Great Neck Clergy and Community Join in Giving Thanks

By Avital Louria Hahn

In what has become a religiously observed tradition, priests and rabbis from Great Neck's many churches and synagogues are preparing for their Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

This year, in a departure from the customary rotation among the town's houses of worship, the service, scheduled for Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m., will take place at the Merchant Marine Academy's Interfaith Chapel.

The upcoming service has some special meanings this year, as members of Great Neck Clergy Association, the organization that sponsors the service, celebrate Rabbi Mordecai Waxman's 50th anniversary at Temple Israel, and the upcoming retirement of the Rev. Gary Maier, rector of All Saint's Church, after 32 years there.

"We are celebrating Rabbi Waxman's 50 years at Temple Israel, and that gives us an opportunity to be grateful for the long and solid ecumenical tradition in our community," Msgr. Thomas Candreva of St. Aloysius Church, president of the Clergy Association of Great Neck, said.

"We are also honoring Rev. Gary Maier's last participation in the service as rector," he said.

Rev. Maier's first Interfaith Thanksgiving service was in 1965, when a 150-member choir of children and adults from all the area's churches and synagogues sang for the assembled. Rev. Maier has participated in services ever since.

"Every service has its own unique flavor," he said, adding that "this year, I'll be glad yet sad for leaving the wonderful people of Great Neck, and I thank everyone for their best wishes for our health and retirement."

Rev. Daniel Fritz of the Community Church of Great Neck will deliver an address on "How Much Do You Worry?"

Also planned are readings from the Scriptures, a performance by children's choirs and by the USMMA choir, and a coffee and dessert reception. Rabbi Waxman is scheduled to deliver the benediction.

Proceeds from a collection will be donated to the food pantry at St. Aloysius Church.

For Rev. Angela Archer of the North Shore Presbyterian Church, this is the second such service she will attend.

"The service serves, among other things, to remind the community of faith that we need to give thanks to God for the blessings we have received and continue to receive," she said.

Rabbi Jerome K. Davidson of Temple Beth-El said, "this is the only time in the community that we, representatives of all religions, have the opportunity to celebrate an American holiday together. I wish there would be hundreds upon hundreds of people, it is always a beautiful service."

UCF Searches for New Director

By Wendy K. Kreitzman

The Great Neck United Community Fund is once again searching for a new executive director.

UCF President Richard A. Arenella has announced that Executive Director Gloria Neimark, who has held the post for the past three months, is leaving. Ms. Neimark has accepted a fund-raising position with a national philanthropic organization in Manhattan.

In her letter to the UCF Executive Board, Ms. Neimark stated, ''Working with UCF volunteers has been a rewarding experience and made this a most difficult decision.''

The executive board accepted Ms. Neimark's resignation, with regrets. The executive board members have also expressed appreciation for the ''new direction'' that Gloria Neimark has established for UCF during her short tenure as its executive director.

The search committee has already moved ahead to find a ''capable and dedicated'' new executive director. According to Mr. Arenella, the search committee is seeking applications from interested community-minded individuals with fund-raising experience.

''UCF needs someone in this highly visible position who can provide motivation, direction, and coordination for up to 100 volunteers, as well as carry out fund-raising campaigns and special events,'' said Mr. Arenella, adding, ''The job of executive director requires a person who knows the community and who is willing to reach out and interact with local leaders, merchants, the 18 member agencies of UCF, and the residents of Great Neck.''

''UCF needs a 'people person,' '' stressed Richard Arenella.

UCF's 18 member agencies, serving everyone in the Great Neck community, and beyond, include: Boy Scouts, CLASP Children's Center, Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, COPAY, EOC, Friends of Hospice, Girl Scouts, Great Neck Senior Center, Great Neck Student Aid Fund, Great Neck Visiting Nurse Association, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, North Shore University Hospital, Salvation Army, Sara's Center, The Rehabilitation Institute, United Cerebral Palsy-Nassau, USO of Metropolitan NY, and Womanspace.

Immediately prior to Ms. Neimark's short term as UCF executive director, the post was held for many years by Anne Tschinkel, until she recently retired.

Anyone interested in this ''challenging and rewarding'' position is invited to write to: Search Committee at the Great Neck United Community Fund, 30 Cumberland Avenue, Great Neck, New York 11020.

For further information about UCF activities, call the UCF office at 482-8101.