Beth Israel Congregation
Minutes of the Board
April 27, 2005

Present: D�Angelo, , Klein, Ahronheim, Bardenstein, Sussman, Kaplan, Rashes, Rosenberg, Bernstein, Landau, Liberman-Lampear, Margolis, Tankanow, Peller, Gershowitz, Dobrusin, Sorkin

Meeting called to order 8:15PM
Agenda approved as presented
Dvar Torah presented by Peller
Minutes of March 23, 2005 approved as presented

Rabbi�s Remarks: Rabbi Dobrusin spoke of Holocaust Remembrance Day events to take place Wednesday, May 5th. He will provide the invocation at an event in Lansing. The youth group�s trip to Chicago was very successful. He informed us of a Counting the Omer program this year. Congregants will be invited to share a day in his/her life that was especially meaningful in terms of Judaism. Rabbi Dobrusin circulated a letter from Pastor Douglas Brouwer of Ann Arbor�s First Presbyterian Church in which Pastor Brouwer expressed his opposition to the �rude, offensive and counter-productive� picketing outside of B.I.C. He also commented on the Presbyterian Church�s stand on �selective phased divestment � and his concern for the pain this has caused.

President�s Report: D�Angelo thanked Sorkin, Oleinick and Ahronheim for their help this past week, a week in which a number of congregants passed away.

Executive Director�s Report: Upon Sorkin�s request a motion to spend up to $2300 for shelving and minor repairs passed unanimously. Our arrangement with Hebrew Day School for a middle school Hebrew program is in the process of changing over to a program within our own religious school.

Treasurer�s Report: Rashes stated, as of the end of March, our projected deficit for the current fiscal year is $5600.

Old Business: Liberman-Lampear reported that the ad hoc committee remained favorably inclined to accept the donation from the Levine�s of a sculpture for the courtyard. The ultimate appearance of the sculpture has not been finalized. The committee has consulted our architect and contractor regarding the ability of the courtyard wall to support its weight.

Vice President Finance: Klein reported the Finance Committee is working on the budget for next fiscal year. The Committee will present a balanced budget for 2004-2005 to the Board at the May meeting.

Vice President Programs: Sussman spoke about programs regarding Camp Tamarack, a congregational dinner, and a musical event celebrating 350 years of Jewish life in America. Post bar/bat mitzvah students will conduct services at the next Shabbat.

Vice President Education: Bardenstein informed the Board that the Religious School�s celebration of 350 Years of Jewish Life in America was a lot of work and very successful. The Madrichim�s trip to Chicago had twenty students and all comments about the trip were favorable. As a result of the school�s visioning conference, a survey will go out to the entire congregation.

Vice President Membership: Kaplan stated that the Membership Committee has started to survey those who have left the congregation. The Committee wants to work on issues of interfaith couples.

Building/Construction Committee: Margolis provided a very complete overview of the history of the renovation project, the current state of its finances, and goals yet to be completed. Some of the work originally planned for Phase II was done in Phase I for reasons of economy. We have raised $1,360,000 in pledges and have collected $840,000. There are outstanding pledges of $540,000. Our construction costs to date are $1,160,000. We have started to pay interest on our loans. Phase II includes additional cooling capacity for the kitchen; major rebuilding of the parking lot; repairs to the school involving paint, flooring, some wall reconstruction; cosmetic repairs to the office wing; cosmetic repairs to GSB (2010). Obviously, to stay within our budget of $1,500,000 we will have to prioritize. The campaign runs to the end of June. We hope to raise the remaining $140,000 of this budget.

Sisterhood report: Peller provided an extensive report on the activities of Sisterhood. Notable in the report was the selection of Joan Levitt as volunteer-of-the-year at Beth Israel Sisterhood by the Michigan Branch Spring Conference. Sisterhood made several suggestions including listing the Presidents of Sisterhood and Men�s Club on the synagogue�s letterhead and starting a Bereavement Fund to receive donations from members.

Meeting adjourned at 9:50PM

Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Rosenberg, Recording Secretary

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