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Save the Date:

2011 NATA Conference

December 11-14

(New:  Sunday to Wednesday)

Westin Alexandria

Alexandria, VA

Registration Fee Estimates are:  $550 subsidized/$650 actual cost. The hotel Rate: $150 + tax

Details on pre-payments in May to follow!

NATA E-Exchange Committee

A Note From NATA President 

LIVIA D. THOMPSON, FTA   

In early March the NATA Board gathered for its mid-year meeting.  While we had time to enjoy being together and the beauty of the California coastline, we were focused on a series of conversations about the future of our role as executive directors, our organization and our movement.  More about that below!  In addition, we celebrated with Serane Blatt who is retiring after 19 years as the Executive Director  of North Shore Congregation  Israel (Glencoe, IL) and with Loree Resnik who is retiring after 33 years at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami (Cleveland, OH).  They spoke to us about their experiences as executive directors, from their early days in the field to the present. They challenged us to look to the future and think about what skills we would need going forward and what the role of the Executive Directors could be in the years to come. 

We had the opportunity to hear from Rabbi Danny Freelander, Senior Vice President of  the URJ, about what is happening within the URJ.  He described organizational and structural change that included a re-balancing of lay/staff relationships, the introduction of newly-formed  work  areas that are absorbing departments and commissions,  and a changing staff and lay leadership within the URJ.  While there is some confusion and conflict associated with the ongoing efforts to make the URJ more focused and more productive, Danny also spoke about the good work that the URJ is doing.  Danny suggested that NATA  and our colleagues individually could serve a pivotal role in helping the URJ support congregations in need of consulting help and expertise.

Dale Glasser, Senior Congregational Consultant, and Rabbi David Fine, Senior Consultant, Congregational Systems, led us through a fascinating two days of discussion about the synagogue of tomorrow and about our role in supporting, visioning and being change agents for our own communities (see photos and article below).   

We also had a chance to talk about the impact of the ongoing conversations among the URJ, HUC and CCAR, and others, about the Reform movement and its future.  We are aware that questions are being asked as to the purpose of each of these institutions, what their political/organizational relationship ought to be, and who (if any) should and does speak for the broader Reform movement.  We recognize that, with Rabbi Yoffie 's retirement and a new president just being announced, now is a time of  opportunity and challenge  for the URJ.  URJ chair Peter Weidhorn's  final term is another major transition. 

You may be aware of publicity about a group of 17 rabbis who have formed a Rabbinic Visioning Initiative ("RVI")  outside of the purview of any of the national organizations to urge  the Reform movement and its organizations to think in different ways. This group will be speaking with its rabbinic colleagues at the CCAR meeting at their convention.  It is not clear what the results of that meeting will be, but the RVI's presence (whether you see it as a positive or negative entity) has had an effect.   Indeed, leaders of the URJ, HUC and the CCAR have all met with RVI representatives to hear their suggestions and concerns.   The NATA Board received a letter from the RVI explaining their work and it was reviewed  at an executive session of the Board.  We also discussed and agreed that we should continue to support the congregational work that the URJ has asked us to do, and to be a positive presence in as many conversations as possible. 

Of course, we also conducted the business of NATA, reviewing our sound finances and investments, talking about our upcoming DC conference (Dec. 11-14, 2011) and thinking about other educational opportunities.  A few other initiatives include: 

1. An effort, chaired by Ruth Cohen, to coordinate all of our communications along with  educational programming;

2. A new look at how we are serving our members outside of formal educational programming--should we, can we do more;

3. We reviewed our strategic plan, facilitated by Jeanne Kort Adler who chaired the committee, and pushed forward with a plan for the next three years (more about this in the months ahead).   

We are also kicking off a new leadership development cycle.  This  will include inviting a  few NATA members to join the officers in Chicago for part of the officers' summer meeting and perhaps a larger gathering of potential leaders during the DC conference in December.   

We are honored to serve as NATA's leaders, and take seriously the responsibility to support our members with educational opportunities and community support, to enhance our profession, and to work on behalf of the Reform movement. 

I am happy to answer any specific questions that you have.  Wishing you all the very best for a wonderful Passover. 

Livia
livia@censyn.org
212-838-9385 

Envisioning the Synagogue of the Future and More!

At the NATA Board meeting in early March, URJ staff members Dale Glasser and Rabbi David Fine led the NATA Board through two sessions entitled Contemplating Organizational Change and NATA Members' Roles in Creating and Sustaining the Congregation of the Future. The sessions were designed to explore ideas about organizational exchange framed in Jewish values and through the congregational lens; to consider some current trends in congregational life which may provide a window into the future; and to help board members become familiar with tools to assess their congregation's readiness for change and their own role as a change agent. The interactive sessions included text study, a look at some change literature, the creation of a past, present and future 'temple timeline' and the opportunity to  use the information discussed as background for visioning and building the congregation of the future.

Below you will find results from two of the working groups that illustrated their synagogues of the future.

TEMPLE BETH NATA - Entry #1

Newspaper headline:  Temple Beth NATA - It's all about being a community.

Temple Beth NATA was created to be your spiritual home away from home.  With Torah at the center of our lives, we are a synagogue where individuals make a difference, lives are transformed and Jewish ideals are turned into action.  Our members come from all walks of life.  We welcome Jewish singles and single parents, Jewish students, non-Jewish spouses and partners, Jews of color, LGBTQ and Jewish families committed to having a Jewish home and to raising their children as Jews.  Our programs are designed to meet the diverse spiritual, religious, educational and social needs of our members.  There are many ways to bet involved and become connected with our congregational family.

Our model depicts our "spiritual home away from home."  We start with a Jewish star with a torah at the center.  The torah is supported by a clay heart.  Our Jewish star has the following words: connections, justice, education, worship, Jewish values, tradition, nurturing, Israel, ruach and community.  We have a mezuzah on our door.  We have many people connected in many ways atop the Torah and heart.  We are a business with a Jewish heart - Jewish values are at the core of our operations.  We also have a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee - Jews love to gather, and Jews gather well with an Oneg and opportunity to share a meal, in or out of the Temple, in people's homes and around the community. It is not about the building, it is about the people and the community.

TEMPLE BETH NATA - Entry #2

Congregation NATA:  A Community of Communities 

CoC strives to create village niches in order to connect our congregants by interests and family dynamics; congregants not only gathering at the temple but in the community.  In the last several years we have down sized our staff and trained our lay leadership to form task forces of their own to find out more about our congregants.  These task forces serve to create, enhance and build on our "villages".  Congregants can come to the temple for pastoral care, education opportunities and life-cycle events.  Our education classes have changed to a camp/university model.  The elective curriculum creates an informal and fun environment. 

NATA Finances - A Mid Year Update

by Joe Elbaum and Rick Rosenberg

A report on NATA finances was presented at the March Board Meeting by Treasurer Joe Elbaum and Assistant Treasurer Rick Rosenberg.  Joe reported that our finances were very sound to a great extent due to the success of the Portland Conference which generated higher revenue than expected (over budget buy $28K) and lower (below budget by $39K) than budgeted Conference expenses.   We can thank our Association Manager, Kathy Small, and the Conference Committee for the great job they did managing the Conference.  This performance helped offset the lower than expected dues revenue (below budget by $20K) for the current year.

Looking at the remainder of the budget there are a few areas, such as I/T & Internet expense where we have exceeded the budget (over by $2.8K) necessary to implement our new website.  In addition, we exceeded the budget for board meetings by $12K and are tightening our planning and management of board meetings going forward.  We are running under on Legal and Professional fees.  The remainder of our revenue and expenses are in-line with the budget. Overall, we expect to come in at or below budget for the full year barring no unanticipated expenses. 

Regarding other financial matters, we have engaged a bookkeeping firm to help manage our accounts payables and financial reporting.  Strict controls are in place to monitor check requests and check generation and the expense is well within what was budgeted for this assistance.

Stone Carlie, NATA's external auditing firm, is in the process of completing Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for June 2010. They have filed the necessary documents to extend the deadline to complete this Form as they research certain matters and complete the work. Stone Carlie is researching the fact that as a 501c(3) organization and an integrated auxiliary of a group of "Churches", NATA may not be required to file Form 990 in the future. 

NATA's restricted fund balances and funds in excess of operating requirements are invested primarily with the Reform Pension Board (RPB) and there is a modest investment in Israel Bonds. General market conditions have been strong the past year and NATAs investments have increased. The investments are up 11.4% from July 2010 through the end of January 2011. This is a very positive position and, additionally, it does not adjust for a transfer of funds to operations when an old bank savings account was closed during the year. NATAs RPB investments were rebalanced in December 2010 in accordance with the Investment Policy. Equity funds account for 51% and fixed income investments account for 49% of the total investments. This is within NATA's Investment Policy requirements.  

MAZEL TOV TO:  Edward Alpert, FTA on the new Edward M. Alpert, FTA Scholarship Fund established in recognition of his exceptional service to NATA. Contributors include: Am Shalom Congregation and Staff, Larry Glickman, Jeff Herzog, FTA,  Rick Rosenberg, Jr., Janice Rosenblatt, FTA, Robin Rubin, Nancy Schneider, Carolyn Shane, Marc Swatez, FTA, Livia Thompson, FTA, and Diane Wiener.

WITH APPRECIATION to the following members who made contributions to the NATA Tribute Fund:  Leon Silverberg, Joyce Sturm; Mark Swatez, FTA, and Livia Thompson, FTA.  

Tributes may be sent to:

NATA

P.O. Box 936

Ridgefield, WA 98642

NATA Tribute Account: 
It is simple to set-up a NATA Tribute Account!  Simply send a check in the amount of $180 for 10 Tributes to the NATA Office.  Once your account is set-up, simply call or e-mail the NATA Office and request a tribute be sent from your account.

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)