Dear JCOGS family,
Today is our office administrator Tyler Hall’s last day. On behalf of the board and the entire community I want to thank her for a job well done in a most challenging of times and wish her the best with her future endeavors.
I had wanted to communicate with the JCOGS community in follow-up to my Kol Nidrei address, but that will have to wait for now. Today I want to share with the JCOGS community the administrative issues that we have had over the past couple of months that have impacted many of you and how we are addressing them going forward.
Our bookkeeper, Elisabeth Ortiz, who was also the rabbi’s assistant, gave notice at the beginning of the summer that she could only give us half the time she previously committed to JCOGS. With the High Holy Days approaching, the board had her devote her time to supporting the rabbi with reduced time on finances. I am extremely happy to report that Rabbi David now has in place a new and experienced support person, with dozens of years of experience in synagogue and church executive and administrative leadership. Carol Marshall resides in Western Michigan and will be supporting the rabbi remotely.
Elisabeth has contracted with us extra time to catch up on the financials, promised by the next board meeting on November 4. The JCOGS board sincerely apologizes for the delay in recording checks, membership and pledge notifications, and all other financials. Following that board meeting, we should no longer experience a lag in the administration of our finances.
As an aside as a JCOGS member you have the opportunity to take advantage of a fabulous fuel program through Fred’s Energy.
The JCOGS board is just beginning to recruit a replacement for Tyler. In the interim, the board will be taking JCOGS phone calls, answering mail and emails and doing everything it has to do to keep JCOGS running. If any of you in the JCOGS community can give us time to help the board, it would be so appreciated. Opportunities would be to help around the building (simple maintenance), in the office (clerical), and help out with our weekly emails and website. Lastly, we no longer have a company doing any of our events set up and taking down. This is now on the shoulders of volunteers. We are grateful to our Holy Schleppers who have thus far helped support our events, with more hands needed. Please contact (steven.levine@jcogs.org) to offer your help in any of these areas.
“It takes a village to raise a child”. I say it takes the time and treasure of all JCOGS members to keep the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe thriving and growing. As JCOGS has continued to flourish through the greatest challenge our generation has faced, I know with Rabbi David's leadership, Beth Liberman’s continued focus on families and youth, the strength and commitment of the JCOGS board, and our wonderful congregation, we are in good hands moving forward.
Steve Levine, president
