STATE OF THE CONGREGATION

Posted by webmaster on November 20th, 2007

2007 CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM IS ALIVE AND WELL.

AT AGE 26 WE ARE FEELING OUR STRENGTH BUT WE MUST ALSO BE AWARE OF OUR LIMITATIONS. ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE PEOPLE, MUST GROW AND CHANGE. WE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN A YOUNG ADULT GROWING AND MATURING. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH MANY CHANGES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE near FUTURE.

AMONG OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS IS OUR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP.

OUR MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR CONGREGATION. OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL VERY WELL. OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF KEEPING BETH SHALOM VIBRANT. THEY HAVE NOT SHIRKED THEIR DUTIES AND HAVE NOT EXPECTED OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO TAKE ON THEIR BURDEN. OUR ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. OUR SISTERHOOD CONTINUES TO BE MOST SUPPORTIVE AND PROVIDES AN ACTIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR its MEMBERS. THE BROTHERHOOD HAS BEEN REVITALIZED THIS YEAR AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO INCREASING ITS ACTIVITIES DURING THE COMING YEAR. SYLVIA GRAY CONTINUES TO DRAW A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR SENIORS TO THEIR PROGRAMS. ARFTYS REPUTATION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND REGIONALLY CONTINUES TO GROW THEY ARE AMONGST THE MOST RESPECTED YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR REGION. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I WISH TO THANK ALL OF THE LEADERS OF OUR AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SERVICE ATTENDANCE. PARTICULARLY NOTE WORTHY IS ATTENDANCE AT OUR MONTHLY ROSH CHODESH SERVICE. THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THIS AREA. YOUR NEW BOARD WILL BE LOOKING AT VARIOUS OPTIONS TO MAKE SERVICES MORE SPIRITUAL, WELCOMING, AND MAKING BETH SHALOM A HOME FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.

OUR MEMBERSHIP IS STEADY AT ABOUT 170 FAMILY UNITS. THERE IS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY OF SOME GROWTH IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IN THE SHORT TERM WE CAN EXPECT TO STAY RELATIVELY CONSTANT. WE CAN AND MUST CONTINUE TO OFFER NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR INTEREST AND LOYALTY. AT THE SAME TIME WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF OUR CORE REASON TO EXIST. WE ARE A SYNAGOGUE WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS MUST BE THAT OF RELIGIOUS SPIRITUALITY AND OUR CONTINUANCE AS THE PRIME LOCATION FOR JEWISH LIFE IN THE MID CITIES AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

OUR MAJOR AREA OF WEAKNESS CONTINUES TO BE FINANCIAL

OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN IMPROVING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR RECORDS ARE AN OPEN BOOK. SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO OUR COMPTROLLER MARK LEWIS FOR HIS TWO AND A HALF YEAR EFFORT TO MOVE OUR CONGREGATION TOWARDS THE GOAL OF MEETING MODERN ACCOUNTING PRACTICES. HIS EFFORTS ALONG WITH THOSE OF TREASURERS MICHAEL LOBEL AND JUDI LECOQ HAVE SET THE GROUND WORK FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN OUR RECORD KEEPING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE ENTIRE BOARD AND STAFF ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED IN THEIR EFFORT TO CONSERVE AND WISELY USE OUR LIMITED FISCAL RESOURCES. I AM ALSO PLEASED BY THE CONGREGATION’S RESPONSE TO OUR “FREE IN THREE” CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE REDUCED THE MORTGAGE BY OVER 70 THOUSAND DOLLARS. STILL LESS THAN HALF OF OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS RESPONDED TO OUR NEED. WE MUST HAVE A GREATER RESPONSE; EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT IF WE ARE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL AND BECOME FINANCIALLY SOLVENT.

LET ME TAKE JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES TO MENTION SOME OF THE OTHER MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF WHICH WE CAN BE PROUD.

OUR FEASIBILITY COMMITTEE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MARTY GOLDSMITH AND LARRY BRUNELL WORKED DILIGENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR TO PROVIDE US WITH SUGGESTIONS OF HOW TO MOVE BETH SHALOM FORWARD. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVE CHANGE. FAILURE TO FACE THE FUTURE AND CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO WILL LEAD TO OUR DEMISE. WHILE NONE OF US LIKES CHANGE WE MUST EMBRACE IT. YOUR NEW BOARD WILL BE WORKING HARD TO FIND THE BEST PATH FOR US TO TAKE. WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING MAJOR DECISIONS YOU CAN BE ASSURED THEY WILL SEEK YOUR INPUT AND GUIDANCE. MAKE AN EFFORT TO BE A VIBRANT PART OF THE PROCESS.

AFTER YEARS OF PONDERING AND INDECISION, THE ROSENSTEIN LIBRARY HAS A NEW HOME ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL BUILDING. TWO ROOMS WERE RENOVATED TO PROVIDE BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN A PLACE TO RELAX, STUDY, AND MEET WITH FRIENDS. THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION WORK WAS PREFORMED BY OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF MEMBERS ARTHUR AND KENNY. JUDY SNYDER LENT US HER EXPERTISE, TALENT IN DESIGNING THE ROOM LAY OUT, AND DOING THE BEAUTIFUL ART WORK WHICH ADORNS THE WALLS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HOWARD ROSENSTEIN FOR HIS PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS PROCESS.

MANY OF YOU HAVE NOTICED THE IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR GROUNDS THE RAKIN’ WITH RUACH GROUP DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF CLEARING OUR PROPERTY OF DEBRIS, OVER GROWN WEEDS, BROKEN FENCES, AND WAY TOO MUCH POISON IVY.

THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF ANY CONGREGATION IS ITS SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP. AS YOU KNOW RABBI SOLTZ WILL IS RETIRING AT THE END OF JUNE 2009. DR. MIKE KAPIN HAS AGREED TO LEAD US IN OUR SEARCH FOR A NEW RABBI. AS WE BEGIN THIS DAUNTING TASK YOUR INPUT WILL BE VITAL TO THE SELECTION PROCESS. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CONGREGATION THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. ANSWER THE CALL AND GIVE GENEROUSLY OF YOUR TIME, ENERGY, AND EXPERIENCE. AS ALWAYS I ASK YOU TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, TO HELP WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN, BE UNSELFISH IN OFFERING ASSISTANCE, TO PUT PETTY DIFFERENCES ASIDE, TO ACT ONLY IN OUR BEST INTEREST, AND TO HELP KEEP CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM THE SHINING LIGHT OF JUDAISM IN THE MID CITIES.

I WISH TO THANK MY VICE PRESIDENT AND YOUR PRESIDENT ELECT STUART SNOW FOR HIS ADVICE AND GOOD COUNSEL, HIS UNRELENTING EFFORT, AND HIS FRIENDSHIP DURING MY TERM OF OFFICE

LASTLY THANKS TO EVERY ONE WHO SERVED ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. NO ONE PERSON CAN LEAD A CONGREGATION. IT IS TRULY A GROUP EFFORT. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN ME TO SERVE AND WISH THE NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD CONTINUED SUCCESS AS THEY WORK TOGETHER TO FULFILL THE DESTINY OF OUR CONGREGATION.

SHALOM,

BARRY J. SCHNEIDER

September 2008

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Congregation Beth Shalom

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STATE OF THE CONGREGATION

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