Board Meeting Minutes 30-Nov-11

Board of Directors (December 2011)

Congregation Beth David Board Meeting
MINUTES
November 30, 2011

 PRESENT:
Joanne Cornbleet, President
David Hoffman, EVP
Hal Bordy, VP Admin
Norm Abramovitz, VP Ed
Michael Herman, VP Mem
Shelley Timmins, Rec Sec
Roland King, Fin Sec
Steven Levin, DaL Adult Ed
Michael Rock, DaL Facilities
Lee Hirsch, DaL Finance Cmte
Rita Schlosser, DaL Prog
Bryan Ferguson, DaL Soc Act
Jane Blumenthal, DaL Youth
David Graubart, Men’s Club
Alex Baskind, DaL
Elizabeth Batson, DaL
Michael Schaffer, DaL
Michael Sinensky, DaL
Rabbi Philip Ohriner
Rabbi Daniel Pressman
Tanya Lorien, Dir Admin

Welcome, Approval of Minutes: 7:30-7:35pm
Announcements:  7:35  Joanne Cornbleet
Reminder about important dates: 

  • Annual Meeting (Sun, Dec 18, 10 am)
  • Board Orientation (Sun, Jan 29, 1 pm)
  • Board Installation and Volunteer Shabbat (Sat, Feb 4)
  • Shabbat Shekalim—Donor Appreciation Shabbat (Sat, Feb 18) 

Sign up sheets passed around for these events and for Bima Board Rep

Good and Welfare: 7:50 – 7:55:  Rabbi Pressman
News:  Margie Pomerantz and Rabbi Pressman attended SULAM, training for synagogue leadership in LA 

Bereavements:

  1. Sanford Howard Witlin, father of Sheryl Witlin
  2. Nasir Zohoori, father of Kamran Zohoori
  3. Mildred Bernstein, mother of Joyce Barman
  4. Shlomo Malin, husband of Hanna Malin 

Education Report (RS, Youth, Adult): 7:55-8:15: Norm Abramovitz

  1. Hebrew High numbers are down.  Projected: 75 students Actual: 60 students.  Affects income and costs.
  2. The committee is investigating causes.  The belief is that parents are setting different priorities (e.g. other college prep activities).  Expecting a $12,000 loss, with adjustments could be reduced to $8,000. 

Q: Why are teachers’ salaries expected to be higher than what was budgeted?
A: We have fewer volunteer teachers this year.

 Q: What is the minimum number of students in a class?
A: For classes with a Volunteer Teacher = 3.  For a Paid Teacher = 8. 

  1. Religious School is going well, 3 more children attending than projected numbers. 

Adult Education: Steven Levin

  1. Events include: Ask the Rabbi, 1st Shabbat of each month
  2. Jewish Book Discussion Group, 2nd Shabbat of each month
  3. Shabbat Afternoon Torah Discussion, 3rd Shabbat of each month
  4. Wisdom and Witdom with Doug Brook, 4th Shabbat of each month
  5. “Ask the Rabbi” sessions are going well–well attended. 

Youth Education: Jane Blumenthal

  1. USY numbers are down.  However, Kadima is very strong, numbers are growing. 

Ritual Report:  8:15-8:20: Joanne Cornbleet on behalf of Howard Fine

  1. On December 21, the Ritual Committee will meet to discuss lessons learned from High Holy Days

 Finance and Treasurer’s Report:  8:20-8:30:  Lee Hirsch

  1. Last committee meeting they addressed the potential shortfall in budget.  Good news, the shortfall is not growing.
  2. Next finance committee meeting will bring in the bookkeeper and Tanya to walk through books to make sure each item is understood.

 Annual Campaign: 8:30-8:35 David Hoffman

  1. As of yesterday,  the Annual Campaign has raised over $130,000.
  2. The Goal is $275,000.
  3. Over 235 members have been contacted.  The Board should be cautiously optimistic that we will reach the goal once all members and major donors are contacted.

 Membership Report: 8:35 – 8:45:  Michael Herman

  1. No new applications this month.  4 families resigned and 1 student reinstated.  The new total member count is 533
  2. From this meeting forward, the relevant numbers of new, resigned, and total members will be included in the minutes, but the names of these members will not be included.
  3. Until the Board creates a policy for website privacy settings, we will err on the side of caution and not include member names except for those of Board members who have not stated any objection.
  4. The Administration Committee will further discuss the topic of privacy via website and print publications and return to the board with a proposal.
  5. A revised membership application form is being sent around to receive feedback.
  6. The next Membership Committee meeting will be on December 8.
  7. The first meeting of the Job Help Group will be on December 1.

 Administration Report: 8:45 – 8:55  Tanya Lorien, Hal Bordy 

  1. The Beth David D’Var has been published.  We are looking for advertisers.
  2. Nester will be on holiday at the end of December, but there is no need to hire a replacement as there are very few events on the calendar.
  3. Tanya expects that in January she will be able to present to the Board a proposal for website designer.
  4. The USCJ list of limited contact information was sent in on time to receive discounts
  5. The drain in courtyard is problematic.  It could be a potential safety hazard.  A contractor was brought in to inspect the drain.  The contractor recommended making a new drain next to the existing one with a grate that fits.  It would cost about $750 to have the new drain put in.  This will be referred via email to the Finance Committee.  The Finance Committee should also consider making policy regarding the Sinking Fund and what dollar amount should trigger a more thorough approval process versus what could be handled by Administration. 

Motion: Resolved, the repair to the courtyard drain shall be made, pending the review of the Finance Committee.
Made by Hal Bordy
Seconded by David Graubart
Vote: For: 17, Against: 0, Abstain: 0.  Motion passed. 

Announcements:
EXEC BOARD MEETING – WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7,  7:30 PM,
BOARD MEETING  – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, FOLLOWING CONGREGATION MEETING, 10 AM SIGN IN, 10:30 AM MEETING 

Upcoming Events
Thursday, December 1: Job Help and Training Session – 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 1: Informational Meeting for Summer Israel Tours – 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 3: Ask the Rabbi – after Shabbat Kiddush lunch (about 1:15 p.m.)
Saturday, December 3: SABABA Concert at JCC – 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 4:   Sunday Night Movie: Mother Night – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 11: Hanukkah Mishpaha Program: Hanukkah, Heroes and Hofa’ah – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 11: Hanukkah Adult Workshop – Who is a Hero? Who are our Heroes? Who should our (grand)children’s Heroes be? – 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 11: Hanukkah Gift Shop Bazaar – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 11: HAZAK Hanukkah Social Extravaganza – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13: CJL: Jews in the California Gold Rush – 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18: CBD Annual Meeting – 10:00 a.m.

 Adjourned 8:55

 Respectfully Submitted, 

Shelley Timmins
Recording Secretary

 

 

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