Matti & Scott Reider
40 Faces of the J
Scott’s Story:
I moved to Charlotte in 1980 after graduating from college. I did not have any Jewish friends and there was no JCC that I was aware of. I left the city for a job opportunity in 1984 but returned in 1987. On the day I moved into my new apartment, I met the adjoining unit resident who was also moving in. By either coincidence or beshert, he was Jewish and asked me if I was joining the JCC. I said "What JCC? Where is that?" I checked it out. It had just opened and was beautiful. I quickly joined and played basketball on Sundays and in the evening leagues intermittently for 10+ years. In 1996 a Jewish singles group was formed. I joined the group and met my future wife at an event called "Dinner with a Twist". Matti (Ordan) and I married in 2000.
Our careers limited our involvement at the J but in 2015 I retired and my #1 priority was to play basketball in the early mornings and get myself in shape. I did that but too much time away, excessive exuberance and an aging body resulted in multiple injuries.
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I decided to engage a personal trainer. Best decision I ever made. I lost 20 pounds, got in shape and at my trainer's recommendation, joined JFORCE. It is a marvelous program and for 10 years it has been what I look forward to every week. I have learned a lot about fitness and made a bunch of friends, both in JFORCE and working out on my own in the exercise room.
Matti’s Story
The only thing I knew about Charlotte when I moved from New York in 1990 was that there was a JCC. I told the realtor I needed to be within 10 minutes of the J. The J served as a hub for our family. From cub scouts and the swim team for my sons; to me playing Queen City Tennis; this is where our connections were made. My oldest son had his Bar Mitzvah under the basketball hoop as the synagogues were being built in 1992.
Fast forward to 1996; the J was where I met my future husband Scott at a Jewish Singles event. Now it is where we both come for exercise & belonging. Our grand- daughters have attended Camp Mindy and taken JHoops basketball lessons. For me it is personal training, Pilates, yoga and learning / playing Mah Jong weekly. The JCC is the place for friends, community and a feeling of belonging.
In summary, the staff and programs at the J have allowed Matti and I to put our wellness as our #1 priority. Equally important are the friends and contacts we have made. Those connections have inspired us to become involved in a variety of other activities and events - joining TBE Brotherhood, Miriam's Well and the J-Borhood Group, volunteering at Camp SOAR and The Second Harvest Food Bank, building the TBE succoth, donating to the food pantry and participating in a host of other social events. In a nutshell, the JCC has improved our overall wellness and gotten us involved in the community.
