Do you remember the Benchmark Survey
03/04/2021 02:34:55 PM
During the high holy days, we asked everyone to fill out (yet another) survey. This one was put together by the URJ and consisted of 3 parts: a financial and operating data benchmarking tool, a qualitative board self-assessment and a congregation wide survey. Staff provided the data for first part, the board graded ourselves for the second part and you (the congregants) filled out the last part. As part of our request to take part in the...Read more...
Allow me to Kvell a little
02/04/2021 09:09:56 PM
I consider myself lucky in my role as president. First, I'm backed up by an Executive Director and Senior Rabbi who at various times in their life were congregation presidents. I get great advice from both of them in their paid roles as well as when I ask them to take off their official hats and tell me what they would do as president. Having such quality backup makes it easier for me to navigate this role.
But what makes my job...Read more...
Is January too late to play Dredel?
01/06/2021 09:46:27 AM
Even with the strangest alignments of the lunar and Julian calendars, by January 4 we've all lit the last candle on the Chanukiah. But January 4, 2021 marked a unique Hanukah observance for Temple Beth Shalom. Allow me to explain:
A few months ago, Temple Beth Shalom congregant (and former president) Gail Miller contacted to talk about the Dreidel sculpture located near the main entrance at the JCC. It was going to need...Read more...
Shalomathon
12/07/2020 10:03:39 AM
I'm still absorbing the outstanding Shalomathon event, but I wanted to share my thank you letter to our organizers: Joshua Levy and Bruce Corman:
Joshua and Bruce,
I think the first meeting I had once I started as president was with the two of you. You were anxious for some guidance on what to do with securing the venue for our planned gala. Through previous meetings, you laid out a plan for a ‘not your typical rubber...Read more...
Volunteering
11/03/2020 01:47:53 PM
I've been approached a few times on the topic of volunteering. At the surface, it sounds like an easy topic to address. Here's a congregant that wants to help, so let's take advantage of that, right?
The recipe for success is multidimensional. We first need to evaluate where we need help, both in areas that we know about as well as new opportunities we haven't yet given thought to. Then we need to understand where the person offering...Read more...