LC MEETING 10/26/10 – OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

Attendance: 

Ben Freedman

Josh Wertheimer

Chana Solomon-Schwartz

Rachel Salzman

Judy Herbstman

Deena Fox

Julia Zuckerman

Dena Roth

Rivka Friedman

Ariella Kurshan 

Stephanie Schwartz 

Aaron Resnick 

Naomi Karp 

Adam Broms

Gil Landau

Dina Epstein

Membership Drive- Judy

Hit target of 300 members by 11/1 and financial target

Perhaps goal was too low bc we easily hit target

Currently closing out main push but we now move into engagement period

Currently at 76 new members. Target is 100.

Renewal rate is mid-60s, mid 50's for those who signed up last year for the first time

Potential database needs to be cleaned up - be sure to reach out to those who you think are potential members

Judy to send out a closing email about membership

Focus on getting people plugged in: Judy will send list of those who expressed interest in your area (LC members should reach out to this group). Becca Israel working on member meal connection.

Deena Fox: think about how to engage ppl with specific projects rather than just a BCC email about general opportunities 

Rivka: ppl usually get involved for a discrete opportunity

Julia: ppl get VERY upset when they volunteer for something and they aren't followed up with. Judy to recirculate Members to Tap doc. 

Chana Solomon Schwartz: some other communities have ppl volunteer to prepare kiddush (the idea that as a member, you have to contribute in some way)- is there something that you "have to/are highly encouraged" to do.

Dena Roth: this ist' such a stretch, bc we do say that DCM is a lay led minyan. Judy: perhaps a more general check in every few months to remind ppl to take on some kind of role 

Rivka: the idea of advertising roles/opportunities as needs

Ben: the perception can be that DCM isn't as lay led as we make it out to be. can be hard for members to feel like they are a part of "their" minyan rather than someone elses/ Ariella: conflict of needing leadership but also making it seem like it's not run exclusively by that group and that group alone

Judy: Member kiddush coming up, designed to create community

Chana: has a "buddy" system been suggested? 

HH Feedback

Major questions: YK capacity, tone of emails that went out

Gil: went well - the goal is for services to be full but for ppl have seats 

Ariella: survey feedback- about 10 or 15 ppl responded. sense is that tickets aren't a good idea, ppl don't want a list checked. overall sense: there is a space issue but DCM is doing the best it can given the circumstances

Judy: there were about 50-60 on wait list, plus another 25 who inquired but weren't put on the list

Naomi: wants to hear from those who didn't get a seat

Rivka: must service members first, even before those who only want to attend DCM for HH tickets

Judy: there may be some confusion about members who sign up the day before the HH who think that we can ensure them a seat for the HH (make it clear that you don't get a ticket even if you sign up for membership once it's full)/ potential idea to have a members only HH sign up period

Rachel: how do we know who was actually there if there aren't tickets

Judy: about 20 plus attended but didn't sign up 

Chana: is an overflow service an option? 

Judy: is partnering with another org an option? 

Dina: perhaps a different service? ie kids/learners service etc. Ariella: put an announcement in asking for ppl to explore this idea. Adam: how about an extra mussaf service?

Simchat Torah Feedback

Consensus is that services should go back into the community hall rather than the gym, but some say they like the gym better

Motivation was to bring those who socialize back into the main room

Hakafot start right away and ppl tend to come later

We should advertise our end time (so ppl don't come late and miss hakafot)

Megaphone so the announcer can be better heard 

Gym is harder to coordinate the services/ would need to figure out how to keep food/drink away from siddurim

SC Selection Committee 

Nominations until Thurs, then Selection Comm w 4 SC members and 3 LC members

A lot of ppl interested in committee (unlike last year when not a lot of ppl volunteered)

Adam: try and include diversity (gender)- selection comm should reflect comm in some ways 

Jeremy Kadden's HH Contract 

Approved by LC

Topics for future mtgs: 

Judy- topic of DCM email listserv

Rachel- in need of point person for sandwich making on 11/3

Dina- other innovative programs we can implement (like last year's Chan. candlelighting, nametags for Parashat Shemot)