Multimedia Laboratory Inauguration at ORT House

08.11.04

8 November 2004 The inauguration takes place today, 8 November 2004, of a new multimedia laboratory at ORT House in the presence of the recently appointed Israeli Ambassador to Britain, H. E. Zvi Heifetz and a high profile mission from Womens American ORT. Among the delegation of nine led by National President Judy Menikoff of Womens American ORT, is Grace Mendelson. It was through the generosity of Ms Mendelson, a member of WAOs Board of Directors and Co-Chair of Major Gifts, that the modernisation and refurbishment of the multimedia laboratory at ORT House was made possible. The multimedia laboratory features 13 computer terminals in a closed network and is used by ORT and a variety of outside agencies to provide training on hi-tech subjects. Among those who have used the facility are the Jewish Care Employment Resource Centre and the Electronic Immigration Network, a voluntary sector organisation specialising in the provision of information on immigration and refugee law via the Internet. Particpants at a recent ORT Seminar using the new Media Lab. World ORT President Sir Maurice Hatter will deliver an address at the inauguration ceremony, which will include a welcome to the group of 23 educators and administrators participating in the 3rd annual Hatter Technology Seminar. The group, from ORT establishments in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, France, Israel, Mexico, Moldova, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Uruguay and the USA, will use the multimedia laboratory during the week-long seminar that focuses, this year, on the subject of design. The Hatter Technology Seminar participants will show the WAO mission how the multimedia laboratory works in practice before joining leading members of British ORT and World ORT for the welcoming of Ambassador Heifetz. Ambassador Zvi Heifetz, who is Russian-born, is a member of the Israeli Bar and Vice-Chairman of Maariv Group the second largest media group in Israel. Other members of the WAO mission are: Associate Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Fiedel, Executive Director Ina Green, Director of National Planned Giving Debra Hammer, Director of Meetings, Missions and Operations Administration Jan Kovacs, Manager of Meetings, Missions and Regional Operations Administration Robert Kern, Mission Chair Joan Wendroff, National Assistant Treasurer/Secretary Marcy Wiseberg, and businesswoman Barbara Blair. British ORT representatives at todays events are: Vice Presidents Robert Bieber, Henry Davis and Suzanne Davis, Co-Chair Alan Goldman, Management Committee member Steven Leof and ORT supporter Peter Briess.