Summary of Minutes from November 2023 Board Retreat

11/30/23 BZBI Board Retreat

Attendees: Anne Albert, Lynne Balaban, Shoshanna Bannett, Doug Barg, Akil Bowler, Gary Bramnick, Bill Brookover, Daniel Cohen (virtual), Eileen Dwell, Rabbi Abe Friedman, Tanya Hess, Josh Klein, Gail Kroop, Nancy Leaderman, Melissa Lerman, Suzanne Litke, Matt Maron, Amy Schultz, Jessica Simon, Rabbi Abi Weber, Matt Whitehorn,

We began with a d’var Torah by Rabbi Friedman in which he discussed the difference between impermanence and futility. He used posting signs about Israeli hostages as an example of something that may be impermanent, but not futile.  

We next spent time allowing board members to share their thoughts and feelings about events in Israel as well as its repercussions on our lives in the United States.

Following this, we were pleased to have Miriam Steinberg Egeth join us to discuss her book Warm and Welcoming, which the board read together over the past 1.5 years.  She encouraged participants to think of events in their life when they did and did not feel welcome.  She asked participants to consider how BZBI has excelled in welcoming and ways in which we can do better.  

Valerie Thaler, the new mid-Atlantic synagogue representative of United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ) joined us for a presentation along with Matt Whitehorn.  Matt reviewed the rubric USCJ has created to define the role of synagogue boards and to help improve the ways they function (SULAM). Ms. Thaler identified some leadership tools already created by USCJ, which may address particular needs of our board; she will share these with us.  

Tanya Hess, chair of the Membership Committee, led a session on “How to lead a board committee.” She discussed building a committee, meeting structure, project implementation and marketing.

Doug Barg, chair of the Ritual Committee, shared preliminary results of the High holiday survey.  Participants in data analysis were Art Fischman, Sharon Weisbach, Lynne Balaban, Gary Bramnick. 

Daniel Cohen, chair of the Finance Committee, discussed the methodology used in developing the annual budget at BZBI and fiduciary responsibilities of the board. He reviewed the state of current finances and projections for the upcoming year. 

Matt Maron, Treasurer of the Board and Chair of the Life and Legacy Program, discussed the goals for year one of this program. Earlier in the year, BZBI was awarded a spot in this national program run by the Greenspan Foundation’s. It is designed to help synagogues build their endowment.  He is currently building a committee.  

Lynne Balaban, Executive Director, reviewed the process that the synagogue uses to develop its annual calendar of events.  Next, she gave an update on Safety and Security. She explained that in a recent security assessment the synagogue receive a high commendation on the completeness  of our current protocols.  We are submitting grant applications to PA and National governmental organization to defray some costs of security. We are planning for Safety Shabbat during which community members will be trained about the current safety systems in place in the building (date TBD).

Akil Bowler, chair of the Building Committee, reviewed the status of Mr. Gregory’s Kitchen.  We are hopeful that the kitchen will be able to open in January.  We discussed the need to develop protocols and trainings for kitchen use.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 20th.