Beth Israel Congregation
Minutes of the Board
September 24. 2003

Present: D�Angelo, Vinokur, Bardenstein, Ahronheim, Klein, Schiff, Rosenberg, Hamermesh, Bernstein, Elias, Landau, Liberman-Lampear, Spoon, Finerman, Dobrusin, Sorkin, A. Gershowitz, B. Gershowitz, Treu

Meeting called to order 8:00PM
D�var Torah given by Bernstein
Minutes of August 27, 2003 approved as corrected

Rabbi�s Remarks: Rabbi Dobrusin introduced Abby Treu, a rabbinical student who, as part of her program, will shadow him as he performs his many synagogue responsibilities. The Rabbi proclaimed the Torah Dedication a great morning, so well conceived. He offered many thanks to Sorkin and his committee. The high holidays are approaching and everything is under control. On Monday evenings, after minyan, there will be a study session of the weekly Torah portion. Everyone should feel free to participate. Ultimately, the Rabbi expects others in the Beth Israel community will facilitate this study session. Lastly, the Rabbi reported on a very successful vegetarian dinner at a Chinese restaurant with about twenty students from the middle school and high school.

Executive Director�s Report: Sorkin reported that the Torah Restoration Project grossed $94,000 and incurred $21,000 in expenses. A significant portion of the net proceeds was used to pay last year�s shortfall in the budget. Forty-five family units have yet to renew their annual dues pledge. Of those pledges received the average increase is eight percent. Our full time Program Director, Aura Ahuvia, has reduced her appointment to half time. An Assistant Program Director, Andrew Kastner, has been hired for 20 hours a week. The Security firm has been hired for the high holidays. We are analyzing the data collected from the congregational survey.

Treasurer�s Report: Klein presented a chart summarizing income and expenses for the first two months (July and August) of our budget year. We are ahead on the collection of dues this year compared to last year, but we have also incurred greater general administration expenses. There was no discussion.

Old Business: (1) Bylaws Revision: Bernstein presented to the Board the final revision of the bylaws. One significant change is to have a single annual meeting of the general membership, instead of two. This meeting will include both presentation of the annual budget for approval as well as election of officers and other directors. The length of terms for officers during a transition period is provided for in section 2(b). The Board has discussed numerous drafts of revisions to the by-laws in the past months. A motion to recommend the adoption of this final revision of the bylaws to the congregation passed unanimously. The motion was made by Spoon and seconded by Bardenstein.
(2) Building Renovation and Financing: D�Angelo summarized the facts and the differing opinions regarding the proposed building renovation and financing. The Finance Committee and Executive Committee have reviewed the loan offer sheet from Fifth Third Bank. It is their opinion this is a very competitive offer. [The terms call for a fixed rate loan for 36 or 60 months. The loan would be amortized over 20 years with a balloon payment at the end of either 30 or 60 months, whichever we choose, presumably 60 months. The current effective rate is 6.37%. This information is in the letter to Spoon from the bank detailing terms and options. Spoon presented the entire letter to the Board for review.]
To continue the loan application process, the congregation must pay an estimated $8400 in fees for the Appraisal, the ALTA Survey (a survey which meets certain standards), and the Environmental Survey.
We are talking about $1.2 million in construction costs and $300,000 in interest charges for a total of $1.5 million in costs to the congregation over five years. To date, about 38 donors have pledged $375,000. There are another 114 folks on the list of top member prospects who have not been contacted yet. One potential scenario is that 3/4 of the remaining top prospects (=86) participate and commit pledges averaging what we have averaged so far (minus the top two gifts) or $6,826. This amounts to roughly an additional $585,000 bringing our total to $960,000 in round figures. In that case we would have to believe we could raise another $540,000 over the next five years from the remaining 240 families. This would require an average pledge of $2250.
We are moving forward. We have momentum. But we are faced with some serious decisions. The fundraising that is done between now and Yom Kippur is critical. The issue is not so much what we as board members want. It is what we believe the congregation will accept. This building renovation project has been an elephant in the boardroom for years. It is in our best interest to finish the job now. We need to use the looming deadline for moving forward with construction as a stimulus to accelerate the fundraising effort. And to allow for us to unite behind a common recommendation to the congregation, we need to be conciliatory and respectful towards one another even as we have differing views.
With one abstention, the Board passed a motion to spend $8500 from the Building Fund for the Appraisal, ALTA Survey, and Environmental Survey. The motion was made by Elias and seconded by Bardenstein.
The Board unanimously passed a motion to recommend to the congregation the acceptance of the terms and conditions for a loan offered by Fifth Third Bank in their letter (Loan Term Sheet) of September 17, 2003. The motion was made by Finerman and seconded by Ahronheim.

Religious Vice President�s Report: Ahronheim reported on plans for the high holidays.

Education Vice President�s Report: Bardenstein reported a large enrollment of 24 students in the high school Madrachim program. In all grades the school is working to emphsize and improve the Hebrew curriculum and the program for the teaching of Tikkun Olam.

Communications/Hashaliach Committee: Following Schiff�s suggestions, it was the consensus of the Board that (1) with family consent, upcoming bar/bat mitzvot be listed on the website (2) reports regarding the building renovation project be posted on the website. However, board members did not want their individual email addresses posted on the synagogue website. These email addresses are available to members in Hashaliach.

Sisterhood Report: Rosenberg reported from notes provided by Peller. This year�s goal for Sisterhood is that all women congregants join Sisterhood. On October 21, 2003 Louise Fligiel will be honored along with seven other Michigan women as Women of Achievement.

D�Angelo reported that the co-chairpersons of the Art Committee have resigned. The Board will send them a letter of appreciation for their work in the past.

Meeting adjourned 9:55 PM

Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Rosenberg, Recording Secretary

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