These notes were taken by Monica Cellio, an observer from the congregation. They are not official minutes. Statements that are not in quotes are paraphrases of what I heard, not exact words. If you believe I have incorrectly characterized something you said, please contact me so we can address it. My goal is to be accurate, transparent, and dispassionate.
Editorial notes (like this paragraph) are in italics.
The first order of business was the budget for the coming year. I have slides but did not take detailed notes on that part. These notes skip ahead to the merger discussion.
President: a draft of the "brit" (term sheet) was sent to the board last week. A final version was sent this afternoon, along with a draft resolution. The congregation needs to see the board as united; please support this.
The vote will be held on June 8. The meeting will open at noon (maybe we'll have a lunch before), and will stay open until 7PM to allow everyone time to come vote. The meeting will begin with a presentation from the steering committee and then there will be discussion questions. Voting will be in person and we will permit voting on Zoom. The vote will require a simple majority.
Another member of the steering committee said that (for the in-person votes) there will be "some sort of written ballot".
A board member: we were told it would be at least a 2/3 vote. President: State law and our bylaws require simple majority. Editorial note: someone in the room disputed the bylaws claim; no response.
A board member: two things: 1. The Shared Service Agreement (SSA) is nebulous. What do we gain from it? 2. We have not discussed the worst case: we join Rodef, we lose 20% of our members to Beth Shalom, we lose key people whose values are important to Temple Sinai. I am not willing to lose those people. We're guests at Rodef not true partners, and contributing to the decline of our Jewish neighborhood. I will vote no.
An officer: SSA takes effect only if both congregations vote yes. A board member: not clear in the term sheet. Officer: Intent is that SSA triggers only if we merge; it's about two businesses working together during the transition. Brit would be signed June 9. If Rodef then walks away, they still get clergy support from us for two years but not staff support. There is no clergy commitment before June 8.
Q: What are the duties of the management committee? It's a joint executive committee: coordination role, resolve operational questions, bridge between boards.
A board member: the agreement covers security at Rodef's building but we need it at ours too until everything is done. Officer: The brit is long-term language. Different officer: Transition budget will have this.
A board member: shouldn't Rabbi Freedman's commitment [to support us through the school] be part of the SSA too? Rodef needs to make commitments too. Officer: could, no one asked. Board member: do we get any say in the contents of the SSA? Officer: not usually but could discuss. Board member: we have fiduciary duties to Temple Sinai. President: we'll discuss concepts of the plan, but it has confidental personnel info so not public.
Officer: an agreement is required for financial protection. We need to write it. Term sheet got much longer than expected so don't have SSA yet -- need to iron it out, will pull from term sheet. Rabbi, cantor, and executive director need to agree; we can't bind them.
President: if vote yes, Rodef will advertise for an associate rabbi this fall; if vote no, they'll advertise for a senior rabbi. SSA means they won't be left in the lurch.
An officer: about 30 households don't have email. They will receive the meeting announcement on paper.
A board member: will we share tonight's vote breakdown with the congregation? President: it will be in the minutes. Board member: why aren't we being transparent? Officer: minutes are on web site. President: we'll report yes/no/abstain count for this vote. Board member: Please include the link to the minutes in the email.
Editorial note: this did not come up at the meeting, but minutes are not official until they are approved at the following board meeting, which will be after the vote. The email did not contain either the vote breakdown or information about minutes.
Steering committee member: you just voted on a deficit budget. This is either a new tomorrow or the demise of Temple Sinai. You are leaders and have a plan and that plan is merger. This needs to be unanimous.
A board member: we need to vote our conscience.
Somebody (didn't catch): the budget includes a capital campaign if we don't merge. A board member: we approved that campaign 18 months ago; where is it?
A board member: how can we consider removing ourselves from Squirrel Hill without even looking at moving to a smaller building here? This happens if the board votes tonight, a done deal. How can we do this to our families in light of antisemitic attacks here? Epicenter of Jewish life is Squirrel Hill. Another board member: Epicenter is wherever we are.
Amendments to term sheet: (1) Specify the transition period starts June 9 (not earlier). (2) For SSA, add that enacting it depends on positive votes from both congregations on June 8. (3) Where conditions say pending vote of board "and/or" members, remove "or" (both need to vote). An officer asked that we approve amendments in principle but not hash out exact language tonight.
Vote to accept the term sheet: 18 yes, 6 no, 0 abstains.
There was a second resolution, handed out on paper, to recommend that the congregation vote to approve "the [intended] unification of Temple Sinai and Rodef" ("intended" was added in an amendment). Vote was 17 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain. Editorial note: there seemed to be some confusion about this resolution. It is different from the one that was emailed.
President: Next item of business: board previously approved $75k for merger expenses; now asking for another $30k in coming fiscal year (have spent most of the $75k). This does not include moving expenses. A board member: is Rodef spending the same? President: 50/50 so far. We have some donations. A board member: how will we cover that $30k that's not in our budget? President: these bills have to be paid, cash reserves or endowment if necessary. If go forward, there will be some money from Rodef for SSA. Vote: 19 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain.