In This Issue:

1. SIGN UP BY FRIDAY:MRJ MAN OF THE YEAR DINNER HONORING LES BIRKEN ON 3/14
2. SUNDAY, MAR 1: MOTAS TAS PRIDE PROJECT: REPAINTING THE PARKING LOT GATES
3. SUNDAY, MAR 8: MOTAS SERVES LUNCH AT THE TAS PURIM CELEBRATION
4. SUNDAY, MAR 29: MOTAS GROUP SEDER 5PM
5. MARCH MADNESS NCAA SQUARES CONTEST
6. THURSDAY, APRIL 2: MOTAS HELPS THE SISTERHOOD SEDER
7. SUNDAY APRIL 19: MEN’S ONLY DISCUSSION GROUP
8. ONGOING: OUR ANNUAL APPEAL FOR MOTAS AND TAS PRIDE
9. FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
10. IN CLOSING

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1. SIGN UP BY FRIDAY:MRJ MAN OF THE YEAR DINNER HONORING LES BIRKEN ON 3/14

Once a year MoTAS attends the Men of Reform Judaism Man of the Year dinner. This year our honoree is Les Birken. He may be quiet but everyone knows and respects Les for all he does for MoTAS and TAS. We usually fill 2-3 tables and you and whomever you want to bring with you are invited to attend this special dinner and award presentation. You will even get to hear Les give his first formal speech since his wedding vows, all two minutes of it. RSVP and join the convoy of well-wishers to Santa Ana. RSVP online and mail or somehow get to Roger a check for $40, or pay online ($42 per person) at https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/20-03-moy-dinner/ by Friday Feb 28.

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2. SUNDAY, MAR 1: MOTAS TAS PRIDE PROJECT: REPAINTING THE PARKING LOT GATES

If the weather is not raining, hailing or sleeting, we will be delivering the male(s) and repainting the parking lot gates and surrounding fencing. Show up at 1pm with clothing you are not afraid will become black. Bring gloves or you will have some explaining to do for a couple of weeks. Hopefully, you will get more paint on the fence than your clothes. Let us know also if you can help prepare the fence for painting a few days before.

Please let us know if:

1. You will be there with us?
2. You have weekday time to help prepare?

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3. SUNDAY, MAR 8: MOTAS SERVES LUNCH AT THE TAS PURIM CELEBRATION

Join us for our monthly meeting in the social hall at 8:45 am. We will serve a light snack and have a short agenda. Then we will prepare the historic Purim meal of hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza, just as described in the Megillah. Esther of course went for the Veggie Burger. We need at least 12 guys to cook for and serve our religious school kids, their parents and the rest of the temple party-goers. MoTAS has agreed to donate the food to help the temple. We will also need a couple of guys to help with the shopping a few days before. We will send you home before 2.

Please let us know if:

1. You will be there with us?
2. You have time to help shop for the food on a weekday

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4. SUNDAY, MAR 29: MOTAS GROUP SEDER 5P

The Men of TAS will enjoy our Men’s Seder at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village along with their Men’s Club and the Men’s Club from Temple Judea. The short service will be led by the TBH Cantor and their Men’s Club president. Come enjoy good food and great company. The cost will be $25 per person, and we’ll be getting a RSVP/pay online page up as soon as we finish coordinating the details with Beth Hillel.

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5. MARCH MADNESS NCAA SQUARES CONTEST

Whether or not you are a college basketball fan for the NCAA Men’s or Women’s contests, MoTAS provides a means for you to make big money and help MoTAS help the Temple. Your $36 donation will give you 12 chances to win, up to $150 for each half of the Men’s and Women’s semifinal and final games. Each person can buy up to three spaces. To get all the information, go to http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ where you’ll find the instructions, a sign-up form you can print, and a link if you wish to order your spaces online. Contact Bob Levine at tasboblevine@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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6. THURSDAY, APRIL 2: MOTAS HELPS THE SISTERHOOD SEDER

MoTAS has offered to help Sisterhood defray the costs of their annual seder by helping serve the meal. Their seder is extremely popular. Many of your wives will be there so you have nowhere else you need to be and you don’t want to get into trouble when she sees everyone else’s husband there. We need eight guys to help serve the buffet main entrees, pour and serve the matzah ball soup to the tables, and put out the desert. No cleaning up! We’ll start at 6:30 and be out by 9. We will even be sharing the delicious meal for free. Please contact Howard at president@tasnorthridge-motas.org if you will be able to help.

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7. SUNDAY APRIL 19: MEN’S ONLY DISCUSSION GROUP

Our Men’s Only Discussion groups provide a forum for discussing men’s issues in an environment where what is said in the room, stays in the room. It is your opportunity to discuss important topics with your peers. Dinner will be served at a cost of $12. RSVP to Bob Levine at tasboblevine@gmail.com. He will also be glad to answer any question you might have regarding the event.

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8. ONGOING: OUR ANNUAL APPEAL FOR MOTAS AND TAS PRIDE

Our annual operating budget depends on the generous contributions of our temple members. We use the funds to run our organization, support the ECEC and Religious School, and the Temple. In combination with our other fundraising activities, we support the costs of Camperships, the Avodah Program, the free pancake breakfast, Confirmation L’Taken, and many more activities and benefits that are not part of the Temple budget. If you would like to help us, visit support.tasnorthridge-motas.org. Let’s show that 100% of our active members participate, even if it is just for $18.

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9. FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Date: Sunday, February 9, 2020

Presiding: President Howard Miller

Present: Howard Miller (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Karen Davis (Guest), Daniel Faigin (Past President), Bob Levine, Ellen Lowe (Guest), Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Barry Mann, William Moalem, Larry Pfefer (VP), Kathy Pullman (Guest), Russ Rapoport (VP), Mike Rayfield, Bill Shapiro, Bernie Singer, Sandy Stern, Scott Yollis

President’s Report: Howard thanked Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Mike Rayfield and Scott Yollis for setting up the food for today’s meeting.

Howard has appointed a Nominating Committee for 2020-21, with Bob Levine as chair. Members are Daniel Faigin, Russ Rapoport and Ben Tenn.

Treasurer’s Report, as of 02/05/20:

• Expenses:
  • ECEC playroom carpeting: $343
  • Support for Feb 22 Cantor’s Concert: $200
• Pending Expenditure(s):
  • Sports Squares grant for lighting upgrades not covered by DWP: $1,500
  • Increasing bandwidth and additional projects TBD: $5,000
• Proposed Sports Squares Grant for ECEC & Religious School Kitchen:
  • New flooring, installation of an oven
• Income:
  • 2020 MoTAS Annual Appeal: Income $1,152, Printing & Postage <$188>, Net $964
  • Jan 21 Rosie’s BBQ: Payment pending
• Sports Squares:
  • Prior Years Sports Squares funds: $6,941
  • 2019 Football Squares: Income $5,000, Winners Paid Out <$1,920>=Net $3,080 (Net includes one winner who returned their $75 prize plus a $5 donation)
  • 2020 Super Bowl: Income $2,296 (includes $100 remaining from 2019), Winner Payout <$1,151>=Net $1,145. One winner returned a substantial portion of their winnings to the temple.
  • 2020 March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament: Income $18, Winner Payout <$0>=Net $18
  • Total Sports Squares Funds Available for Distribution: $11,184

MoTAS Annual Appeal: A mailing has gone out to congregants for this major fundraiser. All adult male members of TAS are also members of MoTAS, for which there are no annual dues. In combination with our other fundraising activities, MoTAS supports the costs of Camperships, the Avodah Program, a free pancake breakfast at the opening of school, the L’Taken Social Justice Initiative for the Confirmation class, and many additional programs that are not part of the Temple budget. Checks can be mailed to the temple or online donations made through support.tasnorthridge-motas.org.

Tu B’Shevat Seder for Religious School, Sunday, February 9: As in past years, MoTAS volunteers will assist.

Dining Does Good, Tuesday, Feb. 25 will take place at Chi Chi’s Pizza, 9080 Tampa Ave. in Northridge. A portion of each check goes to MoTAS. Patrons are required to present a flyer, which is available at the temple or which they can download and print from https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/dining/ on the MoTAS website.

Rinaldi Place Fence Painting: Sunday, March 1, from 1-3:30 pm. William Moalem is the organizer. Volunteers were asked to sign up.

Purim Carnival, Sunday, March 8: The annual Purim Carnival will take place at TAS. Children will eat for free, while adults will be charged $5 for food. Howard moved and Barry Mann seconded a motion to have MoTAS provide the food. The motion carried unanimously. About 150 people are expected to attend the carnival. MoTAS volunteers, led by Scott Yollis, will prepare and serve hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and beverages. A sign-up sheet for volunteers was circulated.

MRJ Men of the Year Dinner, Saturday Evening, March 14: The banquet will be held at Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Ana, during which MoTAS Man of the Year, Les Birken, and honorees from other Reform congregations in Southern California will be feted. Carpools will be arranged. RSVP by Friday, Feb 28. Send $40 payable to MoTAS to Roger Lowe. Alternatively, the price per person if reserved online is $42, with payment submitted at https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/20-03-moy-dinner/ .

Joint Seder with the Men of Temple Beth Hillel and Temple Judea, Sunday, March 29, at 5 pm: This year’s Seder with take place at TBH in Valley Village. The service will be conducted by the TBH cantor and their Men’s Club president. Cost is $25. Daniel Faigin is the MoTAS organizer. An RSVP/online payment page will be posted once final arrangements with TBH have been made.

March Madness NCAA Squares Contest: Whether or not you are a college basketball fan of the NCAA Men’s or Women’s contests, MoTAS provides a means for you to make big money and help MoTAS help the Temple. Your $36 donation will give you 12 chances to win, up to $150 for each half of the Men’s and Women’s semifinal and final games. Each person can buy up to three spaces. To get all the information, go to http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ where you’ll find instructions, a sign-up form you can print, and a link if you wish to order your spaces online. Contact Bob Levine at tasboblevine@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Sisterhood Seder, Thursday, April 2: MoTAS has offered to help Sisterhood defray the cost of their annual Seder by helping serve the meal. The Seder is extremely popular. We need eight men to help serve the buffet main entrees, pour and serve-matzah ball soup at the tables, and put out the dessert. No cleaning up! We’ll start at 6:30 and be out by 9. We’ll even be sharing the delicious meal for free. Contact Howard at president@tasnorthridge-motas.org if you are able to help.

Men’s Only Discussion, Sunday, April 19. Men’s only discussion groups provide a forum for discussing men’s issues in a friendly and supportive environment where what is said in the room, stays in the room. It is MoTAS members’ opportunity to air important topics with their peers. Dinner will be served at a cost of $12. RSVP to Bob Levine at tasboblevine@gmail.com . He will also be glad to answer any questions MoTAS members might have about the event.

MRJ National Convention, June 25-28, 2020: The annual meeting will take place at Temple Shalom in Dallas. Brian Hatkoff, MRJ VP and long-time MoTAS member, is encouraging the men of TAS to attend the convention. Further information is available at https://menrj.org/.

Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next meeting will take place at TAS on Sunday, March 8, 2020, at 8:45 am. This will be an abbreviated meeting due to the Purim Carnival taking place the same day.

Respectfully submitted,
Hal Bass/Secretary

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IN CLOSING

As always, remember that the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom is *your* organization. Keep up to date on our activities at http://www.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ and participate. Sign up for our action alert list at http://tinyurl.com/motas-action-alert. We want to serve all the men of Temple Ahavat Shalom and welcome new participants from the TAS membership. Join our Facebook group and “follow” our website. Come be part of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom!

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