Committee Reports. Discussions ongoing with Rabbi Martin Green re broad variety of lecture topics.

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1 Committee Reports Adult Education Nicci Gafinowitz Sandy Eisdorfer, Nicci Gafinowitz, Val Glaser, Meg Lewis, Renee Luberoff, Jama Purser, Warren Silbovitz, Diane Wright. Work is ongoing on preparing for the following scheduled events: Elizabeth Gervais-Gruen/Irma Stein, 1/17 - Sandy Linda Frankel 2/21 Nicci Forthcoming events under construction: Havdallah/Saturday night movies: Committee agreed that target audience is adult demographic and that event goals should be to provide entertainment, education and discussion. Selected films currently being vetted by members. Prayer leader and discussion leader to be finalized for first screening event, possibly January 30. Venue and logistics to be discussed at next meeting. Other: NC Museum Arts. Committee will discuss scheduling of presentation of lecture on NCMA s Judaica collection. Hebrew literacy Committee will further discuss forthcoming contribution by Rabbi Steve and Sheva Zucker (Yiddish) Discussions ongoing with Rabbi Martin Green re broad variety of lecture topics. Discussions ongoing re this committee s contribution to Tu B shvat and Shavuot programs. Cemetery Jonathan Kotch Jonathan Kotch has resumed the chair of the committee, and Warren has visited the cemetery and has observations to share and suggestions to make for maintenance. We are having trouble finding a convenient meeting time but home to meet before the end of 2009! Report at Board meeting Facilities Josh Ravitch Finance Susan Zenn Membership Jama Purser Monday, December 14, 2009 Attendees: David Luks, Bina Raskin, Mark Blaustein, Nicci Gafinowitz, Jama Purser 1. Blessing 2. Approval of minutes from 11/30/09 Motion to approve: Mark; Second: Bina; Minutes approved

2 3. The chair distributed a copy of the Kehillah s mission statement and core values to the committee. Rabbi Jen has asked that we keep our mission and values at the forefront of our thinking about why and how we work together as a community. This is especially appropriate for the work of the membership committee. 4. The team reviewed summary statistics for the membership committee s outreach since July 14. The Kehillah gained 12 members over this period, reflecting a growth rate of ~7.7%. Unfortunately that has been matched by the exit rate over this period (~7.7%). The good news is that we seem to be turning that trend around; since Nov 1 we have had 3 consecutive periods with new members joining but no new exits. Approximately 50% of the exits since July 14 were likely related to recent events from this past summer. There were approximately 89 prospective members since July 14, and we attempted to contact all of them by phone or , with the majority successfully contacted. The proportion of prospective members who joined over this period was ~13.5%. This is a conservative estimate as we included in the denominator all prospective contacts who phoned, visited or filled out a web form, and not all of those individuals were local or even truly interested in membership. The team notes the value of increasing our prospective member stream (i.e., by focusing on outreach and marketing), as that alone will improve our growth rate, even if the proportion becoming new members stays the same; nevertheless we will continue to try to improve the growth rate as well by building our capacity for outreach and welcoming. We intend to focus on marketing in concert with the marketing committee in the early spring. In addition, the group recognizes the need to build our programs for inreach to reduce the exit rate, even during periods of stability. The membership team will focus on brainstorming issues of in-reach beginning with the next meeting. 5. Five new prospective Member Assignments were made. David will recruit an additional new membership committee member from the pre-school and/or religious school segment of the community 6. Ongoing Planning of New and Prospective Member Social. Date Feb 20, 5:00-7:00. Nicci coordinated the date with Marion, Melissa and Rabbi Jen. Jama will discuss with the board tomorrow night to try to get their support and participation. We decided to have the social on Shabbat so we could also encourage new, prospective and existing members to attend the Purim schpiel afterwards on the same date. Plan is for wine and cheese social and we would like to encourage all committee chairs to attend and make a brief announcement about the work of their committee and to give contact information for potential involvement by new members. Towards the end of the social we intend to have pizza delivery and encourage all to stay for the Schpiel at 7:30. The membership committee is sending special invitations to all new members who joined since the beginning of 2008 and to all current prospective members. In addition we will be sending an electronic announcement to all existing members, and may try phoning them in addition if there s time. There will be further discussion of the proposed agenda as well as logistics for set-up and clean-up at the next meeting Nicci and Bina will coordinate with Melissa to develop the written announcements and invitations for the event (to 1) Kehillah community, 2) new and prospective members, 3) Lerner school and 4) Federation), recognizing Melissa s expertise and experience with planning, advertising, and running this type of event. They will try to finalize these plans this week.

3 Nicci will coordinate with Melissa to determine the best plan for making babysitting available Nicci will coordinate with Melissa to make sure we have new member packets, etc. available for pick-up at the social Mark will work with Sue Silbovitz to see if it is possible to get a group who will provide some desserts Jama will contact committee chairs after informing the board of our intention to request their involvement Jama will contact Susan Zenn to see if she has suggestions for marketing, board pictures, name tags, etc. The group discussed the added value of music but recognized our current policies do not allow this on Shabbat without special permission form the ritual committee. Will consider inviting Jason Thomas and Edith Gettes for future socials not held on Shabbat. 7. Marketing (no time to be discussed at next meeting) a. Need to consider what info to have available for Shabbat Shirah events. b. Need to get Nicci to share some tips about Kehillah materials she has been mailing to new and prospective members c. New communities to target (i.e., there is one in Cary and we are getting a number of prospective contacts form the Cary area) 2009 NEW EXITS PROSPECTI VE July Augus TOTAL MEMBE RS NOTES t KJP Grads Contacted invited to Rel School and HHD Septe mber HHD Ticket Purchasers contacted and Interest due to HHD Octob er Post-HHD, Prospective Member Social Nove mber Dec several pending 0 5 TOTA LS RATE S 7.70% 7.70% 13.50% New Membership Rates ~13.5% of prospective contacts; Growth Rates ~7.7% of current membership Exit Rates ~7.7% of current membership Nominations--All quiet Preschool Tamara Rice 1. We are looking for a new teacher to replace a teacher who recently resigned. We have several promising candidates and hope to make a decision early next year. 2. As always, Megan did an amazing job guiding us through a personnel situation.

4 3. Hanukkah party is on December Book Fair was a successful fundraiser. Art By Me did not bring in that much money. We are looking at ways of making it better. Religious School Miriam Ornstein Ritual Diane Wright & Henry Fuchs 11/11/2009 Present: Rabbi Jen, Warren Silbovitz, Jama Purser, Diane Wright I Kehillah Bat Mitzvah A. Chari s to the Ritual Committee indicating that there was not enough time to properly plan for the Bat Mitzvah resulted in discussion. It was felt by the Committee, that at this date, there might not be enough time for proper planning of the Bat Mitzvah. Diane agreed to contact Chari to let her know that the Committee was also concerned about there being enough time to plan for the Bat Mitzvah. It should be noted that the Ritual Committee is providing its opinion on the matter and is not making the decision regarding the date of the Bat Mitzvah. B. There was discussion that a two year calendar instead of a one year calendar of events kept by the Kehillah might be helpful in providing a longer lead time for events. It was agreed that this should be recommended to the Executive Committee. II B nei Mitzvah Minyan A. Rabbi Jen explained that at a recent Bar Mitzvah of an inter-faith family we were very close to not having a minyan. B. There was discussion about possible ways to encourage membership of the importance of providing a minyan for b nei mizvot, especially when it involves an interfaith family. C. It was suggested that perhaps a d var at a regular Shabbat addressed to our regular Shabbat goers about the importance of supporting B nei mitzvah might be helpful. D. It was agreed that in the meantime Rabbi Jen would alert the Ritual Committee to when she thought b nei mitzvoth involving an interfaith family might create a minyan shortage and that some of us would talk to others to ensure a minyan. III B nei Mitzvah Leading Friday Night A. Rabbi Jen related a request that an upcoming bat mitzvah be allowed to lead Friday night services the weekend of his bat mitzvah. It was agreed by the Committee that this would be OK to allow for this and future requests, but that Rabbi Jen would need to ensure the B nei mitzvah was capable. IV Tot Shabbat Requests Instruments A. It was agreed that instruments similar to those allowed for Shabbat Shirah be allowed. It was noted that, like Shabbat Shirah, the approval is being allowed to determine how well instruments work in the service and it is not at this time a permanent decision V Ritual Items A. The inventory of ritual items provided by Randy was reviewed. B. It was suggested that there be a way to connect the item number more positively with the item, perhaps a picture or the item number being placed in an inconspicuous place on the item. C. It was suggested that the Torahs be identified by a way other than the Torah covers as the covers are changeable. Rabbi Jen suggested that the Torahs have serial numbers by which they could be identified. D. It was noted that the silver megillah case is not on the list VI Torahs In the Closet

5 A. The issue is when is the appropriate time to take the Torahs out of the ark following a B nei mitzvah or other service in the sanctuary and by whom. A second issue was who is the person responsible for making sure the lights are off and the doors are locked. B. After some discussion it was agreed that it would be the second gabbai s responsibility and it should be done immediately after the conclusion of the service. C. There was no consensus on the second issue and Warren suggested that he would communicate this need to Melissa for her thoughts on the second issue. 12/2/2009 Present: Rabbi Jen, Manny Stein, Warren Silbovitz, Jama Purser, Diane Wright, Howard, Henry Fuchs I High Holiday Review C. Warren related various suggestions that were made by HHD Committee members and others to improve services in the future. There was some discussion and advice offered which Warren agreed to implement for the 2010 High Holidays. II Shabbat Protocol E. Because of a recent omission of Rosh Hodesh prayers Warren asked as to what is the proper protocol for Captains to communicate with Rabbi Jen before or during the Shabbat Services if they feel that something such as a Rosh Hodesh prayers might be unintentionally not included. Rabbi Jen she is OK for a reminder before or during the service if a Captain feels it is needed. Rabbi Jen also indicated that she will work with Melissa on getting future Shabbat sheets to include special service prayers. III Update on Ritual Items B. Postponed due to Randy s absence. IV Shabbat Shirah (Not on Agenda) E. Rabbi Jen explained that there were parents who came to her after Shabbat Shirha saying that it was wonderful and could the same format be used for a B nei mitzvah. Rabbi Jen raised this to make the Ritual Committee aware of what might be a future request of the Committee. Rabbi Jen told the parents that they should put together a proposal for the Ritual Committee. F. Discussion followed regarding the problems related how out of town guests would view it, the availability of guitarists, children working with guitarists, would the child be musically inclined etc. Social Action Irene Zipper & Kathy Kaufman Youth Group Danielle Fradin The youth group is participating in a Triangle-wide youth group Hanukkah party at Beth El this Saturday.