The Recession Hits Home in CAA Finances
At first glance, there seems to be a conflict between talking about our spiritual home and speaking plainly about the dollars it take to keep it up and pay the bills. That apparent conflict disintegrates, however, as soon as you pick up a copy of the Torah. The Torah makes it plain that supporting the religious community is the responsibility of every Jew. Each was to bring a half-shekel to support the operations of the High Priest and Levites. In the desert, all of us, each according to his heart, brought materials to build the movable desert altar, the Mishkan. After our first military victory we noticed that not one of our solders was killed and we brought a special, heartfelt donation to the High Priest out of thanksgiving.
If I had one wish as president of CAA, it would be that each of us had such a dynamic relationship to Hashem and to our congregation that all the revenues necessary for its upkeep came spontaneously to the treasury. We’re not at that place, but my goal is that each congregant understand how the synagogue’s finances work and are moved to participate in a wise and responsible fashion, in a spirit of tzedakah, thanksgiving and support. We can get there.
What’s the issue? Fortunately, we do not have the problem of a shrinking congregant base or an unsustainable infrastructure. We don’t have the problem of unmet needs. We have the staff and facilities to meet our congregation’s needs and to grow an additional 100 members.
Our challenges are these:
We have a lot more congregants who need dues and tuition reduction because the down economy has hit hard. Many congregants are unemployed or underemployed. We need those who are blessed to help us operate the congregation for everyone. It is critical for people to step up to the Kol HaKavod levels of enhanced dues.
We have had an informal and loose understanding about when dues are due. It makes it very hard to predict revenues or even to say exactly how many members we have. We need clarity about when payments are due and overdue. Dues and pledges are like any other obligation a family undertakes. With the new dues invoice, we have taken the first step of defining what has and hasn’t been paid for the previous year as well as providing options for the upcoming year.
The Building Fund has stalled, even though we still owe about $1 million for the buildings we constructed a decade ago. The outstanding balance that congregants owe is $550,000. We need people to step up to that challenge.
Our building maintenance costs are getting higher. Our building is now over 10 years old, and equipment needs replacement. As you can see we are working hard on the heating and cooling systems and other parts of the infrastructure. This is expensive and costs are getting higher. We had a water leak that flooded part of our administrative area that required repairs. We need to get ahead of these costs, predict them and meet them.
Over the next few weeks, I will be providing clear information about these challenges. Please let m know what you would like to know and give me feedback.
B’Shalom
Robert Cullick, President
CAA Board of Directors
Look for Your Invoice in the Mail
You should have received by mail financial information from the congregation. We stuffed the envelopes and sent it out Tuesday. Please, please, open the envelope, read the contents and act upon the information immediately. The centerpiece of the material is a Membership Renewal Form and Invoice. Please tear off the perforated section and return it today in the postage-paid envelope with your instructions to our staff. It contains your personal information and is designed to provide complete information on dues for 5771, dues and fees that remain on your account and how you wish to pay your membership dues in the coming year (MORE)
You should have received by mail a package of financial information from the congregation. We stuffed the envelopes and sent it out Tuesday. Please, please, open the envelope, read the contents and act upon the information immediately. The centerpiece of the material is a Membership Renewal Form and Invoice. Please tear off the perforated section and return it today in the postage-paid envelope with your instructions to our staff. It contains your personal information and is designed to provide complete information on dues for 5771, dues and fees that remain on your account and how you wish to pay your membership dues in the coming year.
Our immediate goal is simple -- to qualify you without delay as a member in good standing so that we can send you credentials for the High Holy Days, which will be here in a matter of weeks. Our overall goal is to share financial accountability – as members, leaders and staff -- so that our community thrives. As everyone becomes more accountable, our community is strengthened and we move forward with confidence.
Please give the information your full and immediate attention. We need to hear from you by July 25th and will begin reminders shortly thereafter.
B’Shalom
Robert Cullick, President
CAA Board of Directors
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