Interestingly, when I googled this quote, "If not now when, If not me, who?" it came up with many authors: Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Andrzej Kolikowsky, and Emma Watson. I do think Hillel was the first and the sentiment is very important, especially in a volunteer organization.
The SOI Board is blessed with many “doers”: many dedicated people knowing we need volunteers to step up now. This was evident in our monthly meeting this past Tuesday night. I tried my best to sum up the meeting into the paragraphs below.
Ritual Committee: We have people who spend hours each week preparing to lein and, Hakarat HaTov, Recognizing the Good, is incredibly important. The Rosh Chodesh Kiddush on March 5 will be partially sponsored by the Ritual Committee to say thank you to the people who lein and lead our services weekly. This is an opportunity for our membership to say thank you and contribute to an appreciation kiddush. Click here to help sponsor the March 5 Rosh Chodesh Kiddush. Thank you to all who participated in the survey. We are in the process of analyzing the data and will publish our Purim plans shortly
Security Committee: Registration is open for our February 27 Community Security Service (CSS) Training on Entry Point evaluations and security. Many of the recommendations made in past trainings have already been implemented, but we need more volunteers to keep up our current level of vigilance. The same six people volunteer every week and we need to add people to the rotation to avoid burnout and spread out the responsibilities. Sam Tilonsky will train any volunteers interested in being Security Greeters and Camera Monitors.
The joint front doors project with the Renovations Committee is well underway, thanks to our current grant from Homeland Security. That same grant will also allow us to update the monitor in the office and install more cameras. The committee will meet later this month to evaluate the needs of SOI and discuss upcoming grant opportunities.
MCAT – Marketing, Communication, Advertising and Technology Committee: If you would like to get more business for your company and support SOI at the same time, place an ad on the SOI website that will reach our Cherry Hill community and beyond. Check out https://www.soicherryhill.org/local-products-services for more info.
Jubilee Gala Committee: Save the date for our Jubilee Gala 2022 on May 23! Vicki Miltz and TL Weinberg, Gala Co-Chairs, are planning an in-person event with multi-access options to provide fun for all ages and Covid-19 comfort levels. To volunteer to help, please contact them at seanweinberg1@gmail.com or vickayvickay@gmail.com .
On February 24, Hannah Farkas, Director of Donor Engagement and Board Liaison for the OU, will give a virtual seminar on fundraising to provide our committees with the best tools to raise money and ensure the future of SOI. If you are interested in participating in this Zoom program, please contact me .
Programming Committee: In an effort to increase registration, and make our Program Chairs’ lives easier, we implemented a Monday mailing with all the weekly events and programming updates. We hope it has helped you keep track of all the amazing programming SOI offers, such as our ongoing weekly learning opportunities and Dore’s Cocktail Party happening this Saturday night. Registrants received supplies on their doorsteps, and I hope you will all raise a glass to my husband, Bob, on his birthday! Due to unforseen circumstances, the Moroccan Cooking/Kitchen Shower needs to be postponed. We look forward to rescheduling this event at a later time.
We don’t just consume calories, we burn them – remember, there is an ongoing Walk-a-thon. Our goal is to get members to start walking or running 50 miles to commemorate our 50 year anniversary of being in Cherry Hill. A chart will be added to our web page so you can see where you stand in achieving your 50 mile goal. Remember, walking to shul counts and some of you have pretty hefty walks weekly. There is also a Middle School Bonfire scheduled for February 26 in the Provda’s backyard.
The floor was opened for new business after the committee updates and the possibility of community Gemachs was raised. Gemach is a portmanteau of gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness) and is a repository of things that people may borrow, both Judaic and everyday items, such as medical supplies, costumes, wheelchairs, props for shtick, vases and center pieces. As an example, we have at least 6 wheelchairs at shul and no place to store them for when our community needs them. If you have the space and willingness to hold a gemach in your home, please let me know. We also discussed Bikor Cholim and that the contact is Janet Miller at 856-667-0860.
The meeting wasn’t just about covering current events; we also discussed the future of SOI. Board Nominations for 2022-23 will be decided next month. If you know of a member in good standing that is willing to attend monthly meetings and join at least one committee, email Eytan Irwin at eytan.irwin@gmail.com. I joined the Board 10 years ago, with no intention of being on the Executive Board, much less THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF SOI, but here we are. Getting involved changed my life and I am so appreciative of my time spent serving our community.
Shabbat Shalom,
Donna Moskowitz
SOI President president@soicherryhill.org
