Nishmat Shalom Community Decision Meeting (CDM) Agenda
10 January 2012 – Meeting hosted by Emily
Present: Alex, Alice, Carol, Emily, Lea, Max
Phone contact with Hanna, Claire
Regrets: Ethel, Vicky, Ed, Raja
Treasury Report: Balance as of 1/10/2012 is a total of
$1025.81. Since the last CDM, we have spent $82.00 ($80.00 for
childcare; $2.00 for bank charges). Our inflow over the
past year was $504.00. There were a number of in-kind donations
for copying, childcare, postage, Torah repairs, domain and Tu
B’Shvat seder items over the past year. Total cash outflow
was $427.00.
Budget for 2012 Set: Includes all annual expenses we expect;
other items may be brought to a CDM. If we have substantial
additional expenses (for a new ark, for example), we would potentially
need to raise more money.
$480.00 for childcare (12 Sat am services)
$125 for communications (newsletter, mailings,
domain hosting)
$12.00 for checking account fee
$36.00 for National Havurah Committee
$36.00 for Listserve (npogroups)
$55.00 for Tu B'Shvat
Total: $744.00
We renewed the procedure for non-consensus decision-making:
“Nishmat Shalom members strive to make all decisions by
consensus, to work for solutions that meet the needs of all members.
However, when consensus cannot be achieved, policy change decisions may
be put to a vote, as follows: On a trial basis lasting one year,
Nishmat Shalom shall substitute for unanimous consensus a minimum of at
least 6 people in the majority, representing at least 80% of those
present, e.g. 8/10, 8/9, 7/8, 6/7 (this means that more people would
have to come to business meetings to make non-consensus policy
changes). If fewer than 7 people are present, then unanimity is still
required for policy change.”
We discussed whether to make this a permanent
decision without the need
for renewal and decided that we do want to renew it each
year. However, we decided that if we do
not extend this
policy at any point, we will not call into question decisions that may
have
been made by super-majority during the previous
year. We
noted that anyone could bring a new agenda item to address the issue,
and that would need to be decided on by consensus.
CDM List: People who attended a CDM within the past year
are on the CDM list for the purpose of making between-meeting
decisions. We decided to keep this practice in order not to make
it too difficult to communicate with the group if a decision needs to
be made in a short time frame. The CDM list changes over time and
can be determined by the minutes which are posted on the website.
Raja has volunteered to shepherd inter-CDM decisions. If an
inter-CDM decision comes up, Carol will help confirm the correct list
at that time.
We discussed that the want to be inclusive in our
decision making, and
that regardless of technology it’s possible for people to get
left out. Carol volunteered to make a list (by first
name only) to be
posted for reference on the website to consist of those who have
attended a CDM in the past year and who coordinate
any business for
Nishmat Shalom. This list can be used by those who wish to
communicate with a smaller group; this is optional
and anyone who
wishes can use the full Nishmat listserve.
Childcare usage: Childcare has been used at both the services
since the last CDM. From this point forward, we will track
from CDM to CDM.
Dates/hosts are set Shabbat services through June (all 3rd Shabbat
mornings). Thank you, Ed! Hanna has a newsletter in draft form.
Note: Carol and Steve will now host on January 21st. Lea will remind
Paul to send an announcement to the list about the change of
location. Emily will host on February 18th.
Nathan (our former leyning coordinator) will visit Berkeley at the end
of June. We decided we would like to plan an additional event
(not a Shabbat morning service) to host Nathan and family, to be
announced in a June newsletter or on the listserve. Max
will follow up with Nathan about his availability and we will discuss
in April.
Organization of Tu B’Shvat Seder – Sunday, February 5th,
4:30 to 7:30; hosted and led by Claire. Lea volunteered to help
clean up. Claire will send out an email asking for ritual food
contributions and any additional help needed. Lea
will let Hanna know about the change of time for the newsletter.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot (end of May): If the All-Berkeley
Tikkun is again held and we are able to co-sponsor without a financial
commitment, and can provide the required number of volunteers, we agree
that we will co-sponsor.
VickyFest: February 18th: we discussed cake plans; Max will
remind Ed about a song; Lea and Alex will work on a certificate;
Emily will get flowers. We will have a circle to honor Vicky
around 2 pm instead of Torah study.
Newsletter: Assistance for Hanna as she edits the next
issue: Lea will proofread for spelling, style, etc. Carol
will proofread for liturgical details. Hanna will forward final
version to Alex for electronic distribution (as PDF). Alex
volunteers to print the copies required for mailing. Max will print the
mailing labels. Ethel has offered to host a mailing party for final
newsletter assembly.
Lea volunteers to buy stamps and deliver them to Ethel. Alex
volunteers to collect the labels from Max and deliver them to Ethel
along with the newsletters. Thank you all!
We affirmed that we will continue to maintain the
paper newsletter as well as sending it out to the listserve as a .pdf.
For reference -- future dates as set previously; non-Shabbat in Italics
21January 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
Sunday 05 February 2012 – Tu
b’Shvat Seder
18 February 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
17 March 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
21 April 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
Tuesday 24 April 2012 - CDM
19 May 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
16 June 2012 (third Shabbat morning)
For Next CDM: 24 April 2012
Treasury Report
Childcare Update – we will report usage from CDM to CDM
Dates for the summer and beyond
Spiritual Introduction to Torah Service
Tikkun Leil Shavuot if we hear anything
End of June event with Nathan (Max to follow up)
From Lea: How can we incorporate a fuller discussion of the Torah
reading into the service or during/after lunch?