Nine Jewish Community Centers across North America are the first to take advantage of JCC Association’s new mobile initiative, the JCCs of North America App. The JCCs of North America App is now available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and enables JCCs to offer users the information they want immediately on their mobile devices. “I like to think of the JCC app as a program guide 2.0,” says Chris Strom, director of new media and social networking, who is leading the project for JCC Association.
Built in partnership with mobile app maker Guidebook Inc., the app features descriptions, hours, locations and important contacts for every JCC Association-affiliated JCC and JCC overnight camp in North America. The app is launching with nine JCC “featured guides,” which give JCC members and participants access to fitness and cultural programming schedules, JCC social media feeds, feedback forms, newsletter content, picture galleries and much more.
JCC Association’s annual Benchmarking survey reveals that approximately two out of every three JCC members and participants own a smartphone. The smartphone boom isn’t a phenomenon isolated to the Jewish community. Online-statistics-outfit Statista reports that Americans are on pace to spend more time browsing mobile apps than watching TV, and searching for information on mobile devices is quickly becoming the norm. “The JCCs of North America app gives JCC members all the latest JCC information and updates at their fingertips, 24/7,” says Strom.
“Moms’ schedules are crazy,” says Jon Strum, marketing/communications director of the Alpert JCC in Long Beach, California. “Between taking kids to martial arts lessons, the dentist, and dance classes, they only have a little bit of down time. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from them how great it is to be able to access the JCC’s pool schedule, group fitness schedule and information about our other events right from their smartphones or iPhones.”
JCC Association is the leadership network for Jewish Community Centers and YM-YWHA’s in the U.S. and Canada. It provides a range of services and programs that enable JCCs to serve their communities and enrich the lives of their users. “This mobile app is another way that we can help JCCs be effective and up-to-date in how they deal with their communities,” says Jordan Shenker, JCC Association senior vice-president for community services. “All JCCs, no matter their size, can offer the public the most convenient and accessible way to interact with this app.”
The nine JCCs who have piloted the app represent diverse communities in terms of size and location. The “featured guide” pilot communities include
* Barbara & Ray Alpert JCC in Long Beach, CA
* Boulder JCC in Boulder, CO
* Friedberg JCC in Oceanside, NY
* JCC of Greater Baltimore in Owings Mills, MD
* Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, CA
* Peninsula JCC in Foster City, CA
* Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Vaughan, ON, Canada
* Shaw JCC in Akron, OH
* St. Louis JCC in St. Louis, MO
The JCCs of North America App is available on iPhone, iPad, Android devices and all other Web-enabled mobile devices. For more information about the app, please contact JCC Association Director of New Media and Social Networking Chris Strom at [email protected]
Download the JCCs of North America app from the Apple App Store – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jccs-of-north-america/id606053657?mt=8.
Download the JCCs of North America app from the Google Play Store – http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.guidebook.apps.JCC.android.
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