Congregation Beth David
Board Meeting
MINUTES
April 28, 2010
PRESENT: Alex Baskind, Dan Skilken, David Graubart, David Hoffman, Davida Adelberg, Lee Hirsch, Marshall Burak, Michael Rock, Michael Schaffer, Norm Abramovitz, Ron Ruebusch, Steve Labovitz, Steve Levin, Scott Rothenberg, Steve Schlosser, Rabbi Schonbrun Roland King, Michael Sinensky
Guest: Tanya Lorien
GOOD AND WELFARE
- Abe Bromberg’s sister passed away
- Shelly Taboh’s mother passed away
- Ken Friedman’s sister passed away
- Joan Chamberlain’s mother passed away
- David Mayer’s father passed away
- Tova Friedman’s daughter passed away
- Roberta Linsky’s mother passed away
- Harry Cornbleet’s mother passed away
- Dan Skilken’s daughter got engaged
- Laura Finkelstein gave birth to twins, Callista and Portia Shakkarwar
DRASH
Rabbi Schonbrun described responsibilities and needs in the transition from an exiting Rabbi to a Rabbi entering the synagogue.
RITUAL REPORT
Ritual committee meeting May 4th 7:30: everyone welcome to attend the meeting
Cantor Levy’s contract is well under way.
We have a signed contract with Rabbi Ohriner.
Thanks to the pulpit committee for all their hard work including: Hy Ramm, Aileen Menkin, Lee Hirsch, and Joanne Cornbleet.
TREASURER’S REPORT
$30K available to cover the cost of replacing furnaces.
Youth Ed is doing well, with income above budget.
Finance was expecting cemetery sales income that is now going to the endowment, and the special assessment was stopped.
Administration is under budget.
Budgeted income less expenses is about $100K better than forecast through March.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
The board unanimously approved the membership of the Overmery-Wald Family.
Resigned: Ari and Deborah Katz, and Joel Gedalius.
555 total members
Rotating Homeless Shelter
West Valley Community Services (WVCS) has had a sharp decline in donations and an increase in need. Budget shortfall for rotating shelter program could result in a layoff of the manager, which could close the shelter. Need people to come to public meetings for city council meeting for the City of San Jose to prevent cutting these programs.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Update on looping system for hearing impaired
Looping system has been installed and completed. It will be tested this week
People with T-coil hearing aids will now be able to hear better.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Seven systems running in the building – total cost to replace them all is more than the donations to cover the replacements
Sanctuary equipment replacement is roughly $32K, and $30K has been donated.
New HVAC in the Synagogue building would save 2K per year in heating.
Subject to approval of the finance committee, motion to replace the HVAC system in the main sanctuary and social hall for up to $34,000: Motion passed with 17 yes, 0 No, 0 abstentions
Voice System
- New phone system has been installed and is working great. Still sorting out system to figure out what we are disconnecting.
Department of Homeland Security Grant Update
Security fence will be installed between the wall and the fence.
- Need to repair lights at the side of the building.
- Motion for $1700 from the sinking fund to fix the lighting on the east side of the building. Motion passed: 17 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.
EDUCATION REPORT
Federation is giving $2500 for a youth concert with Dan Nickles
Concert is May 11th in the JCC Auditorium
- Motion to spend $2,500 to pass through the donation from Federation for the Youth Concert. Motion passed: 14 yes, 0 No, 3 Abstentions
- May 23rd we are cooking pancakes for the religious school and would love volunteers
- June 19th: Rabbi Schonbrun’s going-away service
- June 5th: Moving up ceremony for Hebrew High Graduation
FINANCE REPORT
Budget update – received inputs from all departments
- Want to not raise fees, dues; however, we will raise fees slightly for education to bring us in line with other synagogues.
- Motion to approve the new fee schedule for the religious school. Passes: 16 yes 0 No 0 Abstentions
- Reviewing discretionary expenses
- $26K higher in expenses than forecasted income in the budget
- Health insurance is going up
- Only 14 b’nei mitzvah this year – we have to fund more kiddish lunches
- Most of the deficit comes from the insurance and kiddish lunches
Board Training
- Michael Schaffer conducted a board training exercise, one of a planned series to support CBD’s goal of organizational excellence
- Need to review board responsibilities as a board collectively
- All board members will go through this exercise over the next couple of months and submit job descriptions electronically in June.
- Board members will bring a rough draft in May
ANNOUNCMENTS
- Monday May 31 there will be a congregation meeting to approve the new Rabbi’s contract
- There is an opening for membership chair
- Next Weds there will be an executive committee meeting
- Wed May 26th next board meeting
The board moved into a closed session to discuss the pulpit committee’s recommendations on the contract for Rabbi Philip Ohriner.
Motion to accept the recommendations of the pulpit committee on the contract for Rabbi Ohriner. Motion passes: 17 yes [Dan wrote 1, but must have been a typo, yes?] 0 No 0 Abstentions
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Skilken, acting for
Rhonda Raider
Recording Secretary