Message from the President 7/12/04

    I am the new President of Beth Sholom.  You may be asking the same question that I am –“Why me?”  Or, in your case, “Why him?”  In all humility, most of the people who spoke to me about the presidency thought I had the ability to handle it.   I cannot say that I agreed, but who am I to say they are wrong?  My strongest supporter was President Emeritus, Garry Cohen, whose regular job is air traffic control.  If he makes a mistake…well, you know.  Also, Rabbi Kosman asked me.  Like many others at Beth Sholom, I have made it a practice never to turn down the Rabbi.  Over the years I have learned that doing what he asks is a little risky, yes, but one must have faith!

    Well, here goes my first report.

    By now you have probably received the first statement for fiscal year 2005 and noticed that it reflects a modest increase in dues.  The administration and Board are making every effort to operate as efficiently as possible.  We count on each and every one of you to do your part to help Beth Sholom remain on sound financial footing.

    Highlights of the July 8^th Board of Trustee’s meeting are 1) Rabbi W. wants to start a synagogue chorale; 2) the Beautification Committee wants menorahs and memorial boards; 3) space is still a problem on Sunday mornings and 4) the budget turned out a little better than expected.  Now the details…

   Rabbi Wiesenberg met with John Holly here in Frederick a few weeks ago.  John said he would like to join our shul and start a singing chorale.  Rabbi W., who loves to sing, seized upon the idea.  The Rabbi brought John to our meeting to announce their intention to form a chorale.  Eventually they will need a musical director. New Board member Andy Rosenfeld is Music Director at Mt. St. Mary’s Univeristy and is excited about the plans.  All you singers out there contact Rabbi Wiesenberg ASAP.

   Marty Erlichman made a pitch in behalf of matching menorahs for the large sanctuary, designed by the same artist who did our eternal flame, Robert Sanabria.  While not cheap, the menorahs will be created especially for Beth Sholom at a fraction of their true value.  We voted to purchase. We did table a motion for more memorial boards. We need them, but have enough empty slots for the next few months.  Memorial boards are an important link between past and current members in our Jewish community.  Don’t worry.  We’ll be ordering them soon enough.

     The space problem is due to the popularity of our Sunday School program.  We have too many classes and not enough rooms.  We have discussed adding portable classrooms, turning garages into classrooms, opening the downtown building, having “open classrooms” in the social hall or sanctuary, scheduling two sessions, even using Rabbi Kosman’s Shabbos quarters.  Of course there is something wrong with each of these solutions.  We think we have the arrangements for this fall settled, but to make sure, Carl Lazerow’s Long Range Planning Committee will be meeting with the Education Maven, Bobbi Price, and a few others, to determine exactly what the Sunday morning needs are.   Our goals will be to not inconvenience parents and to not spend additional money. 

     The budget turned out to be right.  The monies outgoing Treasurer Joanna Pierson predicted for our budget were very close. In other words, there were no surprises.  That’s very good in Treasurer talk.  Richard Stern will be picking up the gauntlet of our synagogue budget.  He has some great ideas to help budget-phobes like me to understand what’s going on with the money.

      Many committees had no reports as summer vacations made get-togethers impossible.  Expect the same for our August meeting.  Still, we had a long productive meeting where our new Board members got a chance to test the waters.  Looking forward to next month’s soiree on August 9.