CONGREGATION SHIR TIKVAH
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2010

Present:  Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg, Alice Audie-Figueroa, Beth Isola, David Muscat, Edith Bernstein, Erica Peresman, Grace Laverdiere, Harriet Silverman, JoAnne Levy, Joyce May, Len Redmond, Marv Rich, Mike Pytlik, Rich Spitzer

(If you come in after the attendance sheet has been passed around, please see Beth Isola at the end of the meeting.  Thank you!)

Meeting was called to order by Peresman at 7:06 p.m.

D’Var Torah – Rabbi Arnie. 

• This week’s parsha discusses the 10 Commandments.  Rabbi Arnie asked us as a group to come up with our own 10 Commandments and then rank them in order of importance to us.  The top ranked commandment was “Thou Shall Respect Each Other and All Living Creatures”.

Consent Agenda Approval. 

• Exceptions –  none. 
• Motion to approve moved by Laverdiere; 2nd by May.
• Consent Agenda unanimously approved.

 Rabbi’s Report. 

• Rabbi Arnie commented that things are going very well in the Family Ed department.  He commended the team comprised of Wren Hack, Pam Spitzer, Leah Gawel and Gail Greenberg, for their excellent programming and curriculum development initiatives.  The morale is high and Rabbi Arnie is very pleased with the program and direction in which it is headed.
• Rabbi Arnie shared a story about a high school student who commented to him that the time he spends at CST is the highlight of his week and makes him feel good.
• February is a busy month with the Sisterhood Health Expo and “Schmooze Cruise” scheduled for this week.

 President’s Report.  Provided in Board Packet

• Bernstein commented on her concern for the planning of an event that is only for major donors of the Torah Alive! Campaign.  Peresman reminded us that we have always recognized those who give financially and/or of their time.  In talking with fund raising professionals (even within our own congregation), it is evident that we need to do a little more for major donors in order to keep large donations coming.  Without them, the future of the congregation isn’t as secure.  Audie-Figueroa also reminded us that we recognize major donations of time (e.g. service awards and by recognizing chairs of committees) so it is appropriate to do the same with major donations of money.  Spitzer also commented that the question of how to recognize major donors has been debated since the building was built and we faced the question of whether to name rooms and such.  He said that he did not find this particular donor recognition event inconsistent with the CST culture, but that it was important to always keep our culture in mind when considering different types of recognition.  Peresman agreed.
• Peresman elaborated on the meeting she, Rabbi Arnie and Bob Heinrich had with Alliance for Jewish Education.
• M. Rich is concerned about all the vacancies we still have for various committee chairs and wondered about the reason behind people vacating these positions.  Peresman mentioned that some have been in the position for a very long time and are looking for a break and others have outside commitments that prohibit them from continuing to serve in these capacities.  She recognized the need to encourage committee chairs to groom their successors and the need to fill vacancies in a more timely fashion.

Family Education Report.  Provided in Board Packet

 Treasurer’s Report.  Provided in Board Packet. 

 Exceptions to Consent Agenda.  None

Recommendation Packages.     None

Discussion Items.

• Committee to Oversee Building Maintenance (Capital Asset Management).
• M. Rich is chairing the committee.  Information was provided in the Board Packet.
• Committee was developed to identify capital items as part of the synagogue, gather data on each item, and determine the life of each item and cost to replace items.  All this information is compiled into a computer program which will give us a 30-year projection on these items and their replacement costs.
• Peresman reminded us that Torah Alive funds are used for capital items.
• Spitzer asked about a preventative maintenance program.  We currently do not have a formal program in place, however JoAnne Levy oversees scheduling of the maintenance in various areas.
• Discussion evolved to deep cleaning of the kitchen and how often it is done.

• CSI Federation Grant. 
• Peresman reported that Wren and her team are using the money we received from the CSI Grant to purchase laptops and software for the classrooms.  Beautification efforts for the classrooms are also being done.
• Deadline to apply for additional funding is in April.
• Dues – Institutionalizing the opportunity to give at a higher level. 
• Part of the Fund Raising and Stewardship Plan
• Peresman reminded us that we are running a significant budget deficit this year. Because of this, she spoke with a specialist with URJ on income generating.  She detailed the efforts we are making and he indicated that we are already doing many of the things he advises other congregations to start doing in order to increase their operating budgets.
• URJ Specialist suggested two additional income generating efforts:  renting out our facility when it’s not in use by the congregation; and appealing to our “circle of givers” – a group of members who pay more than their regular dues amount.
• Numerous congregations in the Detroit Metro Area already have a similar program in place.
• We’ve had similar campaigns in the past (Shomrei Or) and they were successful but we do not currently have a “circle of givers” program.  Is this something we want to implement?    And if so, what is our timeframe?
• Muscat asked if this campaign would be in addition to or in place of the “Voluntary Dues” program.  Decision was this would be an additional campaign.
• Erica will follow-up with Nowikowski (co-chair of Fund Raising and Stewardship).

 

Additions to Agenda

• Follow-up from Board Retreat by “Volunteers” group to present at March meeting.
• Peresman asked if April Board of Trustees Meeting (scheduled for 4/7) should be rescheduled due to timing (Spring Break).  Board decided to keep the meeting as scheduled.

Good & Welfare

• Joyce May has volunteered to chair the 2nd Seder.  She needs volunteers to help with this effort.  Event will be a pot-luck dinner as was done last year.  Object is to keep the cost low to encourage big turnout.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Isola,

Recording Secretary