In This Issue:
- SUNDAY, MAR 29: MOTAS GROUP SEDER 5PM (SIGN UP NOW)
- MARCH MADNESS NCAA SQUARES CONTEST
- THURSDAY, APRIL 2: MOTAS HELPS THE SISTERHOOD SEDER
- SUNDAY, APRIL 5: CANDLE PACKING MEMBERSHIP MEETING
- SUNDAY APRIL 19: MEN’S ONLY DISCUSSION GROUP
- ONGOING: OUR ANNUAL APPEAL FOR MOTAS AND TAS PRIDE
- MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
- IN CLOSING
1. SUNDAY, MAR 29: MOTAS GROUP SEDER 5PM (SIGN UP NOW)
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.
We’ve set up a site where you can sign up online. You can either just RSVP and get your check for $25 to Roger by the event, or you can pay online. If you pay online, the cost is $27 plus the TicketLeap fee — that $2 covers the PayPal Credit Card fees, and ensures that we don’t lose money on online payments. Your choice: write a check, or have the convenience of online payment. Reservations are due by Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 6PM.
The online registration page is https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/20-03-seder/ , or you can just visit seder.tasnorthridge-motas.org.
2. 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. Registration closes Wednesday, April 1, 2020, unless otherwise announced.
3. 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.
4. SUNDAY, APRIL 5: CANDLE PACKING MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Due to the fact that the Temple will be closed on our normal April meeting date. we’re moving the meeting to the first Sunday of each month: April 5. After our usual scrumptious breakfast at 845am, we’ll be having a short business meeting where the slate of candidates for our May elections will be announced. If you are interested in running for MoTAS office, please contact the chair of our nominating committee, Bob Levine (tasboblevine@gmail.com). After our business is done, it will be time to pack the Yom HaShoah candles. This is always a fun meeting while we schmooze, fold boxes, schmooze, stuff candles, schmmoze, wrap inserts, schmooze, apply labels, schmooze, and put everything in zip code order. We need your help to get this done smoothly.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020
Presiding: President Howard Miller
Present: Howard Miller (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Jim Elbinger, Daniel Faigin (Past President), Ken Feldman, Al Lapides, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), William Moalem, Chuck Mondrus, Larry Pfefer (VP), Mike Rayfield, Bill Shapiro, Bernie Singer, Alan Stepakoff, Mike Thornhill, Ken Wolf, Scott Yollis
President’s Report: Howard thanked Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Mike Thornhill and Scott Yollis for arranging the food for today’s meeting.
The Nominating Committee for selecting 2020-21 officers is chaired by Bob Levine. Members are Daniel Faigin, Russ Rapoport and Ben Tenn. The committee will make its recommendations at the April 12 MoTAS meeting. Howard asked that any member who wishes to help provide future leadership contact Bob.
Howard expressed appreciation to William Moalem for arranging painting of the entry and exit gates on March 1, and to Doug Gee for supplying the paint, brushes and rollers. The painting crew consisted of Les Birken, Yale Doberne, Roger Lowe, Howard Miller, Mike Rayfield, Bill Shapiro and Scott Yollis.
Howard said he was excited about Rabbi Becky Hoffman’s being offered the position as our senior rabbi starting July 1. She brings many strengths that should appeal to congregants of all ages.
Treasurer’s Report, as of 03/05/20:
- Expenses:
- February 9 Tu B’Shevat Seder: $72
- Additional support for Feb 22 Cantor’s Concert: $300 ($500 in total)
- March 1 entry gate painting: $22
- March 8 Purim Carnival food: $400
- ECEC Luncheon support: $300 (Sports Squares grant)
- 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 to Date $4,678 (46 donations), 2020 Pride Appeal $1,320, Printing & Postage <$195>, Net $5,803
- Jan 21 Dining Does Good at Rosie’s BBQ: $78
- Feb 25 Dining Does Good at Chi Chi’s Pizza: Pending
- Sports Squares:
- Prior Years Sports Squares funds: $6,641
- 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 $760, Winner Payout <$0>=Net $760
- Total Sports Squares Funds Available for Distribution: $11,626
MoTAS Annual Appeal: A mailing went 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 conjunction 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.
Purim Carnival, Sunday, March 8, at TAS: About 150 people are expected to attend the carnival. MoTAS has donated the food, for which Howard thanked Shelly Garelik, Bob Levine and Kathy Pullman for shopping. MoTAS told the temple there was no need to charge anyone for food as the MoTAS goal was to encourage more member participation. MoTAS volunteers, led by Scott Yollis, will prepare and serve hot dogs; beef, turkey and vegetable-based hamburgers; water and soft drinks.
MRJ Men of the Year Dinner, Saturday Evening, March 14, at 6 pm: The banquet will be held at Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Ana, during which our MoTAS Man of the Year Les Birken and honorees from other Reform congregations in Southern California will be feted. Twenty-five men and women from TAS will be in attendance, enough to fill three tables.
Joint Seder with the Men of Temple Beth Hillel and Temple Judea, Sunday, March 29, at 5 pm: The 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 in mid-week but checks payable to MoTAS can be provided to Roger Lowe up to the evening of the Seder.
March Madness NCAA Squares Contest: Whether or not you follow NCAA men’s or women’s basketball, 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 purchase up to three spaces. Go to http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ where you’ll find instructions, a printable sign-up form, 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 and is completely sold-out. We need eight men to help serve the buffet main entrees, pour and serve matzah-ball soup at the tables, and put out 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, 6 pm. 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 . Bob will also be glad to answer any questions 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/.
Poker Tournament, Sunday evening, October 25: Howard announced the date of this year’s poker tournament, which will again be held at TAS.
Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next meeting will take place at TAS on Sunday, April 12, 2020, at 8:45 am. [Editor’s Note: As the Temple is closed on April 12, we’re moving the date up one week to April 5] Nominations for 2020-21 MoTAS officers will be announced on April 12 [5] and candle-packing for Yom HaShoah will take place.
Respectfully submitted,
Hal Bass/Secretary
Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom 