Beth Israel Congregation Board Minutes
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Present: Rashes, Bernstein, Rosenblum, Kaplan, Peller, Bender, Leber, Rubenstein, Hirshbein, Colton, Landau, Finerman, Sorkin.

The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. The agenda was approved. The June minutes were corrected and approved. Bernstein/Kaplan.

President's Report: Rabbi Kim Blumenthal has moved to Ann Arbor and will begin on August 4th. Her office temporarily will be in the Board Room. Bids are being requested for the office renovation. Rashes further gave an update on the cemetery and Arborcrest.

Treasurer's Report: Sorkin reported for Liberman-Lampear. Carpeting installation at GSAC will begin in early August.

Executive Director's Report: Sorkin reported that new phone and computer for Rabbi Blumenthal are being installed, and temporary furniture to be used later in the school has been purchased for her use. Karan Balmer has been designated as assistant kitchen coordinator. Beth Israel now has video access system which allows the entrance doors to be opened remotely. Based on the conclusions of the Technology Committee, Sorkin requested the purchase of a new business server, one new computer, a new 19�screen for Rabbi Blumenthal, and the installation of a wireless capability.

Motion � "To approve an expenditure of $8,446 from Building Fund to purchase the new business server, an additional computer, new screen and wireless. Rubenstein/Leber. Approved.

New Business: Purchase new furniture for school.

Motion � "To approve all items on "wish list" for Religious School except for portable basketball hoop" Staff was asked to investigate the possibility of buying a permanent basketball fixture. Hirshbein/Colton. Approved by Board. Funds will be taken from the Margolis Fund, which is designated exclusively for school use.

Education Committee: Colton reported on the new schedule for 6th graders which will include Saturday sessions to be implemented later in this coming school year. She stated that she hopes to get more people involved in her committee, perhaps one parent from each class. She recommended that members be queried as to what they would like to study so that the Adult Education offerings may be further improved.

VP of Finance Report: Rosenblum reviewed the original plan for financing the new Rabbi. The plan includes the net increase of 8 new members each over the previous year for three years.
Rabbi Dobrusin's sabbatical will occur January through April or May of 2010. Rosenblum suggested that efforts be made to make sure our funds are protected in case of bank failure. He mentioned opening new accounts at different banks, or other methods which he will pursue.

Motion � "To open additional accounts, if needed, at different banks with maximums of $100,000 each. Approved by board.

Motion � "To accept written reports from Board Members" Rashes/Leber

Adjournment of meeting at 9:35 p.m. Hirshbein/Colton

Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Peller
Recording Secretary

Beth Israel Congregation
Written Reports for
Meeting of the Board of Directors
July 23, 2008
Beth Israel Mitzvah Connection
We are receiving requests for assistance, and for the most part, are able to fill them. We are also being notified of people who are hospitalized, who might appreciate a visit from a friend. We are matching up visitors with the person who is hospitalized. Rabbi Sara Adler will give a workshop on August 24 on how to visit members who are hospitalized or home-bound.
Submitted by Carol Finerman
Cemetery Committee
Rabbi Dobrusin, Elliot Sorkin, Haran Rashes, and Jeff Bernstein met with the staff of Arborcrest. Several issues were discussed. We expressed our concern over upkeep and landscaping. Arborcrest insists that they are taking steps to improve in this area. We can expect increased weeding by the end of July and replacement of worn grave frames and dead juniper bushes by the end of September. Arborcrest is working with Barry Margolis to see if interlocking stone grave frames might be a better option. We informed Arborcrest that they are not to call congregants with complaints nor to solicit them for grave purchases. In addition, they should refrain from calling about grave markers for the first thirty days after a death. Arborcrest is concerned about stones left on grave markers in plots without frames. They are however, amenable to people placing their own non-glass bowls or containers next to headstones to prevent stones from falling on ground and posing a safetly hazard to maintenance staff. Beth Israel will also present an optional wooden frame surrounding just the headstone to prevent stones from posing a hazard, at a current cost of $576, if people opt out of purchasing the full frame, or installing a non glass bowl. Arborcrest also informed us that they have raised the cost of grave frames to $1900. We were previously paying $1200. Haran Rashes has also been in contact with the Cemetery Commissioner regarding our concerns about Arborcrest.
Submitted by Haran Rashes and Elliot Sorkin
Endowment Committee
The color Endowment Brochure is finished and has been approved by Haran Rashes and Carol Finerman. Steve Klein is now looking into costs of printing and anticipates an initial run of 500 copies.
Submitted by Carol Finerman
Library Committee
Beth Israel has a new librarian. Her name is Nika Bareket, and she is a member of the shul. She begins work July 21, but will be taking vacation in August.
Submitted by Beth Dwoskin
Men�s Club
Solicitations for High Holiday Ushers will be going out with the Congregational High Holiday Mailing in August. All Board Members are encouraged to usher at services.
Submitted by Haran Rashes
Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee will be working with the Synagogue�s educational theme for the year, �Educating Ourselves, Educating Others.� Rabbis for Human Rights will be holding its annual conference from December 7 through 9. The Social Action Committee would like to encourage people to attend and will possibly subsidize registration fees with the expectation of participation in a community discussion afterwards. The Social Action Committee sponsored a d�var torah by Bob Savit of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan concerning the Agriprocessors/Postville situation. Social Action will continue this work through talks about the Hekhsher Tzedek program. The founder of the Hekhsher Tzedek program, Rabbi Morris Allen, has been invited to speak at Beth Israel in December.
Submitted by Ruth Kraut

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