Kol Nidre Appeal 2003 One Rosh Hashanah morning, the Rabbi ...

membership targets. As a result we encountered our first substantial deficit and ended up
spending approximately $13,000 more than we took in.
The current fiscal year could be just as bad, if not worse. In addition to everything else,
our building is now showing signs of aging. It needs a new paint job, new tiling,
refurbishing of classrooms, and will soon need a new roof, among many other things.
We expect to have to spend $30,000 - $40,000 on the building over the next five years, if
not sooner.
Our current fiscal year is the first one in which the Congregation approved a deficit
budget. Even this budget includes the expectation of $32,500 of donation income. Thus,
even our deficit budget calls for a contribution of an average of $325 from our 100
member families. To both meet this expectation and plug the deficit we would need total
donations or other fundraising of $43,500 or $435 per member family.
I recognize that not everyone is in a position to give the average needed. As a result of
the poor economy some of us are already on reduced dues or are straining just to pay our
dues. That is why the fair share for those of us who can afford it is more than the
average. That is why the members of the Kol Ami Board of Governors have already
pledged more than $10,000. But even $10,000 is far short of the $43,500 gap that we
need to make up by donations and additional fundraising.
That is why we each need to give the most that we possibly can, including those of us
who are on reduced dues and those of us who are well off. Keep in mind that the
traditional Jew is duty-bound to give 10% of his or her income for tzedakah.
For those of us who cannot afford to make a large financial contribution, as well for those
of us who are doing so, there are additional ways to contribute to the Kol Ami.
• One way is to assist in increasing our membership. Please encourage your
friends to join us in Kol Ami activities and work with Larry Snyder, our
membership chairman, in recruiting them as members.
• Another way to help Kol Ami is by volunteering your time. That time can be
used for what you feel to be most important, whether it is helping with the
building, working in the office, helping with the school, sponsoring an oneg,
organizing a social or cultural event, directing the parking of cars, you name
it. Hopefully, it can involve working with others in the Congregation in a
social setting, making it an enjoyable mitzvah. Note that on the pledge cards
given to at the door, you have the opportunity to contribute 18 hours of
volunteer time. Eighteen hours amounts to only 3 minutes per day or 90
minutes per month.
• What we can use most is Congregants who will step forward and agree to help
to coordinate a fundraising event. In the past our successful events have
included goods and services auctions, art auctions, gift wrapping. Perhaps
you have an idea for a successful fundraising event. We need to do more
events of this nature and we need volunteers to help coordinate them.