Beth Israel Congregation
Minutes of the Board
May 25, 2005

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

Meeting called to order at 8:05PM
Agenda approved as amended
Dvar Torah presented by Rabbi Dobrusin
Minutes of April 27, 2005 approved as amended

Rabbi�s Remarks: Rabbi Dobrusin informed us that this July he will attend a rabbinic conference in Jerusalem at the Hartman Institute. The focus of the conference is ethics. Torah scholar Aviva Zornberg, who will deliver the Zwerdling lecture at Beth Israel next May, will be among the speakers at the conference.

President�s Report: D�Angelo spoke of the continuing efforts to raise funds for the building renovation project and thanked those involved. He also thanked the Nominating Committee for its fine job of developing a slate of officers to be voted on at our annual congregational meeting in June.

Executive Director�s Report: At the request of Sorkin and the Rabbi the Board agreed that the Executive Committee would initially review any request to establish a new fund. If the Executive Committee agreed, Sorkin would then send the necessary papers to the person wishing to establish such a fund. Currently, the minimum donation to start a fund is $5,000. A motion was made by Berman and seconded by Ahronheim to establish a Shiva Fund for trays of food to be sent to grieving families. The motion passed unanimously. An anonymous donor has provided $5000 to start the fund. A procedure will be established, involving the Treasurer and Sisterhood, in order that shiva trays be sent universally and in a timely manner.

Treasurer�s Report: Rashes, speaking with the support of the Finance Committee, presented the budget for fiscal year 2005-2006. Bardenstein made a motion, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the budget as amended. The motion passed with one abstention. The entire congregation will vote on the budget at the annual meeting in June.

Old Business: Finerman reported briefly on the sculpture work for the courtyard.

New Business: Finerman and Elaine Margolis are planning the refreshments for the Annual Congregatonal Meeting scheduled for Sunday, June 26th. Members of the congregation will vote on the new slate of officers and on the 2005-2006 annual budget.

Program Vice President�s Report: Sussman indicated that the family retreat at Camp Tamarack was a great success.. There is a lot more programming coming up.

Membership Vice President�s Report: Kaplan stated that the retreat at Camp Tamarack was a wonderful time for young families to get together. In June there will be a community picnic. This will be the start of establishing a caring community network.

Building/Construction Committee: Finerman reported that next week she will meet with the contractor and architect to make the final decision regarding the components of Phase II. She has already informed J.C. Beal, our contractor, that the best time to do the parking lot is July when no Bar/Bat Mitzvot are scheduled. Klein, Vice President for Finance, stated that the total cost of all reconstruction will not exceed $1.4 million.

Sisterhood: At the request of Peller, Sisterhood representative, Liberman-Lampear moved (seconded by Tankanow) that the names of the President of Sisterhood and the President of Men�s Club be added to the stationary of Beth Israel Congregation. The motion passed with two abstentions.

Meeting adjourned at 9:55PM

Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Rosenberg, Recording Secretary

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