Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Annual Report
2011 - 2012
TEMPLE BETH AM
table of contents
WELCOME
Rabbis Message
................................................................................................
FINANCIAL PLANNING
A Perfect Storm
..............................................................................................
4 5 6 8 9
.......................................
.........................................................................
......................................
......................................................................
10 13
...............................................
CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS
Nominating Slate
............................................................................................
15 16 17
......................................................
...................................................................................
rabbis message
BUILD ME A HOLY PLACE AND I WILL DWELL AMONG YOU...
...SO GOD TELLS THE ISRAELITES IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS.
The word build in Hebrew is written in the future imperative tense. With one word, Torah teaches us that the building of Jewish community is an ongoing, holy endeavor. It is a task in which each generation of Jews and those who love them are honored to engage. Every year we move closer to the borders of our promised land, and every year we begin the journey anew.
The Mikdash, the holy place, cannot be built by one person or a small group. It takes a diverse community giving of themselves and encouraging each other to help keep bringing it into being. It takes generosity on the communitys part to insure that this holy place continues to come into being. Thank you for your support this year, for your volunteering, your generosity, your participation. And thank you to our amazing staff who help carry this ark in ways that make Beth Am a truly dynamic center of Reform Jewish life.
We, the Rabbis at Beth Am, are grateful to have you join us in this wonderful project of building Jewish life here in a diverse, welcoming community that is joyful, yet intellectually serious, that focuses on supporting each other in our search to build LShalom, meaningful Jewish identity, but also widens our view that we might together engage in Tikkun Olamthe repair of the world. We strive to make this Mikdash, this holy place, beautiful by giving the best of ourselves to the advancement of Jewish learning, culture, and pursuit of social justice.
presidents welcome
WE HAVE A PLACE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE
It is my honor to share with you our annual report for 2011-12. In addition to serving as the by-law required documentation for our annual meeting, this years report describes our path to sustainability and shares a wonderful story of holiness, community, dedication, and hope. I urge you to review the discussion of our Temples finances thoughtfully. It represents the collaboration and investment of time and effort of nearly 40 congregants. Charting the course to sustainability has required some hard analyses and challenging decisions. Every decision was made with respect for and attention to our Temples core values. I am inspired and delighted to read the long list of accomplishments from our Temple community this past year. I receive great satisfaction knowing that we have a place and an opportunity for everyone in our community. I
have very much enjoyed serving as President of your community these past two years, and I look forward to the future, to seeing Temple Beth Ams continuing success through Ldor Vdor from Generation to Generation. LShalom,
a perfect storm
Since the early 1990s, TBA has nearly doubled in both membership and facility size. For the past several years, Temple revenues from dues, Religious School payments, leases and fundraising have not covered our operating and facility costs. Two years ago our annual report described TBAs financial situation as being in the middle of a perfect storm a beautiful new building had opened, but required a multimillion dollar loan to fund; the synagogue building required two million dollars in structural repairs that had not been budgeted; and the world was facing the worst economic crisis in over 80 years. Shoring up TBAs financial future has required some serious attention, strategy and action. Since that report, and drawing upon earlier work to improve TBAs long-term financial health, several Temple members have been diligently working to chart a course to financial sustainability. Some steps, such as containing our expenses, have already been taken. In 2012-13 we will implement our strategy to make TBA financially sustainable.
Several Temple presidents and successive boards have been grappling with the challenges of TBAs financial model. The boards need to focus on TBAs sustainability became especially acute with an unexpected $2 million repair to our roof and synagogue structure in 2008 and the multi-million dollar financing of the Khilah Center, as well as the aggravating impact of the worst economic recession in 80 years. Temples increased mortgages and private member loans introduced higher annual interest payments to TBAs budget and left the congregation with a $3.1 million dollar balloon payment due in 2018. In 2010,TBA retained outside accountants to undertake a financial review to assist the Board in addressing
a multifaceted solution
6
For many years we have had a fair share dues policy. Based on the Jewish principle that every member of the community shares in the responsibility of supporting the Temple, we have asked our congregants to give as they have been blessed. If congregants followed the guidelines as presented, they would, in effect, have paid a 2.7% tithe of their income to Temple Beth Am for CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF DUES their membership. Over the last few years, we have informed $3500 56 our members of the average and above cost per household of operating $3000 57 TBA. However, this approach has $3499 resulted in dues revenue falling far $2500 66 $2999 short of the full cost of operating our Temple. $2000 98 $2499 Committee delegations, board $1500 101 members, and executive staff $1999 struggled with the dilemma of $1000 133 how to create a dues system $1499 that is inclusive, welcoming, $500 and yet still provides adequate 165 $999 funding for the Temple. After $0 to careful consideration of different $499 methodologies to determine dues and reflection on our Temple NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS IN EACH CATEGORY values, Temple Beth Ams Board of Trustees unanimously adopted For LDor VDor initiative to succeed, members at all giving a new approach based on the belief that the most equitable must increase their dues. solution is to ask each member household to pay an equal share of TBAs operating costs. Using this principle, the board has
recommended that beginning June 2012 the annual dues for each member household be set at $2,500, with those who can give more asked to do so. Supporting our commitment to inclusiveness and membership regardless of economic circumstances, the board has created a process under which members who cannot afford the new dues levels are eligible to apply for dues relief. Dues relief will be made available to current and new members on an individual basis through a formal and confidential determination process.
236
levels
knowledge of organizational best practices has helped our board through an important year of planning and strategy for Temple Beth Am. His ability to facilitate and keep everyone focused on the big picture of Temple Beth Ams mission and values has been invaluable to our leadership these past 10 months.
Jan lives in Wedgwood with his wife Laura and their daughters Olivia and Talia. When not serving as the Sherpa for their family camping trips, he enjoys skiing, swimming, hiking and reading. The family looks forward to celebrating Olivias Bat Mitzvah with the Temple Beth Am community in January 2014. Jan has been consulting and serving as interim executive director for northwest nonprofits & government agencies for the past 17 years. Prior to that, Jan served as the Executive Director of Washington Citizens for Recycling. Jan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University. We are delighted Jan has accepted this appointment, and we hope youll join us in extending a kind Temple Beth Am welcome to him in this new role.
jewishly happening
TEMPLE BETH AM IS THE SPOT FOR JUDAISM IN SEATTLES NORTH END. WERE A JEWISHLY HAPPENING PLACE.
opportunities for every interest. Book lovers meet monthly to discuss Jewish literature. Teens and youth connect monthly as a communitywhether to socialize and explore their Judaism with peers or to actively participate in their Judaism with needed tzedakah projects, like making lunch for a teen homeless shelter. If you want to explore your Judaism more physically you can meet in the social hall for a lesson on Krav Maga or contemplate this weeks Torah portion while doing downward dog in the spring yoga series. Guest lectures provide a forum for members to learn more about the Jewish influence on our culture, anything from music to medical ethics. Seniors can build social connections through our community, whether it is a small group playing mah jong every week, or during our monthly Primetime Writers group. Our community strives to be a place that welcomes everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, family status, age, or race. This year, Temple Beth Am offered more than just philosophical support, we actively
11
examined our practices as a community.As part of the national URJ Welcoming Synagogues Project, a group of community members explored what it truly means to welcome everyone. This committee explored everything from the inclusive language on our membership application to the Religious Schools curriculum on Jewish weddings, and provided a venue for our community to have a meaningful dialogue and safe place for exploration of these important issues. This committees project provided TBA opportunities for progressive growth and improvement on a value we hold dear. At Temple Beth Am, we dont just believe in change, we act for change. Tikkun Olam continues to be a core value and focus of our community. In the past 12 months we introduced several new social justice and tzedakah opportunities. Late summer saw the hosting of Marys Place, an overnight shelter for homeless women and their children that is provided through cooperation with diverse religious institutions in the Seattle area. Partnering with a downtown day shelter and area churches, Temple Beth Am hosted homeless guests three times this year. The Homeless to Renter program continues to provide solutions to homelessness in Seattle.This year our Tikkun Olam Committee taught our community about policy and advocacy on a variety of social justice issues. Last spring members went to Olympia to lobby on the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare for everyone. This fall our community organized grassroots efforts to support the marriage equality efforts in the
state and Rabbi Jonathan rallied with congregants and other religious leaders to advocate a different view of marriage and God. It was a proud moment for our community when a fellow congregant was able to stand behind Governor Gregoire as she signed the state law legalizing gay marriage. Temple Beth Am continues to be a place for members to come together in times of need, offering support to congregants through Project Hineyni. This year we introduced the Healing Challah, which delivers a challah to a member in need of physical or spiritual healing. This program, which runs on the fourth Friday of every month, has 10 families who attend Friday night services take and deliver a challah, a hand-written card for wishes of healing, and a smile of friendship to 10 members in need of a taste of Shabbat. We have already
delivered over 70 challahs, bringing delight to both the recipients and the shleuchas (messengers) from TBA. Project Hineyni continues its caring community efforts by organizing meals for families in need, with scores of nourishment and love being delivered as well. The New Baby Challah is yet another way we provide a personal connection to our congregationthe 8 families that welcomed a new congregant this year received a Challah shortly after their baby was born. Temple Beth Am exists not for any one generation, but for Ldor Vdorfrom generation to generation. Our Religious School educates the next generation of Jews, our adult education classes provide life-long learning opportunities, and our path to financial sustainability ensures the meaningful work we do today is a legacy that the next generation can enjoy.
12
13
annual meeting
14
nominating slate
OFFICERS
President: Elizabeth Asher 1st VP: Sandy Melzer 2nd VP: Julie Mackoff Secretary: AJ Merrick Treasurer: Leslie Deitz-Kaplan Immediate Past President: Ross Kling
RETIRING TRUSTEES
CONTINUING TRUSTEES
Marc Jacobson, 1st term, 2nd year Whit Leibow,1st term, 2nd year Lisa Levine, 1st term, 2nd year Bob Lipson, 2nd term, 1st year Betsy Maurer, 2nd term, 1st year Leslie Redd, 2nd term, 1st year Steve Varon, 1st term, 1st year Beth Weisberg, 1st term, 2nd year
Wed like to thank the trustees who are retiring this year for their generosity, support and commitment to Temple Beth Am and its community. Diane Baer Sandy Berger Dan Clark Sheila Cory Dana Greenberg Jason Stoffer
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Bob Lipson, Chair Janet Boguch Gail Broder Steve Hiller Betsy Maurer Vivian Scheidt
NEW TRUSTEES
David Appel, 1st term, 1st year Sheila Kasprzyk, 1st term, 1st year Laurie Stusser-McNeil,1st term, 1st year Vivian Scheidt, Religious School Board Chair Heidi Turner, 1st term, 1st year
15
Facilities 388,326
year to date
Fundraising
Fundraising
Programs 331,776
688,714
Security Assessment
Program Program Revenues Revenues 42,150 42,150 Religious SchoolSchool Religious TuitionTuition 539,125 539,125
Fundraising Fundraising 265,000 265,000
Programs 357,359
New Member Obligation New Member Obligation JCC JCC LeaseFacility Usage Lease & & Facility Usage K'Hilah Center & Roof Repair K'Hilah Center & Roof Repair Contributions Contributions
Other Other
March 31, 2012 May $ 1,656,088 31, 2011 -1,656,088 Change 1,517,708 -138,380 13,542,155 1,656,088 -13,542,155
11,036,216 13,547,236 13,542,155 -11,036,216 5,081 -2,505,939 -2,505,939 0 12,692,304 -12,692,304 5,081 11,041,297 11,036,216 -2,505,939 2,505,939
LIABILITIES & EQUITY TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities Current Liabilities LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current Portion of Long-Term Debt Liabilities Total Current Liabilities
12,559,005
12,692,304
67,562 175,477 243,039
-133, 299
-67,562 -175,477 -243,039
Current Liabilities TotalCurrent Portion of Long Term Debt Long Term Liabilities Total Current Liabilities Total Liabilities
Total Equity Total Long Term Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY
76,066 67,562 8,504 184,466 5,092,619 175,477 -5,092,619 8,989 260,532 5,335,658 243,039 -5,335,65817,493 4,814,424 -278,195 12,692,304 5,092,619 -12,692,304 5,074,956 5,335,658 -260,702 7,484,048 7,356,646 127,402 12,559,004 12,692,304 -133,300
7,356,646 -7,356,646
16
Notes: 1. Worship category includes High Holy Days, Shabbat, Music, and Bnai Mitzvah 2. Programming category includes Youth, Adult, Sisterhood, Seniors, Caring Community, Tikkun Olam
17
TEMPLE BETH AM
2632 NE 80th Street Seattle, WA 98115 www.templebetham.org
PAID
T I M E DAT E D M AT E R I A L