Summary of February 2021 Board Minutes

February 11, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Consent Agenda presented by Nikki Morris Approved and seconded

1. 1. Approval of January board meeting minutes from Terry Hirshorn
   2. Community Committee report from Eileen Dwell: Recipe cards for a Sephardic Purim Cookie and an Ashkenazi Hamentashen will be included in this year’s Mishloach Manot Bags, which will be distributed by volunteers to Center City residents on February 19.

Discussion items presented by Nikki Morris

1. 1. Executive Director’s report from Rebecca Slavin-Phillips: With a donor in hand, the plans for the new Tallit closet (where the organ used to be) are moving ahead, with bids from a contractor, architect and builders. Five kitchen consultants came and will present bids. Purim planning is well underway.
   2. Membership report from Sharon Greis: Ilana Trachtman made a video, which will be edited to about 3 minutes for the website, and posted as early as the end of March. A longer version will be available to other purposes. It gives the essence of the congregation, (i.e. what member were looking for and what they found at BZBI to provide a sense of belonging). New and Newish members have been contacted again. One previous member who returned to BZBI said it felt like a much more welcoming and warm environment.
   3. Development report from Suzanne Litke: Specific renovations for the sanctuary have been sponsored by a new donor.  Our grand total, including from AG and other gifts, includes pledges.  The phone calls we have made to congregants have been appreciated.
   4. Finance committee report from Brian Bushee: We are still in good shape. Now with our Annual Giving we are at 97% of budget and close to a record. We put a lot of our dues into investments. Remarkably we are in a very strong cash position to date with the help of the new PPP2 loan.
   5. Report from Rabbi Annie: She is grateful and thankful to everyone. At Shabbat Zahor (Feb. 20) Rebecca Bushee, a confirmation student, will describe and present her film about the history of Purim. The night of Purim, in addition to the Megillah reading we’ll have Purim Schpiels.
   6. Visioning update by Cara Levinson & Gary Bramnick: We are in the fact-finding phase, gathering insights and information from congregants. Cara will speak to the Sisterhood, and we will get advice from past leadership.  The sessions have been recorded.  We can expect a presentation of the findings to the Board in March or April.

Rabbi Search

The search committee has received applications from just graduated rabbinical students, just graduated cantorial students, as well as rabbis in the field.  We have a rich selection to evaluate.

President’s Report

There was good feedback from congregation letter announcing Rabbi Annie’s departure. Nikki offered that the letter was a communal effort, but thanked everyone.