integrity.`
During his tenure, the budget grew from less than $250,000 to $3 million per year. He also created an endowment fund, which has almost $1 million invested. The Schenectady JCC has become nearly debt free.
In the administrative department, he said that he feels part of the success has been the fact that the organization has been able to develop a cadre of volunteers and lay leaders, especially because he feels that over the last 10 to 15 years there has been a loss of volunteerism in society.
He said that when he came to Schenectady three decades ago with a wife and two small children, he never expected to stay in the area.
`This is unusual in my career,` said Hallenstein. `I think that Schenectady is probably unique now not only in the Jewish community but in the general community. It’s easy for someone to live here, it’s easy to make friends.`
He said that one of the things that makes this community unique is that many people who grow up here eventually leave, but then other people come.
`When you move here, your family isn’t here, so your friends become your family and you develop an infrastructure. That was wonderful for my wife and myself, and I think it’s what makes some of the institution unique,` said Hallenstein.
He said that he is proud of the staff at the center ` many of whom have worked there for 20 to 25 years, as well as his younger staff, who he hopes will stick around for a while.
`I think over the next probably five or six years a number of the key staff will be retiring, which will give [the JCC] an opportunity to reinvent and keep what they like,` said Hallenstein.
Ellen Carpenter, director of Early Childhood and Youth Services for the Schenectady JCC, has worked with Hallenstein for 29 years.
`He’s extremely dedicated and supportive of the center and he definitely has ownership of it to some extent,` said Carpenter.
`He works very hard to keep us on the right road and has been willing to try new things, even if he has not agreed with them,` said Carpenter.
She said that Hallenstein has always been there to offer advice and support.
`I guess the fact that I’ve always reported to him directly, I know that if I have an issue I can go right to his office and talk to him. He might not always agree with me and it might not always be the perfect conversation, but he has been supportive,` said Carpenter.
He said that his retirement is bittersweet since he’s worked there for so long.
`I certainly don’t want to be carried out, and in a few cases I’ve seen that happen with colleagues,` said Hallenstein.
He said that he’s had some great mentors in his professional career, through the JCC, other agencies and Niskayuna, but that he is ready to retire.
`It’s just time, you know?` said Hallenstein.
He said that he wants to be remembered as a mensch, which is a Yiddish word that means `a person of integrity and honor.`
Hallenstein’s career isn’t over. He plans on using his abilities in a professional role to assist not-for-profits and small businesses develop their resources.
Mark Weintraub will take over for Hallenstein on Monday, July 6, as executive director. Hallenstein plans on helping him make the transition over the next month or so.
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