Well, I really intended to get a message out last week but I think the preparations around our house, for the family celebration, totally occupied my mind and it just didn’t happen. Please forgive me. The good news is that there really wasn’t a lot to share so you didn’t miss much.
One thing I did want to share, though, is some information on an upcoming community event that might interest some of you (thanks to Emily Kelly for sharing this):
The Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) Alpha Zeta Iota Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa will host an Honors Forum: “A New Era of Civil Rights: How We Remember the Past Will Shape the Future.” The public forum will be held December 5, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the A.W. Todd Center in Russellville, Alabama. There is no charge for admission and the public is invited to attend.
Each year Phi Theta Kappa focuses on a central honors study topic. This year’s topic is, “How the World Works: Global Perspectives.” The 2016 forum will explore the collective impact of news reporting, films, literature, and public memorials on the way the Civil Rights Movement is remembered. The panel will discuss the way these influences can shape public perception and policies. The panelists are Kenneth Brackins, Psychology Instructor at NW-SCC; Pastor Charles Dale, Civil Rights Activist, St. Paul’s CME; Michael McClung, English Instructor at NW-SCC; and John Pilati, owner of the Franklin County Free Press and WGOL radio station.
Services are back this Week!
We’re back! Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and found a way to celebrate the Sabbath in their own special way. This week, however, we are back on schedule and Rabbi Nancy will be here to lead our service. Hope to see everyone there!
We Have a New Outbuilding!
Thanks to Howard Zeff for researching, ordering and overseeing the installation of our new outbuilding! If you missed it…the old one disappeared (thanks to the Goldsteins) and we now have a shiny new one in it’s place – except that the “place” is also more convenient than the last one! As a reminder, this was only possible because of the generosity of so many of our members and friends who donated (both their items and time) to our Rummage Sale in August. That was such a huge undertaking and we can now see the result of that effort! Thanks, again, to our Social Committee and so many others who pitched in and made that Rummage Sale such a success! (By the way, if you were not able to help with the Rummage Sale and wish you could do something to donate…we could use some shelves in the outbuilding! Reach out to Howard Zeff if you would like to “buy a shelf”!)
Final Board Meeting of 2016
The Board will have it’s final meeting of the year this Sunday, December 4 at 10:00 at the Temple. If there any final items you feel the Board should address this year, please let me or any Board Member know before Sunday. We have a very full agenda for this last meeting so, if something needs to be added, we’ll need to know asap.
Officer Nominations
Remember that it is time for us all to be considering if we might like to serve on the Board or if we would like to ask the nominating committee to nominate someone in particular for a specific office. Dick Peshkin is again serving as the Chair for this critical committee and he asks that you please be sure you get any nominations to him no later than December 31!
Chanukah Celebration
We will plan to have our community Chanukkah celebration at the Temple on Friday night, December 30. Rabbi Nancy will be with us to lead our service and help us celebrate. So, get those menorahs out, shine ‘em up and get ready for what promises to be another fun community celebration!
Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 29, 2017 has been selected as the date for the annual congregational meeting. This will be a critical meeting for all Members to attend as, in addition to annual Board elections, we will be voting on a proposal to replace the existing Constitution with a set of new Bylaws. The proposed Bylaws will be sent out to all Members in early December so that everyone will have ample time to read through them closely and provide feedback/ask questions/propose revisions/etc. Please add the meeting to your calendar now!
Services and Torah Study:
Our service schedule through the end of December is as follows:
- December 2 – Rabbi Nancy
- December 9 – Rabbi Nancy
- December 16 – Ritual Committee
- December 23 – No Services
- December 30 – Shabbat and Chanukah Party – Rabbi Nancy
As always, congregants and members of the Shoals community, at large, are invited to attend the weekly Torah Study session which is held each Saturday morning at 9:30, at the Temple.
Reminder items:
- Final Board Meeting of 2016 – this Sunday, December 4, 10:00am
- Soup Kitchen donations – Saturday, December 17
- Officer nominations due to Dick Peshkin no later than December 31
- No services on Friday, December 23
- Chanukah Party – Friday, December 30
- Annual Congregational meeting – Sunday, January 29
If you are aware of something in the community that you would like me to draw some attention to in my message, please let me know! And, as always, if you have any announcements you would like for me to share with our membership, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you on Friday evening!
Shalom!
Traci Welch
