Nishmat Shalom Community Decision Meeting (CDM) Agenda
20 January 2015 – Meeting hosted by Emily

Attending:   Alice, Carol, Claire, Emily, Max
Regrets:  Alex, Ed, Lea
Attended by phone:  Ethel, Hanna

1.        Treasury Report (Alice): 
                      Total contributions since last meeting (8/26/2014):  $831.00; representing 14 contributions. 
                      Funds out:  $229.50  ($200 for childcare including a one month bonus; $24.50 postage for newsletter; $5.00 Bank charges). 
                      Balance forward:  $1124.16. 

We noted: this appears to be a positive trend in terms of donations.

2.        Childcare Update (Ed via Emily):  We had childcare provided at all five services since our last CDM, and children present at all but 2.  
           Minyan Update:  we have routinely had a minyan by Torah service, except for one when we did not have a minyan until Mourner’s Kaddish.  

3.        Calendar :  New date setting: we will meet the 3rd Shabbat of the month, April, May, June, July, August:  
                      April 18th- Emily will host
                      May  16th-
                      June  20th
                      July  18th
                      August 15th
           Next CDM : Tues May 19th- Emily will host

We have not had volunteers step forward with a plan to lead/host a Tu B’Shvat Seder  by the time of the CDM, so we will not have one this year. (Tu B’Shvat is Weds February 4th)

4.        Planning next newsletter:  Next newsletter should go out by early April for new dates.  It would be good for it to be even earlier if we have houses set for February on …..this will need to be planned by email.   Hanna will put together the first draft.

5.        Upcoming Shabbat Locations:
Thanks to Jake and Len & Tovia for volunteering to host in February and March.  We need to communicate this to our group!

6.        Decision on Decisions:  We agreed to the following:
“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: Until the first CDM in the next calendar 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.”

Italicized line above is new language.  Next year, we will consider making this permanent so that we do not need to renew it annually.

7.        Budget for the calendar year:  After reviewing our budget for last year, we set the following budget for this year:
                      $585.00 for childcare (12 Sat am services plus Neilah @ $45/service)
                      $150 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  (reserved for next year)
          Total: $874.00

We note that this budget is $90.00 higher than last year.  $65.00 of this represents a raise to childcare compensation  ($40.00 to $45.00 per service) and $25.00 represents additional funds to communications in light of increased postage costs and other possible increased fees.

8.        Decision on Torah Case and Discussion on Ark Adjustment:   Based on feedback received we will not purchase a hard-sided case for the Torah.  It is still a concern that, if left in the ark with the open side out, the scroll could fall out of the ark during an earthquake.  We agreed we will remind each other to put the Torah scroll away safely at the end of services.  

We also discussed possible adjustments to the ark to make it safer for the Torah:  including adjusting the holes at the bottom of the ark to fit our scroll better and /or to put in a strap to keep the Torah from falling out.  Max will think about whether it is feasible to attach a strap in such a way to make it both protective of the Torah and detachable during services, and we will also think about using some kind of attractive material for it.  

9.        Listserve and emails from other organizations:  With the goal of reducing email traffic on the list, we decided that, going forward, Ethel will forward one email of interest from another organization each year and let people know that if they are interested in the content, they can sign up for that list directly.  

10.        For next agenda:  
                      Treasurer’s Report
                      Childcare Update and Minyan Update
                      Calendar Review
                      What assistance could coordinators use in their areas?
                      A strap for the ark?

Nishmat Inter-CDM Decision List:

Alex 8/26/2014 (Leyning Coordinator)
Alice 1/20/2015 (Treasurer)
Carol 1/20/2015 (Davening Coordinator)
Claire 1/20/2015
Ed 10/8/2013   (Childcare Coordinator)
Emily 1/20/2015
Hanna 6/10/2014 (Newsletter Coordinator); attended by phone 1/20/2015
Lea 8/26/2014 (Shalom Bayit Coordinator)
Max 8/26/2014  (Mailing list Coordinator)
Ethel 6/10/2014 (Community email contact); attended by phone 1/20/2015
 
Other ongoing coordinators:

Debbie (e-Announcements)
Raja (Website updates)