December 23, 2011

Dear Members and Friends

As we head into the long Shabbat Chanukah weekend, I wanted to update you on the outcome of our General Membership Meeting which was held this past Sunday evening.

First, I am proud to report that we had 25 member families in attendance. This was a great showing and a sign of the growing excitement from within our shul, as we continue to move into the future. With nothing spectacular on the agenda, it was refreshing to see many people looking to understand the back office operations of the organization, hopefully leading to more members getting involved.

Our Vice President, Michael Cantor, presented the Operating Budget for 2012. We will be seeing an increase in operating expenses in 2012, mostly due to our new building. We have been actively engaged with a possible tenant for the new building’s classroom space, and I hope to have some exciting news on that front in the near future. This rental income will offset a large portion of our increased expenses.

The Board of Directors recommended, and the membership approved an increase in annual Full Membership dues to $700.00. Our Treasurer, Eric Orgen, conducted a membership cost study of all of the shuls in the Teaneck and Bergenfield neighborhoods, and concluded that this increase still keeps our dues at the low end, especially when Building Fund Obligation is included in the calculation.  A letter detailing 2012 Membership Dues has been mailed, posted to our website, and is available in the shul. Take advantage of year-end tax deductible donations and mail in or make your payment online today!

We elected two new members to the Board. We welcome Benjy Burnat and Jonathan Mantell to the position of Director. Each will serve a two year term ending in 2013. I would like to express, on behalf of the shul and the entire community, a thank you and yasher koach to our outgoing Directors, Matt Diamond and Shoshana Halpert. Both Matt and Shoshana have served the shul for many years in various positions. They both have been instrumental in our growth, and we are thankful they will both remain actively involved, with Matt working on the Fundraising Committee and Shoshana chairing the Interior Design Committee. As we move into our new home, we will forever owe a debt of gratitude for all their hard work.

Keith Kaplan, on behalf of the Constitution Committee, presented various revisions that were proposed to the shul’s Constitution and By Laws. As Keith detailed, many of these revisions were made to bring the constitution and by-laws more in line with who we are and how we operate as a shul.  The vote to approve the revisions was unanimous. If any member of the shul has any revisions or addendums they feel our constitution should have, I encourage them to please notify a constitution committee member to start the formal process. A copy of our constitution is available on the shul’s website.

The meeting concluded with an update on the progress we are making with regards to our new building. It is our hope, and our committee and professionals agree, that a spring time move in is likely. We will have additional updates to the community as we continue to make progress.

As we head into Shabbat Chanukah and celebrate the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil, let us continue our mission to build a home for us and our children who represent the next generation of Maccabim.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

Mendy Schwartz

President

Chanukah Update 12/23/11