Leadership of Vision Associates, the nonprofit which owns the 14 acres of land adjacent to the south of Village Shalom, changed last month.
Jim Klein succeeds the late Stanley J. Bushman as president; Michael Berenbom succeeds Charles M. Helzberg as vice president and secretary/treasurer; and board members Joe Hiersteiner and Josh Stein were elected.
In 2001, Bushman learned of a potential closing on the land by a developer in about two weeks and had the vision that the pending sale would preclude any potential use, if needed, for the future for Village Shalom. He asked Helzberg, his friend and business partner, to join him in an urgent effort to raise $2,800,000 to close on the land before the proposed sale to the developer. With help from a select group of other community leaders who understood the importance of this acquisition, $2,800,000 was expeditiously raised.
Vision Associates was created as a 501 (c) 3 organization for this purpose. At the request of community banker and real estate developer Sherman Driesezun, Bushman and Helzberg accepted the role of managers, a responsibility which they carried out for 24 years until they determined it was time to pass the baton.
Charles Helzberg added that there is nothing imminent in terms of any changes with the property. The new board will continue to look after the best interests of Village Shalom as they consider their options.