In what can only be described as an incredible find, a movie of the 1957 dedication (converted to DVD) of the FHC uptown synagogue was donated to FHC. I will not state the names of the contributors of this incredibly historic movie, but needless to say the contribution is greatly appreciated. (I also thank the person from FHC who received it and then tendered it to me.)
This grainy color 8mm (I believe) short movie is literally a window into the past. Images of members from 1957, 1950's cars, a procession from the downtown shul in an open convertible.... I got the chills watching the images as they quickly passed before my eyes.
When I first suggested a 50th anniversary celebration of the uptown synagogue several years ago based upon my looking at the plaque which was displayed in the lobby before the renovation, little did I know that our 1957 founders would have the foresight to place a 1957 journal from the 1957 journal dance behind the plaque, only to be found while we were having the renovation work done.
Similarly, this historic movie, so graciously donated, demonstrates the vision of those involved with the 1957 dedication of the uptown Synagogue.
I anticipate this will be shown at the October 21, 2007 Jubilee honoring the 50th anniversary of the uptown synagogue. All are welcome to attend this historic evening.
Shalom
Jeremy
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
FUNDRAISING KEEPS DUES DOWN
I have previously written about the tremendous benefits FHC gets from its fundraising. Bingo, Scrip, donations, are all important and are part of the lifeblood that keeps the lights on, teachers paid and the grass cut (in no particular order or priority)
Bingo is money generally derived from non-members coming to FHC to play Bingo. We need membership involvement to keep Bingo running and bringing in the revenue it generates!
Scrip is money derived from members getting 100% of their purchase price in the form of gift cards and the processing company provides FHC a percentage from vendors over and above the purchase price. As I have repeatedly stated, this is a no-brainer, and it has a huge potential for thousands of dollars more than what we are currently collecting.
Donations are generally derived from members who wish to give above and beyond their dues requirements. Donations are essential to FHC and if you need to adopt a charity, FHC is ready and it provides excellent documentation of donations for tax purposes.
Advertising for the Journal for our October 21, 2007 50th Anniversary event is money derived from non-members and members who want to place ads or purchase space in the Journal to commemorate the event and/or congradulate the honorees. I cannot emphasize enough the need to solicit ads and/or take out ads for the Journal. We have the original FHC Journal from 1957 and it is packed with ads from vendors, members and friends of members. We need the 2007 journal to be a successful reflection of our efforts. Every member of FHC should purchase an ad and sell ads. The ads sold to non-members HELP KEEP DUES DOWN. It is that simple.
The trustess and officers of FHC have tried to keep dues down and not to impose assessments. Fundraising and especially monies from non-members are critical to FHC. Solicit ads. Purchase an ad and buy your tickets to the 10/21/07 event.
The financial stability of FHC is not the sole obligation of the Board of Trustees or the Executive officers elected by the congregation. It is the obligation of all members.
This is your FHC. Sell and buy ads and attend this event.
It is that simple.
Shalom.
Jeremy
Bingo is money generally derived from non-members coming to FHC to play Bingo. We need membership involvement to keep Bingo running and bringing in the revenue it generates!
Scrip is money derived from members getting 100% of their purchase price in the form of gift cards and the processing company provides FHC a percentage from vendors over and above the purchase price. As I have repeatedly stated, this is a no-brainer, and it has a huge potential for thousands of dollars more than what we are currently collecting.
Donations are generally derived from members who wish to give above and beyond their dues requirements. Donations are essential to FHC and if you need to adopt a charity, FHC is ready and it provides excellent documentation of donations for tax purposes.
Advertising for the Journal for our October 21, 2007 50th Anniversary event is money derived from non-members and members who want to place ads or purchase space in the Journal to commemorate the event and/or congradulate the honorees. I cannot emphasize enough the need to solicit ads and/or take out ads for the Journal. We have the original FHC Journal from 1957 and it is packed with ads from vendors, members and friends of members. We need the 2007 journal to be a successful reflection of our efforts. Every member of FHC should purchase an ad and sell ads. The ads sold to non-members HELP KEEP DUES DOWN. It is that simple.
The trustess and officers of FHC have tried to keep dues down and not to impose assessments. Fundraising and especially monies from non-members are critical to FHC. Solicit ads. Purchase an ad and buy your tickets to the 10/21/07 event.
The financial stability of FHC is not the sole obligation of the Board of Trustees or the Executive officers elected by the congregation. It is the obligation of all members.
This is your FHC. Sell and buy ads and attend this event.
It is that simple.
Shalom.
Jeremy
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A religious institution is not a health club
A religious institution is not a Health Club
My wife recently reinstated our family membership to the local health club. While I am not overly pleased with this decision since I have too much on my plate already and I do not believe my family will utilize the club enough to make it worthwhile, the membership in the club got me to thinking about how some people might consider their membership in a religious institution similar to a health club membership since they remain members until the services of the religious institution are no longer needed. For instance, once the children have grown and moved on, to many, the religious institution is no longer necessary in their lives.
In my opinion, this mindset of discontinuing one’s affiliation with a religious institution once it is expedient represents something inherently wrong in our society.
A religious institution is a not for profit entity owned by its members. It represents a foundation in the community, a place of moral direction and a sanctuary for the belief that humankind is something more than just an advanced animal species.
Personally I could care less if a health club closes, loses members, does not have a profitable season. In contrast, since I consider myself a joint owner (together with those in the past, present and in the future) of my religious institution, I take our successes and disappointments personally. I want my religious institution to thrive and remain viable and relevant in my community. I want it to make an impact on the morals and ethics of my children, the children around me, and certainly upon the adults as well.
Further, the more I volunteer and remain active at my religious institution, the more vested I feel in it as a living and breathing entity and not just a building. I will never have any feelings for a health club. I will never feel a sense of connection with a place that lacks a moral center.
I think we should all think about the need to vest and invest more of ourselves in the religious institution so that we can strengthen that sense of connection and community. While I know that personalities and politics concerning various issues sometimes overshadow the overriding purpose of a religious institution and cause one to question their allegiance to the religious institution, one may be able to turn those feelings around and recognize that such things provide more color and character to the religious organization and that we learn from such behavior and grow as a community.
I sometimes tell my oldest daughter the famous quote “adversity builds character”. While I hope that we can minimize adversity, there is no reason why it must discourage us or cause us harm.
Together we can use adversity to grow stronger and more unified as a community. That is my goal and hope for the years to come.
Shalom. Jeremy
My wife recently reinstated our family membership to the local health club. While I am not overly pleased with this decision since I have too much on my plate already and I do not believe my family will utilize the club enough to make it worthwhile, the membership in the club got me to thinking about how some people might consider their membership in a religious institution similar to a health club membership since they remain members until the services of the religious institution are no longer needed. For instance, once the children have grown and moved on, to many, the religious institution is no longer necessary in their lives.
In my opinion, this mindset of discontinuing one’s affiliation with a religious institution once it is expedient represents something inherently wrong in our society.
A religious institution is a not for profit entity owned by its members. It represents a foundation in the community, a place of moral direction and a sanctuary for the belief that humankind is something more than just an advanced animal species.
Personally I could care less if a health club closes, loses members, does not have a profitable season. In contrast, since I consider myself a joint owner (together with those in the past, present and in the future) of my religious institution, I take our successes and disappointments personally. I want my religious institution to thrive and remain viable and relevant in my community. I want it to make an impact on the morals and ethics of my children, the children around me, and certainly upon the adults as well.
Further, the more I volunteer and remain active at my religious institution, the more vested I feel in it as a living and breathing entity and not just a building. I will never have any feelings for a health club. I will never feel a sense of connection with a place that lacks a moral center.
I think we should all think about the need to vest and invest more of ourselves in the religious institution so that we can strengthen that sense of connection and community. While I know that personalities and politics concerning various issues sometimes overshadow the overriding purpose of a religious institution and cause one to question their allegiance to the religious institution, one may be able to turn those feelings around and recognize that such things provide more color and character to the religious organization and that we learn from such behavior and grow as a community.
I sometimes tell my oldest daughter the famous quote “adversity builds character”. While I hope that we can minimize adversity, there is no reason why it must discourage us or cause us harm.
Together we can use adversity to grow stronger and more unified as a community. That is my goal and hope for the years to come.
Shalom. Jeremy
Monday, June 04, 2007
Should the Blog take a hiatus?
It has been suggested to me by at least one member of FHC that maybe the blog should take a hiatus if I become President of FHC. I am somewhat conflicted on the issue since I have been doing it for over two years.
I believe that the blog has been, overall, a plus for FHC members and their friends. At the same time, I can understand that using the blog for something more than an outlet for information/pictures, may be a distraction if I am President. I have been known from time to time to sermonize (or something akin to that).
I welcome reader comments, by e-mail. (Apparently most readers communicate with me by e-mail as opposed to leaving comments on the blog.) I would like your thoughts on whether I should place the blog on hiatus, limit the content to certain things during the next two years, or continue to use the blog as a bully pulpit for the opinions I hold near and dear to me.
Please advise this blogger...
Shalom.
Jeremy
I believe that the blog has been, overall, a plus for FHC members and their friends. At the same time, I can understand that using the blog for something more than an outlet for information/pictures, may be a distraction if I am President. I have been known from time to time to sermonize (or something akin to that).
I welcome reader comments, by e-mail. (Apparently most readers communicate with me by e-mail as opposed to leaving comments on the blog.) I would like your thoughts on whether I should place the blog on hiatus, limit the content to certain things during the next two years, or continue to use the blog as a bully pulpit for the opinions I hold near and dear to me.
Please advise this blogger...
Shalom.
Jeremy
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