Minutes January 17, 2006

The Community Decision Group met Tuesday evening, Jan 17th, at Ethel's.
We started impromptly at 7:55, ended at 9:45

Present: Lea, Ethel, Paul, Max, Carol, Alice

AGENDA ITEMS:
1) Upcoming Dates & Places- (all)
Places need to be walking distance of central Berkeley. Mindy has volunteered
to host in the next round, and we affirmed that we previously agreed her house
was within an acceptable distance. In deference to Vicky's schedule, we set
service dates through July. We now have the following upcoming events/dates
set:

Saturday, January 21st at Max's- Shabbat Morning Service
Monday Feb 6 7:30pm Liturgy Review at Carol’s
Sunday Feb 12 6pm Tu B'shevat seder
Saturday, Feb 18th at Angie & Eric's and family - Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday March 18th (3rd Saturday) Shabbat Morning Service- Place needed
Monday April 3 - Community Decisionmaking Meeting
Saturday April 29th (5th Saturday; given that 3rd is Pesach)-Shabbat
Morning Service- Place needed
Saturday May 20th (3rd Saturday) Shabbat Morning Service- Place needed
Saturday June 17th (3rd Saturday) Shabbat Morning Service- Place needed
Satruday July 15th (3rd Saturday) Shabbat Morning Service- Place needed

Paul will follow up on setting places and will confirm with Vicky within 2
weeks. People to contact: Judy & Mitchell to see when/if they're open;
Carol and Steve (not March and April); Max is gone end of April; Alex and Eve
out of the rotation until summer; Marcia Brooks ? Lea- can do June or July

We discussed some potential conflicts with our events, including the Rabbis
for Human Rights Tu B'Shvat Seder. We noted that the Aquarian Minyan is now
holding services on the 4th Shabbat morning of the month, but plans to hold
one on the 3rd Shabbat of May due to Memorial Day weekend. We decided
not to move our service to the 2d Shabbat of May because Paul & Miryam (and
possibly others) will be attending a Shabbaton that weekend.

Since the CDM, we also note that Carol has communicated with Or Zarua and that, beginning in May, Or Zarua will be holding Shabbat Morning Services on the 2d Shabbat of the month. Communications received were very apologetic about the conflicts in January through March.

2) Plans for Tu B'Shevat Seder scheduled for sunday evening, Feb 12, beginning
at 6 pm. (Paul) It will be led by Mindy, and hosted at Miryam and Paul's. (note
possible change of venue to Claire and Ed’s) We can accommodate 20 people at tables, 5 more on couches. Carol will draft some wording to send to Paul, Paul will receive RSVPs. Budget allocation: $55 from Nishmat to cover ritual fruit. Will ask for volunteers for the fruit cutting team. Participants aked to bring potluck dish, beverages. Can make the event a Nishmat fundraiser.

3) Treasurer's report -(Alice)
Balance fwd: 551.23
Expenses since Sept: 242
Donations received: 639 from 18 households
Current balance: 972

4) Update on Shalom Bayit as Tzedakah project (Lea)
Chanukah adopt a family Recipients grateful and happy. Nishmat raised $377
(incl $18 from our treasury) and purchased all requested items including the
"wish upon a star,"--a bicycle for a 7 year old. Nishmat participants
also donated household items for other families (phone w/answering machine;
TV and VCR). Lea attended a sukkot event. Other opportunities to help include
office work, possibly other donations. Lea will put opportunities out to list.

5) Torah Service Revision Draft (Carol)
Ready to use it this upcoming Shabbat. Soliticiting feedback; session set.
Paul will make 10 more copies for the group this Shabbat.

6) Outreach discussion (Lea, Max)

Nishmat has been listed on Bay Jews by Lea. (Update: this resulted in two new participants at our January service!)

Consideration of who gets the Nishmat Shalom newsletter mailings and e-mails: 70 people. Practice, only remove if the mail bounces or they ask.

7) Mailbag (Ethel) read our listing in Resources. She has other info, which she was encouraged to disseminate via her announcement email. Perhaps let people know there is a separate list of announcements available.

ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT CDM (April 3rd)
1) Confirm dates/places
2) Treasury update
3) Should we consider announcing the monthly Aquarian Minyan Shabbat morning
services through our listserve (in exchange for Aquarian Minyan listing the
Nishmat Services).

.