Summary of Board Meeting Minutes – February 2024

BZBI Board of Trustees Minutes

Feb 15, 2024, 6:30-8:30

• D’var Torah – Rabbi Abi Weber on Parshat Terumah – how did people who rushed out with nothing have gifts to give to build the Mishkan? What gifts do we have to build this community.
• Welcome -Matt Whitehorn
• Approval of Minutes from Jan, 2024 meeting
• Follow up on action items from prior meetings (6:40)
  1. Standardized template for consent agenda.
  2. Working towards hiring a staff member for the Lifelong Learning position

Kitchen  kashrut policy has been prepared by Lynne Balaban, being reviewed by Rabbis and will then go to the Ritual Committee. Two employees have received/are receiving their ServSafe.  Looking towards hosting Passover meals during Chol Ha’moed Pesach

1. Announcement re Mishloach Manot fundraiser

• Rabbi Report – Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Weber
  • Search for High Holiday prayer leader open for video submissions. “Feedback team” will review applications; Rabbis will make final selection. Aim to have position filled in next 4-8 weeks.
  • Volunteers needed for Purim Block Party (Sunday, March 24^th); volunteer shifts are 30 minutes.
  • A Musical Hug from Israel was a successful event (~100 attendees); playlist available
• Development report -Suzanne Litke. Working towards goals, but we must still must increase annual giving.  BZBI  Will be hosting a Grand Opening/donor event in conjunction with the kitchen opening (first weekend in April).
• Finance Report- Daniel Cohen/Matt Maron
  • Currently favorable for income. However, lower income from membership than expected.  Salary benefits are lower than budgeted and will increase once we hire a Director of Congregational Learning.  Annual Giving must grow (including Board Brit). Life & Legacy project active. Marketing materails available in the spring. The internal goal is 25 signed LOIs ($7500 match).
• Strategic Operating Plan – Gary Bramnick, Cara Levinson and Philip Warmflash

The board was provided with a complete version of the SOP in advance of the meeting. Detailed discussion of SOP – including “how we got here” and “where we are.”  Overall – 5 strategic goal areas.  Board approved the plan and the team will work on next phase – a final description is being prepared to share with the synagogue

1. Goal Area 1: Religious & Spiritual Experience
2. Goal Area 2: Educational Engagement
3. Goal Area 3: Membership Development & Engagement
4. Goal Area 4: Facility Optimization
5. Goal Area 5: Financial Sustainability

• Executive Session

 

Members in attendance:

Bill Brookover, Eileen Dwell, Jess Simon Pollock, Amy Schulz, Anne Albert, Rabbi Abi Weber, Doug Barg, Gail Kroop, Rabbi Abe Friedman, Suzanne Litke, Matt Maron, Gary Bramnick, Tanya Hess (Zoom), Daniel Cohen (Zoom and in-person), Shoshana Bannett (Zoom), Matt Whitehorn, Akil Bowler

Prepared by Amy Schultz (minutes at meeting) and Melissa Lerman (formatting)

CONSENT AGENDA

• Community Engagement
• Congregational Learning Committee
• Development (see attached)

Community Engagement Board Update February, 2024

Bethesda Project Programs-The contact we had at Bethesda has taken another position at HIAS and I have not heard from the new Community outreach person. We are still making hats, scarves and collecting gloves which will end this month.

First Friday / Yesod Dinners continue, and we are always looking for volunteers for set up and clean up for both dinners.

The February 2 was well attended for both the family and adult dinner.

Mah Jongg Group- We have a regular MahJongg Game weekly @ 5pm in the chapel in Thursdays. Ellen Goldberg has also started an afternoon game on Wednesdays at 1:30 for those wanting an earlier game. All of our weekly contribution are being given to the Hydration Station initiative.

Sima’s Stitchers- Is a weekly knitting drop in group held weekly on Wednesdays beginning in November in our chapel. We knit helmet liners for the IDF as well as and crochet hats and scarves for Project Home and Bethesda Project Clients. Lessons are a part of what we do for community members who want to learn these fiber crafts. We are always looking for stitchers who can join us or knit IDF Caps from home.

Kiddush Committee- We always need more volunteers to help set up and clean up. Shoshanna Bannett coordinates the volunteer sign up and she is looking for folks to volunteer over the next few months.

Serve for Eight-We are currently working on the list of activities we will be holding.

The Blood Drive was such a success that Trinity Lutheran will coordinate two blood drives a year and we will also coordinate two other drives at Trinity for a total of four Blood Drives a year.

Board Game Shabbat continues the third Shabbat of the month we socialize after Kiddush over a variety of board game for all ages.

Themed Shabbat- Polka Dot Shabbat just for fun is planned for March 31 during Purim.

Etzi our BZBI Tree and planter care will resume in the Spring.

Submitted by Eileen Dwell

Congregational Learning:  Next meeting: March 6^th. Programming ongoing (see e-cong). N Leaderman