Luncheons take place at Temple Beth Shalom
from 12-1:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Suggested donation for luncheons is $12/person.
No one is turned away for lack of funds.
Presentation by Bob Shay: “Grand Forks, Ellis Island of the Prairie“
Bob Shay was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1947 and raised in Seattle. A Navy Photographer’s Mate and retired Journeyman Trade Show Carpenter, he is a lifelong advocate for veterans, having led the restoration of his city’s World War I Memorial Monument and helped bring home the remains of a missing WWI soldier from Seattle in 2024. Bob also researches his family’s Moldovan roots and travels with his wife to as many National Parks as possible.
At our luncheon, Bob will give a talk on connecting with the American experience of immigrant parents and grandparents: where they lived, how they arrived, and what their lives were like here. Drawing on his own research, including his grandfather’s South Dakota homestead, he’ll share how documents, phone calls, and family lore, along with a reconnection with a like-minded cousin, helped him piece his family’s story together. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for tracing their own families’ journeys.
Performance by Cameron Brow
Cameron Brow is a prominent magician and mentalist based in Spokane. Highly regarded in the Pacific Northwest magic community, he is celebrated for blending sleight-of-hand tricks, hypnotism, and mind-reading to create intimate, engaging performances. Cameron took first place in the 2022 Spokane Magic Club Close-Up Contest, cementing his reputation as a top-tier sleight-of-hand artist. He frequently features in large-scale regional productions, such as 2024’s “Confusium: Comedy, Magic & Illusions” show at the Bing Crosby Theater. Cameron holds a regular performance slot providing weekend tableside magic at Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub in Spokane. Rather than basic tricks, his mentalism acts often focus on hypnotism and helping audience members uncover hidden talents and thoughts. We’re thrilled to host him as the JFS Luncheon’s first-ever guest magician!
Presentation by Holland McBurns
Holland McBurns, a managing partner at Evergreen Estate & Elder Law, has over 20 years of experience helping families navigate estate and elder law. Her presentation “The Strategic Use of Irrevocable Trusts” covers asset protection for family legacies, tax efficiency and gift tax exemptions, Medicaid planning for long-term care, privacy and control over family affairs, and more. Please join us for this important and informative talk!
