WRJ TEMPLE ISRAEL SISTERHOOD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 10 ADAR II 5779 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 12:17 A.M. AND ESTABLISHED A QUORUM MELISSA FABER The following Executive Committee and Full Board members were present: Waynette Besser, Julie Boshwit, Jane Eckstein, Sarah Eckstein, Melissa Faber, Debbie Jackson, Gina Jolly, Cathy Kessler, Nancy Kline, Wendy Lippin, Missy Lurie, Phyllis Niegelberg, Stephanie Peterson, Sue Pfeffer, Cathy Poulin, Sondra Price, Rena Rose, Judy Royal, Laurie Scheidt, and Kathy Wexler The following Executive Committee members were not present: Deborah Bilsky, Rochelle Fenton, Lisa Frisch, Jennifer Goldberg, Phyllis Gregory, Jennifer Ross, and Soozi Waxman. D var Torah- All Baruch atah, Adoani Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid shanu b mitzvotav, vtzivanu laasok, b divrei Torah. Blessed are you, Adonai our G-d, Sovereign of the Universe, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to engage in words of Torah. Cathy Poulin read an opening prayer from Covenant of the Generations pg. 4. Minutes Minutes from the February 20,2019 Executive Committee meeting were distributed. The following changes were proposed: 1. Add Rena Rose to the list of those who did not attend the meeting. 2. Kathy Wexler should be added to the list of those who DID attend, since she attended via phone. 3. Under the Beulah Vosse Library Fund, the name Vosse was misspelled and should be corrected. Good and Welfare Cathy Poulin s son got married. Phyllis Niegelberg welcomed a baby grandson. Melissa Faber s daughter was accepted into the Journalism program at the City University of New York. Corresponding Secretary Julie Boshwit reported that the Jewish Home sent a Thank You to the Book Club.
Membership Secretary Wendy Lippin reported on behalf of Jennifer Ross that our current membership is 621. It was also noted that 43% of Temple families are also Sisterhood members. Treasurer s Report Gina Jolly reported the following balances: First Tennessee Checking $26,691.01 as of 3/8/19 Highland Capital $133,254.84 as of 2/28/19 Donations to Sisterhood Funds $242.00 - January 2019 Vice Presidents Report Sarah Eckstein We have been approached to do a pre-neg for the Temple Israel s Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, April 26, 2019. This preneg would fall during Passover. A farewell preneg honoring Rabbi Katie Bauman and her family is being sponsored with additional funds from MRJ Brotherhood on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 5:15 p.m. Leigh Mansberg is organizing this event. This special oneg will precede the service and dinner held to recognize the many contributions Rabbi Bauman has made to Temple Israel during her tenure as Rabbi. This preneg is also a part of WRJ s $9,000.00 commitment to sponsor onegs held through the calendar year. Sue Pfeffer noted that a special oneg that will be offered when Michael Stern visits at Temple Israel with guest musician Israeli violinist Itamar Zomanon on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 during Passover. Meryl Rosen is setting aside 100 brownies for this event. A variety of cheese/s and matzah crackers as well as fruit will be needed. The WRJ Sisterhood budget includes $200.00 designated for special onegs during the calendar year, but this topic will be tabled for continued discussion at the upcoming budget meeting. A Fall Bazaar will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2019. WRJ Sisterhood will have a booth selling premade, frozen casseroles along with a variety of other individual vendors. Volunteers will be needed to bake/ donate the casseroles to be sold. President s Report Melissa Faber reported Reminder: Purimspiel will be presented on Wednesday, March 20. 2019. The Greatest Megillah will begin at 6:30 p.m. following an ultimate Purim Preneg that will feature a buffet and performances by High Expectations Aerial Arts. A New Member Havdalah will be on Saturday, March 30. 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend. A staggered pricing system for the Passover Seder has been put into place for this year s musical Seder. The price will increase on April 6, 2019. 2
Judaica Shop Report Sue Pfeffer reported. Sales figures from the Judaica Shop: February 2018: $1,808.84 February 2019: $9,773.04 (this month reflects several special orders) FYTD 6/1/17-2/28/18: $48,777.12 6/1/18-2/28/19: $46,593.78 In an effort to make shopping in the Judaica Shop a matchless experience, Nancy Kline has focused on stocking merchandise which is unique and personalized. Kippot, napkins, pottery, and other customized items are now available through special order. Additionally, holiday appropriate candy and hostess gifts will be offered. The gift shop presented a check for $4,000.00 paid toward the $12,000.00 commitment to Sisterhood. An ad for the Judaica Shop will appear in the Hebrew Watchman and the Jewish Scene to remind those in the broader community that the Judaica Shop is fully stocked with merchandise for holiday, life event gifts, children s interests, as well as traditional and modern Judaica. Jane Eckstein: The Holland Bulbs committee will meet on Thursday, April 4,2019 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. to prepare a mailing. Additional help would be appreciated. Online ordering will also be offered to reflect the needs of those who are more comfortable with online purchase. Because Holland bulbs and the Judaica shop are our primary fundraisers, the need for all members to solicit sales is increasingly critical. It was noted that bulb sales can be made to the broader community. Neighborhood sales would expand our sales scope and increase profits. Donations of daffodils for the Temple or amaryllis for the Jewish Home and Plough Towers are always appreciated. Waynette Besser: Mah Jongg Madness will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. - (brunch) 12:00-4:30 p.m. (tournament play). Please RSVP online. Bari Eiseman and Jennifer Ross are collecting raffle gifts for this event. Last year $1,200.00 was raised. Planning has begun for a fun combined Sisterhood/ Brotherhood summer program. Consideration is being given to including a of food/recipe column in the E-Voice. Such a column might allow for the development of a community WRJ cookbook such as was done for the ELC s cookbook Good Noshin. This would also publicize any cookbooks available for sale in the Judaica Shop. Anyone who has postings for the next WRJ newsletter to contact Waynette Besser. 3
Cathy Kessler: Problems with Mazel Tov cards have resurfaced. It was noted that the current program has garnered negative comments because the dates do not accurately correspond to the events scheduled. Also, the need for recipients to write Thank You notes has become an unwelcome burden. It was suggested that a direct mailing to Temple membership be discontinued. In lieu of a direct mailing, the printed Temple Voice will provide the link to Sisterhood s online donation page. Missy Lurie: Sondra Price: Melissa Faber thanked Missy Laurie for all the work she did on a successful and fun Trivia event. Many volunteers have already signed up to help with the Passover dinner, but many more are needed. Forty-three prep slots remain unfilled and additional servers for the dinner are needed. Sign-up genius is being successfully utilized. It may be accessed via a link on the tisisterhood.org website. Waynette Besser and Jane Eckstein will continue a registration discussion offline. Kathy Wexler: WRJ s Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Snacks will be served. A postcard reminder is being prepared for mailing. Laurie Scheidt: Last year Starbucks cards were mailed to children of Temple Members who attend college. If this College Connect is to continue, a $500.00 cost is needed per mailing, with two mailings sent per year. This discussion will be continued at the budget meeting. Unfinished Business Jane Eckstein reported Judy Royal reported that Rabbi Greenstein will be speaking at the Calvary Lenten Series on two days: Thursday, April 4 th and Friday, April 5 th. We need volunteers to be servers during these two lunchtime events at Calvary Church downtown. Servers will work 3 hour shifts from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please be aware that volunteers would be required to stand for the entire shift. Please contact Judy if you can volunteer. New Business Although not a Sisterhood project, Laurie Scheidt needs help with the Temple Garden project. Please contact her if you are interested. 4
Melissa announced that Temple has hired Melinda Lejman, who was temporarily filling in as Communications Director, to take on that role full-time. Rochelle Fenton will go with Debbie Jackson to attend the WRJ Social Justice Conference. Rochelle applied for, and received, a scholarship for this trip. Julie Boshwit announced that we will have a blood drive on the same day as the Mah Jongg tournament. Phyllis Niegelberg announced that everything is planned for this summer s Adopta-School activities. All programming will be held on successive Wednesdays in June. Volunteers will be needed for this fun and rewarding experience. A budget meeting will be held on Sunday May 31, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. The next Executive Board meeting will be on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Sondra Price moved to adjourn the meeting, with 2 nd by Nancy Kline. Melissa Faber adjourned the meeting at 1:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Lippin, on behalf of Deborah Bilsky Recording Secretary 5