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Celebrating Our Growth And Planning Ahead For 2009
By Paul Basista
Congregation
Beth Elohim ended 2008 as a vibrant and growing community. Membership increased
by 80 member units from a year ago, and more than half the entire membership
participated in the Yom Kippur Appeal, which broke $200,000, exceeding our
goal. Our robust offerings for adults and children continue to be well
attended, and the construction on the Temple House is nearing completion.
Nonetheless,
some of our members have been affected by the current economic climate. When
asked, we’ve lent a sympathetic ear and assistance when needed. Those who are
able have stepped up and gone way beyond their dues to support the
congregation, and we are deeply grateful to them. To be fair to them and the
other members who take their obligations with us seriously, we are reaching out
to those congregants who have not been meeting their dues obligations to ask
them to deliver on their promise to us. As a community, we must all share the
obligations and responsibilities of membership, as well as the benefits.
For
2009, our mortgage application with Citibank is progressing on schedule. With
the infusion of cash, we’ll have opportunities to make further improvements to
our facilities, and towards that end we’re bringing in a consultant to help us
estimate some of the major work that remains to be done in the Temple House and
the Sanctuary.
Finally,
we’ve already begun next year’s budget planning process. To meet the bank’s
requirements and continue to meet the high level of services that you’re
accustomed to, we’ll have to manage our resources carefully. Our hardworking
staff will continue to do everything we can for CBE to be the healthy, vibrant
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