| Renew Your Dues for 2010/2011 Now! |  | |
You may now begin to renew your NATA dues if you wish to pay them out of your 2009/2010 Budget.
NATA dues will not increase, and remain the same as in previous years.
Simply log into:
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
EDWARD M. ALPERT, FTA
A Community Is Too Heavy for Anyone To Carry Alone
-- Deuteronomy Rabbah 1 - 10
One of the wonderful things I have discovered during the past few years is the incredible power of individuals who choose to come together and work for the betterment of the community. The past three years have brought enormous financial pressures to each of our congregations and to the Reform movement as a whole. In my congregation, the challenges have been many. I am proud that both the professional and lay leadership have worked hard, hand in hand, to support each other during these difficult times. I feel the same way about NATA. Your leadership has reached out to all of you via membership phone calls and by offering scholarship opportunities to attend the upcoming Portland Conference. As we learn in Deuteronomy when we pull together and look out for each other, our community is indeed enhanced and enriched.
It is with this in mind I am so pleased to announce a historic meeting that will take place in New York in July. The idea for this meeting really came from NATA and we have been serving as the arranger/facilitator to insure that this meeting takes place. On Friday, July 9, 2010, the first meeting of the new URJ "Professional Advisory Council" will take place at Central Synagogue in New York. NATA will be represented at this meeting by its Officers and Association Manager, Kathy Small. In addition, there will be representatives attending from the URJ (both from the professional and lay side), Early Childhood Educators, NATE and the ACC. This meeting of many of the major partners of the URJ will serve to break down some of the "silos" that have existed in the past and enable us to find ways to collectively better support our movement. We will spend time learning the challenges facing our partners, find out about strategic plans they may be working on, and most important spend time talking about how we can support each other going forward. The Professional Advisory Council in the future may meet in person once or twice a year and in addition have periodic conference calls. Each partner, in the future, will be represented by two individuals, determination of which will be decided at the upcoming meeting. How gratifying it is to know that most of the major URJ partners will be coming together to help strengthen each other and the greater Reform Movement.
L'Shalom
Ed Alpert, FTA |
ARZA: Our Reform Movement's Connection to Israel
Each of us is now involved in thinking about whether or not we are increasing dues for next year, how to transmit that information and working toward closing the books on FY 2009-2010. Soon, your staff will be preparing your billing statements for the next year which might include ARZA dues. ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America and a URJ affiliate is our organization that works to connect your congregants more strongly to Israel, helps to build Reform Judaism with the IMPJ and its congregations in Israel, works to advocate vocally and legally for religious pluralism in Israel with IRAC and is our movement's resource for information about Israel. As a new Vice President of ARZA and its Membership Chairperson, I am counting on you to be our advocate in the congregations. In many ways, we know we are the gatekeepers and this is one of them. So I want to remind you that this is the perfect time to remind your congregants to join ARZA.
For those congregations on "Check-off" (you already include ARZA on your billing statements), please contact ARZA's Director of Administration, Jennifer Knobe to request the number of ARZA fliers/stuffers you need for distribution to your congregants with your ARZA billing. Also, if your congregation has not yet sent in their members' 2009-2010 dues, it would be much appreciated if that could be taken care of in the next couple of weeks.
If you are not a "Check-Off" congregation, we will be happy to send you stuffers to include in your mailing so that you can encourage members to join on-line.
We know that a note from your lay leadership and/or clergy encouraging membership greatly influences participation. You can work to make this happen. This link, How to Conduct an ARZA Membership Drive has terrific resources to help you write such a letter and inform your congregants about ARZA.
Of course, feel free to contact me by email or call 216-991-0700 (ext. 103) or ARZA's national office in NY by email or call 212-650-4280 if you have any questions.
As I prepare to leave for Israel as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress from ARZA, I know what a strong stance we will take to support funding and other issues for Reform Jews. This only happens because of our ARZA membership. The mission is important, the time is now and you, your congregation's Executive Director or Administrator, can make a real difference. I'm counting on you.
L'Shalom,
Loree B. Resnik, FTA
NATA Immediate Past President
ARZA Vice President
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New NATA Member You Should Know
Carol Frank Sleeper
Temple Beth Am in Jupiter, Florida
I am married to Forrest and we live in Jupiter, Florida. I have a son Eric who just received his MBA and is getting married in January 2011. I also have two step children Susan and Brady who are both married and have  given me 3 beautiful grandchildren. My best friend is also my twin sister who lives about a mile away.
Favorite Food: Depends on the day, pizza, burgers, French fries
Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams
What do you hope to get out of NATA? A chance to find out how other temple administrators deal with certain situations. To be able to share my expertise and to learn from others in the same field.
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New NATA Member You Should Know
Jaimee Gold
Or Chadash - The Reform Temple of Hunterdon County
Flemington, NJ
I am new to the world of temple administration, so this has been a wonderful and challenging learning experience for me since starting in January. I live in Phillipsburg, NJ with my husband, two Pomeranians, 18 month old son and a second baby boy on the way, I am due August 4th but am hoping he comes mid-July. No name for the new baby yet, we can't decide. I love watching all kinds of movies, taking photos and spending time with friends and family when not working.
Favorite Food: Stuffed Mushrooms
Favorite Movie: Too many to list, favorite genre is romantic comedy.
What do you hope to get out of NATA? I hope to be able to use NATA as a resource for questions and guidance for me, as I mentioned before, I am new to the world of temple administration, so I will need all the help I can get!
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New NATA Member You Should Know
Floy Work
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, Charleston, SC
Floy is a Unitarian Universalist with decades of nonprofit management experience and 12 years as a business consultant. She is the proud mother of three remarkable adults (one nationally board certified teacher, one oncology nurse and one customer service representative) and three amazing grandchildren who are aging much too quickly. Her first challenge as KKBE's  Temple Administrator was to successfully complete a conversion class to deepen her knowledge of Reform Judaism. She didn't convert, but she learned a great deal. Floy loves to travel, read, play with pastels, hang with her friends and enjoy the City of Charleston.
Favorite Food: Chocolate
Favorite Movie: Out of Africa
What do you hope to get out of NATA? Sage advice from my colleagues, ideas of how to manage a synagogue with efficiency AND joy.
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The 2010 NATA Convention Goes West!
In jus t under 5 months, NATA will be traveling to "The City of Roses," better known to all of us as Portland, Oregon for our 2010 NATA Convention, October 23-27. There, we will be staying at The Nines, a luxury collection hotel, which is famous for its eye-catching décor and stupendous service. While learning about "Transformational Leadership," we will have the opportunity to explore the city around us.
Early registration opens on June 7th. The cost is $550 (subsidized) or $650 (unsubsidized) until October 1st. Late registration runs through October 8 and is $675. Go to the NATA Website starting June 7th to register.
Fly into Portland International Airport (PDX) and make your hotel reservations online: Nines Hotel Reservations or by calling 877-229-9995.
Convention chairs Ellen Franklin and Marc Swatez are sure to show you a fabulous time all while learning and worship together. Throughout the coming months, we will provide you with a full listing of the educational opportunities including speakers and topics as well as a schedule for the week.
So, join us as in the only city where people are banned from whistling underwater and you cannot use canned corn for fish bait. And join me over the coming weeks as I share with you several other Portland FUN Facts.
- Renee Higer
For more information, contact the Conference Chairs, Ellen Franklin or Marc Swatez, or Kathy in the NATA office.
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Welcome New NATA Members!
We are pleased to introduce the following new members to NATA:
Pamela Kutner, Congregation Emanu-El, Houston, TX
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Member News and Tributes
MAZAL TOV TO: Dale Glasser on receiving his honorary Ph.D.;
SPEEDY RECOVERY TO: Larry Broder who is recovering from back surgery;
With APPRECIATION to the following members who made contributions to the NATA Tribute Fund:
Edward Alpert, FTA; Pat Blau; Jeff Herzog, FTA; Terry Taubman, FTA; and Karen Walanka.
The following members set-up a new Tribute Account:
Michael Liepman; Diane Wiener and Karen Walanka.
You, too, can set-up a Tribute Account by sending $180 for 10 Tributes to the NATA Office. The address is below. Once your account is set-up, simply call or e-mail the NATA Office and request a tribute be sent from your account. |
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NATA - P.O. Box 936, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Email: nataoffice@natanet.org
Website: www.natanet.org
Ph: 1-800-966-NATA / (360) 887-0464 (outside the US) | |
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