Acknowledgements

Mazel Tov to Carol Mann on her new book, Why Wait.

Many Thanks

• Rose Novak who retires from the board this month. There are not a lot of words to describe how grateful we are to have had her on the board, and together with her husband Ron as part of our Jewish community. "A groysen dank dir" to you Rose Novak, you're amazing. 
• Isaac Grossman for helping with the Bar Mitzvah services.
• Christine Schuller for helping out with the Gallim event.
• Al Zuckerman, Josh Kleyman, Andy King, Christine Schuller and Andrea Mazer  for serving on the Board of Directors for 5774.

Mazel Tov!

Ben and Aaron Scher attend Mitzvah Day at the nursing home. 

JHJC VOLUNTEERS 

OF THE YEAR 

THE SCHER FAMILY

 for being present at almost every Shabbat and event. Thank you for your support of the JH Jewish Community. Mike Scher will begin a term on the JHJC Board this summer.

• Aaron Trauner for becoming a Bar Mitzvah in June. Mazel Tov! 
• Josh Clemens Zendler for becoming a Bar Mitzvah in June. Mazel Tov!
• Esther Grossman 
  for completing her year abroad in India. It wasn't easy. Kol HaKavod!

Get Well Soon

JHJC President's State of the Congregation Annual Report

Last fiscal year and again this fiscal year, despite the Board's attempt to be very conservative in its spending we again spent more money than we took in through revenue. The conventional wisdom was that because of the recent recession and a lack of aggressive fundraising on the part of the Board we weren't getting as many donations as we used to. We thought we were experiencing the same thing as many other non-profits in the valley and probably around the country were facing.  However, upon a closer look by the Board we have discovered that it wasn't necessarily donations that had dwindled but that the last three years have seen a decline in memberships in the JHJC. We have gone from 86 members in 2010 to 80 members in 2011 to a precipitous drop to 64 members in 2012. From 2011 to 2012 we had 37 members that did not renew for one reason or another. This rather alarming trend is a little baffling as numbers of participants at our cultural events and religious observations have remained the same or have actually increased. It is difficult to pinpoint any one reason for the decline in memberships but one thing is certain. If this trend would continue it would jeopardize the quality programming that the JHJC has been able to provide as a deficit budget for this or any other organization is not sustainable in the long run. Armed with this new information the Board has discussed several actions to deal with continuing annual budget deficits. 

One action is to find places to strategically cut the expense budget including some modest cuts to programming. To this end the board has proposed an annual balanced budget that is $5,000 less than the previous year's budget. The second action is a plan by the board to emphasize membership recruitment. It is hoped that by making careful cuts and reversing the downward trend in memberships that we can balance our budget. We are optimistic that we can accomplish this and thus look forward to another wonderful year filled with rich, thoughtful and entertaining special events and meaningful religious experiences.   

This past year was a good one for the JHJC. Aside from the traditional programming we've had over the years such as Mitzvah Day on Christmas Day, a moving Yom HaShoah observance, the second annual sponsored dinner at the Presbyterian Church and the third annual Jazz Shabbat, we also co-sponsored a Chagall art showing at the Heather James Gallery with the Russian Club, were blessed with having three Bar Mitzvahs in our community, went to a more environmentally friendly and less costly electronic newsletter. The Board held a strategic planning retreat. And of course the biggest news was that we moved into our own space here on Scott Lane. Not only are we paying less for rent but we have the psycological and emotional benefit of being in our own Jewish "home" where we can hold Sabbath services, meetings and Bet Sefer surrounded by symbols of Judaism. 

We are also looking forward to the next year ahead. The Board has been working on a B'nai Mitzvah policy and is almost there. We have submitted an application with WYDOT for a mile section of their Adopt-a-highway program. We should be hearing back from them soon. The section they are looking at assigning us is on the Teton Village Road, #390. We have been truly blessed in recent years with two exceptional Bet Sefer principals, Sydney and mostly recently Eliana. However, now that Eliana is moving on the Board has been and is continuing to search for someone to fill that important role.  

Board members and general members alike continue to play a major role in keeping this organization functioning. Members frequently rise to the occasion by freely volunteering for all our activities and generously contributing money, time and in-kind services. We are so lucky to have so many community members pitching in as they are able and in whatever way they can. 

Our Jewish community's children played an increased role in many of our activities this year and their inclusion always made each event even sweeter. They of course were the central figures in the Bet Sefer Shabbous service. They held up their end and the middle too of the Torah when we rolled the scroll at Simchas Torah. They sold Chanukah gelt and made several donations with the proceeds to worthy organizations. They stole the show at the Passover seder with their meaningful messages of the season. 

We continue to be a grassroots organization where we create everything from the ground up using the many talents and resources of our community. We are very lucky in that way as it gives more meaning to everything we do because it is especially characteristic of our unique community.

- b'Shalom

Al Zuckerman

JHJC Board President

Join our 

Minyan Tree

  From time to time the JHJC is contacted to provide a minyan for either a local or visitor wanting to say Kaddish for a loved one who has recently passed away or whose yahrzeit they are observing. 

   Such was the case several weeks ago when a visitor from NY staying at the Village needed a minyan so he could recite Kaddish for his mother. A combined group of his friends, several members of Chabad and several members from our congregation gathered together to form a minyan to help him. 

   The reason I'm mentioning this is that I think it would be a good idea to form a "minyan tree", or a list of congregation members that would be willing to be part of a minyan when it is needed in order for someone to say Kaddish. It is a wonderful mitzvah to be able to help someone in this way. 

   If we had a list of even 15 or 20 congregants  that we could call to see if they are available to help form a minyan it would be of great service to the Jewish community. If you are interested in helping in this way when we are asked to put a minyan together please email or call Mary at the office so she can put your name on the "minyan tree".