February 2025

When people decide to become a member of a gym, they look forward to burning more calories and strengthening muscles as they use fitness machines and attend instructor-led classes. Full-time mothers who join the local chapter of a moms club want structured access to playdates, fun social outings at area venues, the opportunity for their kids to learn sharing and social skills, and an outlet for themselves among fellow moms.

But what about the Temple? What do folks expect from their Temple membership? As your president, I would like to know. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime with an e-mail, text, or call.

Our beautiful annual report, monthly Bulletin, website, and weekly e-mails show that Temple Emanu-El has so much to offer on an on-going basis: soulful and spiritually meaningful High Holidays and Shabbat services, intellectually stimulating adult education classes, enriching religious school and life cycle events, informative and inspiring Sisterhood programs and social activities, fun Brotherhood-sponsored gatherings that support the Temple, entertaining musicians in Temple band and singers in choir, and our fun recently established circles where you can gather with fellow mahjongg players, writers, bakers, and now crafters who knit, crochet, or sew. What other circles might we form?

Nowhere on paper did I read about the more intangible benefits I personally have received over the 20 years that I have been participating in our Temple Emanu-El community. At Temple Emanu-El, I truly have made some lifelong friends. I met most of them while volunteering for a committee when I first arrived. And I developed personal growth. By working with people of various backgrounds and skillsets on fundraising, membership, and communications committees in which I served, I learned many leadership skills while helping out. I developed greater confidence as I learned to chair committees and eventually, to serve on the Board of Trustees.

Our Temple By-Laws outlines how our Board of Trustees Nominations Committee is formed each year. This year, the committee will be led by our current First Vice President John Murphy. The committee requires three Board members and two non-Board members. The committee is seeking two active congregants who have some ideas about ideal people to nominate – those who have appropriate skills for certain roles, time, and interest in joining the Board. Together, the Board of Trustees is a caring, dynamic, and dedicated group of individuals who gather as a team to make strategic, financial and policy decisions for the betterment of our Temple community.

Whenever we bring new people into the fold, we can be even more creative and innovative together. Hazzan Sherry and I are so pleased that the Cabaret Night brainstorm from 10 years ago has become an annual tradition that allows us to gather during the darkest and coldest time of year to connect. Deli Day’s roots were started by Scott and Jennifer Zettler several years ago as a Super Bowl corned beef fundraiser and now it has grown into a popular deli event that honors our Jewish food culture and provides Jewish entertainment. Magic happens when we share our ideas, energy, and time to improve our Temple community.

So please think about what you might be able to offer. Are you an analytical person who is amazing with Excel spreadsheets and numbers? Are you highly skilled in using social media and communicating through writing and visuals? Are you handy around the house and know your way around contractors? Our Temple Board is 100% fueled by generous volunteers who are lending us their expertise. I am very honored to be serving with each of them and I am enjoying getting to know them better.

Shalom,
Armi

 

Board Meeting Highlights

  1. The Board Nominating Committee will be led by First Vice President John Murphy and members include Ian Crawford and Emma Zelken. They will seek two non-Board members to join the committee.
  2. Social Action Committee will be introducing a new way for those who have difficulty getting to Temple to sign up for ride shares to services.
  3. Religious Practices Committee announced that a community-wide Purim event is being planned for the evening of Thursday, March 13.
  4. Building and Grounds Committee has been very busy; they painted the men’s bathroom, addressed fire suppression readiness and replaced exit sign batteries. They are also making sure the sprinkler system is working properly.
  5. The Mishloach Manot Purim Bag fundraiser committee co-chairs are looking for one or two people to shadow the process this year so they can run the fundraiser next year. It’s a very important fundraiser that is the least time consuming.