These are the minutes of the Nishmat Shalom Community Decision Meeting
6/6/06
Present: Raja, Ethel, Lea, Carol, Vicky, Max
1) FINANCIAL UPDATE: as of last meeting, we had a balance of 853.56 (Similar
balance reflected in end of April statement). Outlay has been $80 for 2x childcare
and $55 for reimbursement of Tu B’Shvat expenses.
No income that treasurer knows of but she hasn’t reconciled the most
recent statements. Defer full report to next meeting.
2) CALENDAR and EVENTS:
SHABBAT SERVICES:
June 17th at Lea's (already set)
July 15th at Miryam & Paul’s (already set). After lunch, Carol will
lead a study session on texts comprising the Torah Service.
August 19th - 3rd Shabbat- Place to be set
September 16th - Shabbat - Alex and Eve confirmed
October 7th (Shabbat Sukkot - 1st Shabbat)-Place to be set; Claire/Ed cannot
host this year
November 18th- 3rd Shabbat - Place to be set
HOT SPRINGS RETREAT: 8/25-27 (confirmed by Lea)
Lea will also invite Gan Eden, Beyt Chesed, Or Zarua. People can invite friends.
Tisha B’Av 8/2- If Aq Min is holding a service, Lea will post to listserve.
PRESENTATION BY JOSH GRESSEL - after services in November will present on "envy." (Confirmed by Ethel.)
Next CDM - 3rd, Tues 9/19; call for 7:30.
NEILA SERVICE & BREAKFAST: If Carol is available, she will organize this. Date would be Mon, October 3rd.
EREV SHIRA: At the last meeting, Shana proposed an evening of song for a Saturday night. We liked the idea but did not get as far as making a certain plan about this, so we will defer it until Shana is present.
3) PUBLICITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES
DECISION: Lea will begin exchange of publicity with Aquarian Minyan. We discussed
how to list events so that host’s privacy is respected as they wish.
DECISION re UPDATING WEBSITE: we will add an "about" page containing
updated text from our brochure, plus accomplishments (e.g. list from appeal
letter). We will also add a donations page. Our calendar page has similar information
to what is in newsletter, so we will not routinely post the newsletter. In the
next few weeks, Max will look
into background colors and fonts to dress up the website without cluttering
it. Also, we will add a link to Shalom Bayit (our current tzedakah project).
DECISION: Carol will print 100+ lavender brochures with updated information re tzedakah (w/in 2 months).
We discussed an inquiry about wheelchair accessibility. Most of the homes where we hold services have some stairs. DECISION: We note accessibility in the newsletter when the home is accessible. We will continue to list pets.
DECISION: Our summer newsletter will be longer with Raja will write an article encouraging newsletter subscribers to join the listserve. (Digested version available.) NOTICE: Newsletter deadline is July 1st.
4) ADMINISTRATION
PO BOX: Currently, our mail goes to a PO Box in San Francisco and is then forwarded
to Ethel. QUERY: Should we get an East Bay PO Box? DECISION: Not at this time,
since most snailmail received is not pertinent. Newsletter return address/check
deposit address is directly to individual who maintains data base.
DECISION: We should list our website and phone contacts only in the Resource guide.
APPEAL LETTER: This was a successful means of raising the funds we need to operate. We agree we will send it along with the newsletter after 9/19 meeting. DECISION: Raja will ask Alice to write it and Judy to review it.
5) TZEDAKAH PROJECT: Report from Lea on Shalom Bayit. Donors to the Chanuka
project have received letters. Also, 2 donors will be eligible to participate
in a spa day. Lea will forward date information.
DECISION: The group moved that Lea receive one of the spa slots in honor
of her work on this project Also, Shalom Bayit is looking for cellphones. Lea
will publicize request for cellphones, and will collect them.
6) SERVICE COORDINATION: SCHLEPPING-We previous discussed looking into buying a moveable roof rack tomake the ark easier to move because then we could use any car to move it.
DECISION: Raja will bring a rack he has in the basement to Max to determine
whether it will work. If not,
defer to previous plan of pricing on eBay. Suggestion: look on freecycle.
LITURGY-We’ll be using the new Torah service pages a couple more times before finalizing. Discussion after services in July may help us finalize the English text.
FOR NEXT TIME:
Treasury update
Date setting
Followup on any Between Meeting Busienss conducted
Planning an Erev Shira?
Followup on Roof rack
Followup on Publicity
Followup on Torah Service as needed.