Summary of November 2020 Board Minutes

The following is a summary of the Board of Trustees meeting on November 12, 2020.

1. Consent Agenda items

a. Approval of October Board meeting minutes – Terry Hirshorn

b. Community committee – Eileen Dwell: Yesod Dinners will resume virtually beginning Nov. 20. A volunteer Appreciation Event is being planned for the week of Chanukah. Donors honoring the volunteers are welcome. A donation of $36 was rewarded with candles, and a donation of $54 was rewarded with candles and latkes. Like Shavuot, gift bags for the community with candles, gelt etc. are also being planned. We have plans to resume the Challah bake with the preschool and a virtual inter-generational read together.

c. Building committee – Michael Radbill: We have a committee to determine the needs of our new kitchen. The committee consists of Michael Radbill, Rebecca Slavin-Phillips, Akil Bowler, Carmie Levine, Susan Zeelander and Nikki Morris. The team has a basic layout plan and will work with subcontractors to develop a more informed plan and determine what equipment to purchase. Chimney repairs should occur this month. Lots of plumbing work was done in the downstairs bathrooms, as well as sinks in the ECE classrooms. A steam pipe from the Pre-school to the Attic was installed incorrectly in 2015 and has suffered corrosion. We will work with the original contractor to fix the problem. Our vendor, Integrations, will install a new Intrusion/Detection Panel and new communication links. The Development Committee will look for targeted donors for the black iron outside the Synagogue; Wainscot and doors in the Sanctuary; Stairway from the Chapel to Kahaner Auditorium. We have a wonderful donor who supports the renovation of a Tallit Storage Closet.

d. Human Resources committee – Matt Whitehorn: A committee is preparing an Employee Handbook.

e. Tikun Olam committee – Rosalie Kurz: We will couple with the sisterhood and give socks to institutions that need them; i.e., Bethesda Project. Rachel Luterman is organizing Christmas dinner for the guests at Wintershelter.  Rebecca Krasner and Alyssa Bailkin are collecting baked goods to provide to the Gift of Life House.

f. Early Childhood Education committee – Arielle Kerstein: The school year is going well – enrollment has increased, current enrollees are increasing to more days, families are pleased with the program. We hope for a full enrollment for the fall, and tuition will not increase. There was a successful trial afternoon of enrichment for kindergarteners. Look for others in January.

g. Membership committee – Sharon Greis: On Friday evening November 6, we held a very successful virtual Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a New Members Welcome Dinner. Complimentary Kosher shabbat meals were delivered to the new members. A membership video was created from interviews with members and clergy and will be posted on the BZBI website.

2. Discussion items

a. Clergy report – Rabbi Annie and Rabbi Abe: Zoom adult learning has started with classes taught by Rabbis Stone, Friedman and Lewis, all with good responses. Annie added kudos to Power and their work to get out the vote.

b. Executive Director’s report – Rebecca Slavin-Phillips: We have a new phone contract that should save us ~$5000 over 3 years. Unfortunately, one of our members/volunteers who had been in the building this month tested positive for COVID. Luckily, the member has recovered. We immediately began contact tracing. No other cases were reported.

c. Development – Suzanne Litke: We continue to receive AG contributions and pledges. The end of year letter will go out after Thanksgiving, coordinating the message with the Chanukah volunteer appreciation meeting.

d. Finance committee report – Brian Bushee: Our AG and membership renewals are above expectation, slightly off-setting the major loss of income from ECE.

e. Survey update – Cara Levinson: We had 215 people complete the survey. Overall, the survey gave a positive response. We will get a full report when the analysis is complete.

f. President’s report – Nikki Morris: We hope to add a summary of board activities from the summer months when we left this blog slip by the wayside. We want our committees etc. to meet the needs of a more diverse community, and in our December meeting we will discuss how we can do that.

Respectfully submitted by Board Secretary Terry Hirshorn