July 2018
Dear Friend(s),
It has been another terrific year at Temple Beth El. We continue to see growth in our membership, our Early Childhood Center is almost fully subscribed, Religious School enrollment is at its highest point in five years with kindergarten through 2nd grade enrollment tripling, and attendance in our adult programs has increased substantially. As your incoming president, I’d like to thank you for your role in helping make this happen. We ask for your continued support as we prepare for the coming year. The Beth El community is made up of families and individuals who support our values and our mission. We can’t do it without you.
At this time, we are asking all members to pledge the Sustaining Amount of $3,585. Your membership pledge provides the revenue to deliver a wide array of programming and assistance to our congregants, to support our clergy and staff, and to sustain our facility. Our Finance Committee has worked long and hard to keep this rate as low as feasible. Please know that our membership dues cover only half of our operating expenses, so each sustaining pledge is crucial. In order to be more transparent about our finances, we have created an information page. Please see www.bethelnw.org/FinanceDetail2018 to learn more about how we allocate each dollar.
As in the past, all families will be assessed a $195 Security Fee. This added fee helps defray the cost of the security guard and other measures we have put into place to ensure that our campus remains secure. The safety of our community, especially for our youngest members, is always our priority.
Last year we successfully separated membership and philanthropy and launched our first Annual Fund. A strong Annual Fund is critical to balancing our operating budget. Later in the summer we will send you information about this year’s Annual Fund.
While we expect our members who are able, to pay the sustaining dues amount of $3,585, no one is ever denied membership because of financial hardship. If you are having economic difficulties this year, please do not hesitate to contact our Executive Director, Genn Kelly at (914) 238-3928 x1321 to discuss alternative pledge options. Temple Beth El continues its long-standing tradition of ensuring that families can remain full members of Temple Beth El regardless of what they pay in dues.
Thank you for making Temple Beth El a priority. You are important to us, and we welcome your input as to how we can better support you, and deepen your relationships within our congregational community. Please feel free to contact me, a member of the clergy, or our Executive Director, Genn Kelly, at any time.
Have a wonderful summer.
Warmly,
Amy Robin,
Temple Beth El President