Congregation Beth David Board Meeting
MINUTES
October 26, 2011
PRESENT:
Joanne Cornbleet, President
David Hoffman, EVP
Steve Schlosser, VP Finance
Hal Bordy, VP Admin
Michael Herman, VP Mem
Howard Fine, VP Ritual
Shelley Timmins, Rec Sec
Steven Levin, DaL Adult Ed
Michael Rock, DaL Facilities
Lee Hirsch, DaL Finance Cmte
Rita Schlosser, DaL Prog
Jane Blumenthal, DaL Youth
David Graubart, Men’s Club
Alex Baskind, DaL
Elizabeth Batson, DaL
Michael Schaffer, DaL
Tanya Lorien, Dir Admin
Guests:
Lee Gavens
Welcome, Approval of Minutes: 7:30-735
Good and Welfare: 7:35 – 7:40: Joanne Cornbleet
Bereavements:
- Louis Auerbach, father-in-law of Rabbi Daniel Pressman
- Max Appel, father of Judy Applesmith
- Dora Gotlib, mother of Greg Gotlib
- Ruth Blum, aunt of Rhonda Farber
Births:
- Twin boys, grandsons of Wendy and Lance Glasser
Aufrufs:
- Ilan Goldbard and Inga Chernyak
Drash: 7:40-7:50: “This House We Build,” Ch 8: Finding and Using Your Voice, Appropriately, pp. 129-156, presented by Dave Graubart
Nominating Committee Report: 7:50-8:00: Lee Gavens
Nominating Committee Members: Lee Gavens (Chairman), Davida Adelberg, Thelma Ramm, Michael Sinensky, Gene Tenberg, Jeff Warwick, and Moshe Zadka
Motion: The board accepts the report from the Nominating Committee and endorses the slate for the 2012 Board of Directors and Officers.
Made by Steve Schlosser
Seconded by Michael Schaffer
Vote: For: 14, Against: 0, Abstain: 0. Motion passed.
USCJ Request for Beth David Contact Information: 8:15-8:20 Tanya Lorien,
USCJ would accept the Board’s emails instead of the entire congregation’s email addresses.
Q: Why not give them the board@beth-david.org or the other board email aliases?
A: Agreed, we will make this offer.
Ritual Report: 8:20 – 8:25: Howard Fine
- The High Holidays were planned and conducted successfully.
- The Ritual Committee is working on scheduling a “lessons learned” meeting to review the High Holidays
- There were minor issues with the new mahzorim, which were expected and will be resolved by next year
- 922 mahzorim were purchased, 457 of which were donated
- The Ritual Committee expects to do another sales push next year before the holidays
- Feedback regarding new mahzorim was very positive
- Religious School committee will submit report for youth services held during the High Holidays, to see what went well and what can be improved upon.
Q: Were there any mahzorim put aside to give as gifts to new members?
A: We haven’t done that for years. Membership could propose to do so again. This will be discussed at the next Executive Board meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: 8:10 – 8:20: Steve Schlosser
- There are concerns from the Q1 reports. The Kiddush fund is running a surplus, which makes it look like our overall budget is running a surplus. However, dues are running below expectations. Committee heads should prepare for the possibility that the Finance Committee will ask each to make further budget cuts.
Q: Do we know year on year numbers for membership?
A: Yes, and we are below our historic trend for this time of year. We need one more month to figure out current trends and look at budgets.
Q: What kind of analysis do we have for our dues collection?
A: Extensive, we are not seeing a fall off in the number of people in arrears. That number is the same as in prior years, but we are down on number of household units paying full dues. Roland King is following up on the number of housholds that are greater than 90 days in due arrears.. Roland will provide a list to Rabbis Pressman and Ohriner and to Joanne Cornbleet to also follow up with these households. Roland is not present at this meeting for further information about numbers.
Finance Report: 8:20 – 8:40: Steve Schlosser, Lee Hirsch
- Overview of Special Funds: we investigated our current special funds, their missions, their balances, and how we can best put them to use.
- Donation Funds: people make regular donations to them
- Named Funds: They have a minimum balance of $5,000, in the name of a loved one, with Board approval.
- Reserved Funds: Not soliciting regular donations, in the process of deciding how to spend/transfer the balances.
- The Finance Committee will prepare a motion to consolidate funds and bring it up at the next Board meeting (specifically to move funds from one Reserved Fund to the March of The Living Fund).
Education Report (RS, Youth, Adult): 8:40 – 8:50: Steven Levin, Jane Blumenthal
- Intro to Judaism starting on the 1st, in partnership with several other synagogues.
- Pirkei Avot classes started October 28
- Dr. David Mesher talk on November 15
- Youth Commission meeting scheduled for next week.
Membership Report: 8:50 – 9:00: Michael Herman
- Current membership is at 529 members/families
- 7 new members/families have applied for membership
- Ms Marjorie Bischoff
- Mr and Mrs Steven and Elizabeth Park and family
- Mr and Mrs William Province and Julie Tardos and family
- Mr and Mrs Steve and Inna Reinhard and family
- Mr and Mrs Leonard Shen and Susan Cohen and family
- Mr and Mrs Karate and Deborah Vick and family
- Mr and Mrs Alex and Miri Volinsky and family
Motion: Resolved, to welcome the new members/families into the congregation.
Made by David Hoffman
Seconded by Steve Schlosser
Vote: For: 15, Against: 0, Abstain: 0. Motion passed.
- The membership application has been revised, in process of being signed off by stake holders
- The Membership Committee has been set up and invited to meet on November 17
- The Membership Committee will work on proposals to create mementos or gifts to new members, getting prices and vendors
- The Membership Committee will review applying existing $700 originally for a cancelled Palo Alto fair to outreach, taking into consideration revenue or loss from BBQ & Barchu. Any change in the use of funds should be cleared through the Finance Committee.
- In process of creating a document control system
- In process of creating a note for Tax Information on membership application
- In process of setting up bi-weekly meetings for out-of-work members
Administration Report: 9:00 – 9:15 Tanya Lorien, Hal Bordy
- Background:
The filter, a compression fitting and a small pipe have failed that are part of our ice machine. The filter alone is $400 plus labor and smaller misc. necessary plumbing bits. Our repair estimate is $950 (however if they can get it done in less time – the will charge us less on the labor side). A similar Ice machine is around $2,500 + tax + plumbing (installation + filter + water line + etc)
Motion: The board approves an expenditure from the sinking fund not to exceed $950 to repair the ice maker.
Made by Hal Bordy
Seconded by Michael Schaffer
Vote: For: 15, Against: 0, Abstain: 0. Motion passed.
- Background:
The week before Rosh Hashanah it was determined that there was a problem with a light. We replaced the fuse and apparently it worked for a short period of time and then went out again. We called the lighting company who said the light was broken and needed replacing. As it was in the midst of the High Holy Days, we replaced it for $500.
Motion: The board approves an expenditure of $500 from the sinking fund to replace the broken LED light for the Rabbi podium for High Holy Days.
Made by Hal Bordy
Seconded by Michael Schaffer
Vote: For: 15, Against: 0, Abstain: 0. Motion passed.
RFP for website sent out, getting bids now.
- Personnel handbooks will be presented at the January meeting
Announcements: 9:35 – 9:45: Joanne Cornbleet
- EXEC BOARD MEETING – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 7:30 PM, CBD
- NOTE: Please bring your powerpoint presentations for the Congregation Meeting
- BOARD MEETING – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 7:30 PM (5th Wednesday)
- Sunday, October 30: Mishpaha Program: Sense of Shabbat – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 30: Why We need Shabbat More Than Ever – 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
- Sunday, November 6: High Tea with Sisterhood – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 14: Grandparent’s Circle – 7:30 pm
- Tuesday, November 15: CJL: Back in the USSR: Encounters with Refusniks, 1976 – 7:30 pm
- Thursday, November 24: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service – 10:00 am
- Prince of Peace, 12770 Saratoga Avenue (and Cox Avenue)
- Sunday, December 18: Congregation Meeting – 10:00 am
Respectfully Submitted,
Shelley Timmins
Recording Secretary