Summary of Board Meeting Minutes from January 2024
BZBI Board of Trustees Agenda
January 18, 2024, 6:30-8:30
- D’var Torah – Rabbi Abe
- Welcome -Matt Whitehorn
- Approval of minutes from board retreat
- Report about some events of USCJ Convening
- Beginning of planning for Board for next year
- Education (Rabbi Abe)
To jointly address challenges of youth education and adult education, plan to have a Director of Congregational Learning. Current candidate identified. Once this begins, would have a Re-Visioning process about youth education which would be strongly based in a listening tour. In depth conversation about role of the board in this process.
- Visioning Task Force will present their finalized plan to the board in February
- Israel Committee (in person update deferred) (consent agenda prepared by Shel Bernick)
Partial sponsor of the “A Musical Hug from Israel” to be held Wednesday February 7 at BZBI.
- Community Engagement (in person update deferred) (consent agenda prepared by Eileen Dwell)
Many successful BZBI community engagement projects (Mah Jong, Sima’s Stitchers, Board Game Shabbat, Volunteer Shabbat, Friday Night Dinners, Kiddushim) and Philadelphia community volunteer projects (Rabbi Abi presented about Chanukah at Our Brothers Place, Serve for Eight, Wrapping event for Bethesda Project, Red Cross Blood Drive, Winter Shelter cooking).
Please join for/volunteers always welcomed): First Friday/Yesod Dinners (volunteers needed); Shabbat Kiddush (S. Bannett coordinates volunteers); Board Game Shabbat (3rd Shabbat).
Upcoming events: Polka Dot Shabbat ( March 31 -Purim). Etzi – BZBI Tree and planter care (spring).
- Development (in person update deferred) (consent agenda prepared by Suzanne Litke)
Grand Opening Special Shabbat the first weekend in April. Annual Giving: ~30% participation. Still need to raise $75,000-$100,000.
- Finance Report (in person update deferred) (consent agenda prepared by Daniel Cohen and Matt Maron)
Our overall financial situation is on a solid footing in FY2024, owing to solid fundraising and lower expenses in several areas. We still have to fundraise in Annual Giving and Tributes to hit our target and need to aim higher as a results of a ~30K shortfall in membership income. Reminder to all members to fulfill board brit. The Finance Committee recommends investing our Life & Legacy funds in a Federation-managed Growth Fund.
- Executive Director Report – Lynne Balaban
Overbrook Presbyterian Church had a fire this week, and Lynne has reached out to offer our synagogue’s support. Continuing to have continual collaborative conversations with Tenth Presbyterian Church. There has been great progress in the kitchen. Due to modifications in certification required by the city for guards at preschools, there are some changes in guard staffing.
Lynne is going to a volunteer mission with executive directors in Israel
