FROM THE PRESIDENT      

Dear Friends:

Are we willing to support ourselves as a congregation? 

This is the question, which will have to be answered in the coming months. 

We are small in terms of membership and our budget is under great strain.  Nevertheless, this facility and valuable property it sits on is ours.  It belongs to every member of our congregation.  Each of us has an obligation to keep our house in order, our bills paid and our land tended to. 

Most congregations I am familiar with have a building fund (in addition to dues) to either build a building or pay off a mortgage.  In some cases they have a building maintenance fund to take the strain off the dues structure.  We have neither.

We have also not done a very good job at putting fund-raising programs into place.  This must change.  It is impossible for a synagogue to survive on dues alone, especially one of our size. We need the help of members who have both the ideas and energy to implement these projects. 

I know that many of our long time members have reached a point in their lives where they have put in the time, given the effort and financially supported this congregation.  I am asking you to dig down deep and find that energy one more time.  To our newer and younger members, I am asking you to take your turn and support our efforts. 

Over the past few years, we have had to use funds that were earmarked for other needs to pay for repairs on our property.  This has led to shortages in our treasury in the last quarter of each year.  This matter is the main topic of discussion at the congregational meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 26, at 2:00 p.m.

Since Rabbi Rick Brody has joined us, we have many new programs and meaningful religious activities. We find new faces and old friends showing up for services and other events.  For the first time in many years I believe our future looks positive.  The onus is on each of us to support Rabbi Rick and our facility to make Temple Ami Shalom successful. 

I look forward to your comments, advise and support. 

Sincerely,

Lew Rader