1. Call to Order: The Board of the Mother Lode Jewish Community (MLJC) was called to order at 6:30
pm by President David Simons and led in an opening prayer for Hanukkah by Holly Orman. The
meeting was held at Holly & Rodger Orman's home in Murphys..
2. Attendance: The following members of the Board were in attendance:
David Axelrod
Shira Harris
Cindy Lavagetto
Holly Orman
Rodger Orman
Dawn Purcell
Ron Schaner
Dale Silverman
David Simons
Arlene Weissman
The following Board members were unable to attend: Judy Miller, Rhoda Nussbaum, Tami
Rakstad-Schaner.
3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the October 12, 2011 were adopted. M/S/A: Dale/Rodger..
4. Executive Committee Report: The Executive Committee did not meet since the last MLJC board
meeting and therefore no report was given.
5. Secretary's Report: The Secretary was unable to attend and no Secretary report was given.
However, President Simons advised the Board that Secretary Judy Miller has recently, tentatively
offered her resignation but the resignation has not been accepted. As a long-time, valued and very
talented member of the MLJC Board of Directions, the current board is adamant that every avenue to
retain Judy as our Secretary should be taken. The President and other members of the Executive
Committee will make the case to her and report back to the board as soon as possible.
The board discussed ongoing publicity efforts including those taken by the Membership Committee. It
was decided that all future outgoing communications - especially press releases - will include an
appropriate, short restatement of the MLJC mission statement. Holly will email to the entire board a
copy of the previously adopted MLJC mission statement. It is hoped that consistent branding will help
to clarify to the general public and to our own members the functions and purpose of the MLJC.
6. Treasurers' Report: Treasurer Holly Orman presented the Treasurers' report and the Treasurers
report was adopted. M/S/A: Dale/Ron. It was noted that including checks received this evening, paid
membership stands at 20 individuals.
Later in the meeting, the Board approved that the MLJC website hosting monthly fee should be paid
as soon as possible. Judy should either submit an immediate request for reimbursement or
arrangements should be made to deduct the monthly cost against the MLJC checking account. M/S/A:
Dale/Arlene.
7. Membership Committee Report: Dale presented a verbal membership committee report. Most of
the committee met telephonically (Dale, Rhoda & Ron) to discuss the core issues of
(a) do we want to grow as a community and (b) how do we grow. In addition to a clear plan for slow and
positive growth, membership committee recommends that the MLJC undertake to provide a unique
flyer/poster for each monthly event which brands the MLJC and inspires non-members to consider
more active participation and membership. In view of the Secretary's commitment to produce at least
one press release for each event, Dale volunteered to prepare the flyers/posters to accompany each
event. Once reviewed by the President, she will then forward to all Board members to output the
document and post it in appropriate places where potential members are likely to see it. The
committee also reviewed past practices of the MLJC that then produced a healthy community
awareness and support - for example, operating a bagel booth at the Octoberfest and wearing MLJC
Tshirts, etc. The Membership Committee report was adopted. M/S/A: Holly/Arlene.
Dale offered to contact the Calaveras Senior publication to correct the listing of Linda Derahanian as
the contact for the MLJC.
8. Events & Annual Calendar and Review:
David Simons led a discussion of recent and future MLJC-sponsored events through February. It was
determined that the January Havdalah service should be moved to January 21, 2012 and that President
Simons would ask member Andy Kosinky if he would be willing to host the event at his home in
Tuolumne County. Also, the Havdalah service could be conducted by the members and, instead, a
Rabbi would be sought for the February Tu B'Shvat event.
A committee was formed (Shira, David Simons, Cindy) to develop the Tu B'Shvat event on February 5,
2012. The board authorized Shira to seek a Rabbi (probably a student in the Bay Area) with an
expenditure of up to $750. M/S/A: Ron/Shira: Vote 7-1-2.
Later, during the meeting, the Board reiterated that the Passover committee (David A, Dale, Judy) must
find a location for a Tuolumne County event no later than January 1, 2012. David A and Judy will check
on appropriate locations (senior center and other sites) and report to the President as soon as
possible. An expenditure of between $175-$250 for facility rental is approved as long as it includes full
banquet facilities (chairs, tables, restrooms, kitchen, etc.). David Axelrod is the chair of the Passover
committee and the Board discussed establishing a member ($15) and a non-member ($20) cost per
plate for the community Seder.
Also, later in the meeting course, it was determined that the Treasurer was authorized to expend up to
$50 to acquire silverware for the MLJC. M/S/A: Rodger/Cindy: Vote: 7-0-3.
9. Hanukkah Committee Report:
Ron indicated that as of that evening's meeting there were 26 RSVPs and, based upon his experience,
that we could expect 60-70 participants on December 24. The Committee has determined that they will
begin with a Havdalah service and welcome by MLJC President David Simons. This year, the
festivities will include games, prizes and possibly raffle tickets. Board members in attendance are
expected to seek out non-members at our Hanukkah party to welcome them and encourage them to
become more active and consider membership in the MLJC. The Committee asks that all Board
members attending the Hanukkah event) commit to either the set up (begins at 3 PM) or clean up. The
Hanukkah committee report was adopted. M/S/A: Shira/Dale.
Revised 2011/2012 MLJC Calendar
Date/Day Event Location Time
October 7, Friday Yom Kippur Murphys/Orman's Home Potluck 4:30 pmKol Nidre 6:00 pm
October 8, Saturday Yom Kippur Copperopolis/Miller's Home Morning, & afternoon,
services 11:00 amBreak-the-fast potluck 6:00 pm
November 18, Friday Shabbat Murphys/Nussbaum-Adams' Home Potluck 6:00 pm Service
6:45 pm
December 24, Saturday Hanukkah Murphys/Lions Hut 5PM
January 21, Saturday Havdalah Murphys Diamonds Home Afternoon
February 5, Sunday Tu B'Shvat TBA TBA
March 3, Saturday Purim TBA TBA
April 7, Saturday Pesach Sonora/TBA TBA
May 12, Saturday Lag B'Omer Bar XX/Lavagetto-Wittmer Home Afternoon TBA
June 8 or 9 Shabbat or Havdalah TBA TBA
July Annual Meeting TBA TBA
10. Board Retreat: President David Simons reminded Board members that he would like to receive an
individual email from each with their thoughts on what it means to be on the MLJC Board. Thus far, he
has received only three or four emails. The full board discussed the kind of board retreat that would
best help us to become a cohesive and effective organization. Some board members felt that time
and experience with one and another would take care of any current difficulties. Other directors
believe that an organized and focused retreat would fast-track that process and focus our attention on
the future. It was determined to postpone the board retreat until better weather afforded an
opportunity to spend time with each other out of doors. For future reference, it was acknowledged
that the best time to hold such a retreat was in the immediate aftermath of the board election in July
so that a "new" board would begin its work quickly.
11. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the MLJC Board will be held on February 19, 2012 at 2 pm.
Rhoda had indicated that she would be interested in hosting the next board meeting and if that date is
not doable for her, then an alternate location will be announced before the meeting date.
12. Adjournment: President David Simons adjourned the meeting at 8:25 pm.
| MOTHER LODE JEWISH COMMUNITY YOUR JEWISH CONNECTION IN THE GOLD COUNTRY Encompassing Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties Board Meeting Minutes |
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| Home of Holly & Rodger Orman Murphys, CA December 14, 2011 |
Updated 02-20-2012
