PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SHELDON KIRSCH

Shalom,

I want to thank those who have contributed generously to the Cantor Fund.  Through your donations, we are able to retain Cantor Matt Klein for one more year. His addition will keep our synagogue the wonderful place that it is and has been for so many years.

This month I want to share with you what we have accomplished during this past fiscal year, the challenges along the way, and where we want to be for the future. In August 2009, we began with our first ever family BBQ held on the WML Beach.  People had an enjoyable time with family, interacting with other congregants and new members.

After the High Holidays and the Succoth festival, we began our monthly Friday night Shabbat dinners.  Then our Men’s Club sponsored a candidate debate from the Rockaway Township Council, Morris County Freeholders, and the Governor’s office.  The Sisterhood held their annual dinner. Then Adult Ed, Sisterhood Book Club and White Meadow Hadassah hosted a book author.  In November we were entertained at the Starlite Cafe.  Our Adult Education committee offered several great classes taught by Rabbi Adler.  In December, we had our annual Chanukah party. Next month we had our annual movie night. In February we held our first ever PowerPoint Purim Service. We ran a successful Mischloach Manot fundraiser.  Then we had our second annual Family Bowling event.  At the end of the month we applied for a $75,000 federal homeland security grant to improve the security system in our Temple.  We also applied for a $2,000 grant from UJA MetroWest to increase our compliance with people’s disabilities. The Sisterhood sponsored a successful Gold and Silver sale. We even offered bridge lessons.    

We did have our challenges throughout the year dealing with general maintenance and repair of the synagogue.  In December our caretaker’s health declined dramatically with his wife Nora’s death in early April and his own deteriorating health. We managed to overcome these severe challenges with the congregation’s help. Several congregants’ children volunteered to shovel snow. The congregation continues to give their time and effort with table/chair/Kiddush setup, cleanup, as well as opening and closing the temple. We have interviewed several candidate couples and hope to have a replacement caretaker couple shortly.

I am pleased to report that the congregation passed the budget.  There is no dues increase for next year. We will have a new slate of board of trustees and board of directors to be voted in at the 2nd Congregational meeting on June 13.

So where do we go from here?  We need you to be our ambassadors to promote White Meadow Temple. We need to expand our fundraising.  Finally we need to re-engage our community through social action.  These are the main areas the Rabbi and I will be focusing our efforts for the new fiscal term of 2010-2011.

Regards,