Support. The dictionary definition is the supports bear the weight of something or keep it upright. For MoTAS, it is the support of the men of Temple Ahavat Shalom and the larger community that enables us to do what we do. This support comes in many forms:

• Our Annual Appeal (link). This occurs in January, and we’re very pleased at all of you who responded. Even without formal dues, the men of TAS show they value what we do.
• The Golf Tournament (link). The bulk of our support comes from the Golf Tournament. There are many ways for you to support the Golf Tournament, from playing or recruiting players, sponsoring or recruiting sponsors, buying or soliciting ads for the TAS Calendar/Golf program, or getting donations. The Golf Tournament is a wonderful way to bring in support from friends, colleagues, co-workers, and the community.
• Sports Squares (link). The sports squares program is an easy way to fund specific activities of the congregation that might not normally get funded.
• Underwriting Events. Something we haven’t done before — but are seriously considering — is soliciting event sponsors for our “breakeven” activites. Underwriting an event — be it a monthly breakfast, the Pancake Breakfast, a special activities — relieves the cost of that activity and permits any income raised to support MoTAS. Contact the MoTAS President if you would be interested in sponsoring an activity.

Thank you in advance for your support of MoTAS, be it in one (or more) of the ways above, or simply by showing up at an activity or volunteering to help MoTAS.

During the month of August, the MoTAS Leadership will be putting in place the speakers program for 2015-2016. If you are not familiar with our speakers program, this is what is otherwise known as the “MoTAS Monthly Meeting.” In addition to our wonderful breakfast prepared and procured by Steve Zonis, Scott Yollis, Mike Thornhill, and Bob Levine, we usually have a speaker of broad interest. Topics have ranged from temple operations to composting, from the Jewish history of Los Angeles to the probation system. If you haven’t attended our meeting to hear a speaker, you should give it a try. Anyone who is a member of MoTAS (and that means every man in the congregation) is welcome to attend; we often have non-members join us for the speaker as well. Our speaker meetings are typically the second Sunday of the month (unless shifted due to a conflict — thus our first meeting is Sunday September 20 due to Rosh Hashanah). Breakfast is at 8:45am followed by a review of upcoming activities; our speaker starts between 9:45am and 10:00am.

Now that you know what the speakers program is, you can help us plan it. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to have discussed, or have specific speakers you think we should approach, please let us know. Drop a note to president@tasnorthridge-motas.org, or comment on this article. In order for the program to be interesting to all the men of TAS, we really need to know what interests all the men (and not just the leadership).

Watch the MoTAS Weekly, which is also posted to MoTAS Website at www.tasnorthridge-motas.org, for information on our September speaker. The website will also give the full schedule when it is available. We look forward to seeing you at a speakers meeting.