The Congregation B’nai Torah board meeting was called to order by President Lowell Cordas. Members present were Donna Albert, Jon Auster and Sharon Perrin. Minutes from the May 5 board meeting were accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: [The report was circulated].
The balance remaining on the mortgage is $29,000.00. Monies in the Capital Campaign funds are $20,000.00. The board moved that $7500.00 be paid towards the mortgage, which will reduce the interest to be paid in the future. We have approximately 25 member units. Utility bills continue to increase due to increases in heating oil and electricity. Acme fuel delivered 142 gallons of oil by mistake and is willing to remove it if we move to electric heating. Jon and Lowell will contact Acme Fuel and secure two bids for converting to electric heat in the fall as well as finding out about removing the 142 gallons they delivered.
The Budget and Finance Committee met and the board approved the proposed 2008-2009 budget. This budget will be discussed and voted on at the June 22 Annual Meeting.
On June 16 Rabbi Maslan will be here so that CBT members can meet him.
Lowell will contact Bob Davis about mowing the yard as well as getting volunteers to help. Lowell reported on the pest report and findings of the technician.
Tobi and Gerry Braverman have donated a new kitchen sink faucet.
The Perrins have copies of shul CD’s made by Donna Albert and Gary Hartmann.
QFC is rearranging their store and will be stocking more kosher products.
Funds have come in for repairing the small Torah. Lowell has contacted Rabbi Druin and will find out how to pack the torah and ship it for repairs.
A Kiddush in honor of the Rosen family who are relocating is scheduled for June 14.
Sherri Shulman has resigned as head of the Beit Sefer. Her family will be joining Herzl. A contribution will be made to Mazon in honor of the Shulman/Nelson family. A letter will be sent to the parents of Beit Sefer students regarding plans for next year. Jennifer Davies has volunteered to help during the transition. CBT will need to find someone to take over the web page.
The proposed agenda for the Annual Meeting was reviewed. The meeting will be on June 22 at 5:00, which will include a potluck and ice cream bar. Lowell hopes to have surveys for members asking them what they liked this year and would like for next year.
The next board meeting is scheduled for July 21, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Perrin, Recording Secretary
The Annual Meeting of Congregation B’nai Torah was called to order by president Lowell Cordas. Members present were Donna Albert, Len Albert, Jon Auster, Jim Boldt, Gerald Braverman, Tobi Braverman, Sue Cordas, Burleigh Cubert, Carolyn Cubert, Jennifer Davies, Marjie Finkelstein, Stan Finkelstein, Eleanor Gibson, Debra Hartmann, Gary Hartmann, Larry Perrin, Sharon Perrin, David Pierik, Dan Roselle, Lois Roselle, Mimi Silver and Penny Wilson.
Debra Hartmann agreed to serve as Parliamentarian. Lowell indicated that he had a three-minute timer to be used in an attempt to keep the meeting conversations moving along. Debra asked about the future of the CBT Beit Sefer and what are the plans to replace families who have left.
Jon Auster presented the Profit & Loss Statement as of June 22, 2008. Discussion, questions and answers followed. Jon was thanked for serving as treasurer for six years. He will continue to serve as bookkeeper, and if elected, Larry Perrin will assume the duties of CBT treasurer. Stan Finkelstein moved that we accept the budget as presented. The motion was passed. The budget for next year was discussed.
The slate of officers is as follows: Lowell Cordas, President; Penny Wilson, Vice President; Jennifer Davies, Secretary and Larry Perrin, Treasurer. There were no nominations from the floor. Stan suggested we invoke the “Doctrine of Necessity” in order to conduct business, since there was no quorum. It was moved, seconded and passed.
Lowell discussed the future of Beit Sefer and the need for parents of students who will attend next year as well as those who have offered to teach. A meeting will be scheduled with all parents and interested teachers to discuss the needs of the students and conflicting schedules of the possible teachers. Donna would like to see the curriculum that has been used in the past so that it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel for the future school program. Jennifer said that she would coordinate with Sherri on this point.
Debra and Gary Hartmann would like to start a Young Judea group for CBT Beit Sefer students. Lowell asked that Debra bring Young Judea materials to the parent/teacher meeting when it is scheduled.+
Jennifer Davies has volunteered to be the new representative for Interfaith Works. Alan Corwin was thanked in absentia for his many years representing CBT at Interfaith Works.
Lowell discussed Rabbi Maslan. A survey was handed out to members present asking that they indicate the three main things they would like to have the rabbi focus on. They were: 1. lead services; 2. offer Adult Education; 3. provide rabbinical advice/mar d’atra on ritual/religious practices. The results of the entire survey are attached to these minutes.
Rabbi Maslan will be here on a month-to-month hire for up to a year and will conduct High Holiday services this year. The cost for his position here has been covered by contributions from members. He is aware of our community and the challenges we are dealing with. His goal is to see Judaism survive. Rabbi Maslan’s employment will begin with the High Holidays. He will work with the board and a calendar for the year will be developed. There was a unanimous vote to hire Rabbi Maslan.
Lowell handed out committee sign-up sheets.
Len demonstrated the defibrillator that was donated to CBT by Danny Stusser.
Sherri Shulman will continue to update the CBT website until a replacement can be found. Jennifer offered to take on that task. Lowell asked that everyone check out the website and make any comments to him or Jennifer. Lowell also pointed out that the USCJ website is a bit archaic and hard to work with, which leads to limitations.
Dan Roselle and others attended the TBH dedication this afternoon. He hopes that both CBT and TBH can work together in the future.
Jon said that he wished volunteers and board members were not taken to task for what was not done but instead those who raised those points would come together to offer help.
Stan thanked the board for their efforts this past year and thanked the Hartmanns for continuing to produce the CBT NU’Z. Jennifer requested that a “thank you” will be in the CBT NU’Z for the past year Beit Sefer teachers.
Lowell said that he has been in contact with TBH in the past in an attempt to coordinate calendars. He will be meeting with Rabbi Goldstein and Rabbi Edelman in the future working on kashrut issues. TBH is working on reviewing their school curriculum and once it is completed the possibility of both Beit Sefers working together will be evaluated. Lowell said that one of his goals this coming year is to try to create a South Sound Jewish Coordinating Council including the Jewish community at Fort Lewis, Temple Beth El, TBH, Chabad in Tacoma, Chabad in Olympia, Hillel and CBT..
During the general discussion segment Mimi questioned the need for tickets for High Holidays. Lowell said that he is working on greater publicity including the possibility of holding a few Friday night services at both Jubilee and Panorama retirement communities. He is hoping to develop a list of other areas for community outreach and asked everyone to submit their ideas for “out of the box” thinking regarding publicity. Burleigh asked if there could be a definition for board members, committee members and stressed the need for communication so that members will know who is doing what.
The Activity Surveys completed at this meeting will be published in the CBT NU’Z and are attached to these minutes. It was discussed and hoped that members who left will come back and maybe a “time out” is what is needed at this point.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Perrin
Recording Secretary