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Volunteer |
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Volunteering at Beth Am is a great way to strengthen our community and to enhance your own experience as a Beth Am member. There are many opportunities for participation and leadership. You can join one or more of the groups described below or just volunteer occasionally by being a greeter at services, assisting the office staff or helping out at potlucks and special events. If you are interested in getting involved in any of our committees or volunteering your time some other way, please contact Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser or call 650/493-4661. You can also volunteer by completing the volunteer checklist on the web at http://www.betham.org/volunteerform.html
Committees:
Adult Learning Council (ALC) is responsible for working closely with Beth Am staff on adult learning classes, programs and special events. We welcome new members and new ideas. Events the ALC helps to coordinate include: Selichot study and reflection, Yom Kippur Afternoon seminars, Scholar in Residence weekend, special Holy Day learning activities, the Asilomar weekend retreat and Shabbat programming for adults. Typically, we ask for members to lead a project, but we welcome help at all levels. We meet on Tuesday night @ 7:30, about every 5 weeks. (Contact: Ina Bauman or Cliff Burwick) Beth Am Men: JThis is not your grandfather’s Brotherhood. From building the synagogue’s community Sukkah every Fall to raising tzedakah at our poker tournaments; from skiing together in Lake Tahoe to softball or guys night out, we are open to any ideas, so long as you’re willing to help make it happen. Join us and remember what it’s like to enjoy the brotherhood of your fellow Jewish men. (Contact: Barry Asin ) Beth Am Women (BAW) is the women's organization of Congregation Beth Am. Also known as Sisterhood, BAW provides opportunities for women to get together and have fun, to learn, and to make new friends while also fulfilling its commitment to provide financial support to Beth Am and the greater community, both locally and globally. All of our events are planned with these goals in mind and there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for developing, planning and implementing the varied activities. Beth Am Women membership is open to all the women of Beth Am. (Contact : Barbara Windham ) Caring Committee volunteers fulfill our obligation to create a "Covenantal Community" by reaching out to those in need through phone calls, personal notes, meals, transportation to temple events, visiting the homebound, and special assistance for seating at Flint Center during High Holy Day services. Because needs are sporadic, we do not hold regular meetings but call on volunteers when needed. (Contact: Ann DeHovitz or Chris Taich) Chavurot (plural of chavurah) bring together people who are interested in forming social connections with other members of the congregation. These intimate groups come together on a regular basis to share in synagogue and Jewish communal life including social, cultural, intellectual, outdoor, family and holiday get-togethers. If you are interested in joining a chavurah or looking to learn how to create your own, please get in touch with us! (Contact: Andrea Palmer) Development Committee - Together with the Director of Development and in cooperation with the Board of Directors, the Development Committee of Congregation Beth Am works to secure financial resources for our congregation by exploring and implementing fundraising vehicles to ensure the financial stability of our congregation. . The Development Committee strategizes on the timing and messaging of all fundraising pursuits, and works with the Director of Development to manage and implement campaigns and solicitations. The committee works with staff and board members to identify, cultivate, and steward donors on an ongoing basis. The Development Committee works in concert with other fundraising committees such as Planned Giving and Special Event committees, and is the clearinghouse for all Beth Am fundraising activities. (Contact: Chair, Harvey Schloss) Education Steering Committee (ESC) ) provides guidance on issues related to education programs for youth and adults at Beth Am. The ESC sets the educational theme of the congregation each year and is responsible for program evaluation and student assessment. Recently the ESC oversaw an evaluation of Hebrew Program resulting in several changes in the process of implementation. The ESC is comprised of the rabbis, cantor, educators, and lay leaders representing a variety of constituencies within Beth Am. The ESC meets monthly. (Contact: David Crankshaw or Rabbi Jennifer Clayman, 650.493.4665) Finance Committee ensures the congregation's financial position is reviewed and monitored on a regular basis and is in compliance with predetermined policies and guidelines. This goal is accomplished by reviewing financial statements compared to budget, providing guidance on setting the annual operating budget for board approval, monitoring cash reserve investments, and revisiting policies that may require updating, such as our investment policy. The committee is comprised of approximately 12 members, representing varying backgrounds and interests, including past Treasurers, past and current board members, attorneys, financial professionals, and CPAs, but the committee is open to any congregant who is interested, regardless of career background. The committee typically meets 4 times per year, with a slightly heavier workload in the spring when the annual budget is completed. (Contact: Neil Tuch) Green Team We are a small group of concerned congregants and Beth Am staff members working to make the synagogue a model for environmentally responsible behavior and a source of information and resources for our members to make similar responsible lifestyle changes and choices. We are always looking for “doers”—folks who want to see change brought to the Beth Am community—to help us better live out our values to care for and be stewards of the Earth. ((Contact: Max Greenberg) High Holy Days Committee Planning for the High Holy Days is the primary task of this committee. This important annual project allows many of our members to participate in meaningful ways during the services throughout the High Holy Day season. Beth Am gathers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Flint Center, located at De Anza College in Cupertino. Committee members support our clergy by calling congregants to invite them to accept honors for the High Holy services and by helping to staff the tables outside Flint Center, welcoming congregants and visitors during the High Holy Days, handing out prayerbooks and tickets and answering questions. Members also may assist with ushering during the High Holy Day services, help worshipers in need of wheelchairs or other special assistance, and help ensure that member participation runs smoothly during the services. Most of the High Holy Day Committee’s work is coordinated via e-mail and phone contact. (Contact: Karen Kronick)
Israel Awareness Committee - The goal of the committee is to raise the level of awareness of the Beth Am Community to the central role played by the State of Israel in the survival of the Jewish religion and culture and as a permanent refuge for Jews subject to persecution. We offer an open, honest, respectful, and safe environment for everybody to share ideas, regardless of political or social beliefs. We provide a forum for congregants to educate themselves about Israel’s history and an opportunity to connect with the people and culture in Israel by bringing speakers and hosting events at Beth Am. This is the committee for you if you want to take a leadership role in planning and organizing Israel related events. The full committee meets 4 - 6 times a year. We also send out periodic email updates about committee business. Please sign up to be on this email list if you have any interest at all in serving on this committee. (Contact: Judith Rabbie) Library Committee works to maintain and improve Beth Am's library collection, which at present consists of over 9,000 books, VCRs, DVDs and tapes. The committee also provides support to our part-time librarian, Diane Rauschwerger. Diane staffs the library during Sunday Program and some weekday afternoons. She also presents a "Mother Goose Program" for younger children. When Beth Am invites speakers during the year Diane and members of the library committee provide a tabletop display of books on the speaker's subject. Committee members also help organize new books and tapes and add them to our computer listing. The committee meets monthly with Diane. There is also a Library Materials Acquisition Sub-committee which meets monthly to check books the library receives as donations, read recommendations for new books and approve the purchase of these new books. (Contact: Evan Lurie) Membership/Community Committee works to build a strong sense of community at Beth Am by: 1) reaching out to prospective members from the community, 2) warmly welcoming new members and helping them find their home at Beth Am, and 3) helping build an inclusive community at Beth Am in which members feel involved and valued. Committee activities include the Beth Am Ambassador Program (greeters and docents), events for prospective and new members, helping to create personal connections for new members, organizing opportunities for fellowship at potluck dinners and holiday events, Sukkot Open Homes and Seder Matching. Opportunities for serving on this committee range from taking a leadership role in planning and organizing events and activities, to helping with mailings, phone calls, food shopping and set-up for events. The full committee meets 3-4 times a year. Let us know if you are interested in helping with any of these activities, or if you would like to serve as a greeter at services or a docent to prospective or new members. (Contact:Joanne Donsky or Marlene Levenson) Parent Kesher is the parent association at Beth Am. The purpose of Parent Kesher is to make it easier for parents to connect to other parents, to support their children's teachers, and to volunteer their time and talents to help our education programs. Beth Am Parent Kesher offers many opportunities for parents to build community with each other, from volunteer activities with their child’s education program to sponsoring speakers on topics related to Jewish parenting. Members of Parent Kesher also organize other events, such as the Purim Carnival. (Contact: Debbie LaFetra, 408.732.7560) The Beth Am Organizing Committee of Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA) provides a Beth Am presence and support to PIA, which is a non-sectarian faith-based advocacy organization made up of 30 faith communities from Pacifica to Mountain View, representing almost 20,000 families. PIA enables congregations to put their faith into action by working within the political arena to effect systemic change and find solutions to problems in our communities such as inadequate access to healthcare, affordable housing, and education. Volunteers on the committee, with the guidance of PIA staff, work together to identify an issue of concern, research the issue, explore potential solutions, and hold community actions (forums) before public officials to seek their commitment of support. PIA volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in community organizing trainings and interfaith activities. The committee meets on the third Thursday of the month from 7:30-9:00 pm. (Contact: Barbara August or Shaina Wasserman). Planned Giving Committee - Working with the Director of Development and in cooperation with the Development Committee and the Board of Directors, the Planned Giving Committee of Congregation Beth Am works as part of our overall fundraising effort to secure financial resources for our congregation by promoting and encouraging planned giving among our membership. Planned Gifts include bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of life insurance, and non-cash gifts. (Contact: Chair: Paul Roskoph) The Poltava "Twinning" Committee is a committed community within Beth Am who support our brothers and sisters in Poltava, Ukraine. Today as we face the challenges and changes that the economic downturn has wrought, Beth Am members have an opportunity to broaden our horizons and concepts of ourselves as Reform/Progressive Jews, and connect and be supportive of our twin in Ukraine. Each year we do various fundraisers to meet our goal of $12,000 a year. Our big success has been the Poltava Parties, in which we entertain each other and raise moneys and awareness of the plight of our other family in Poltava. In the past we have had garage sales, dinners, concerts, and Art and Crafts Faires. We are always looking for other ideas for creating a greater community that cares and supports each other. We are always looking for new volunteers to energize and expand our group. Come join the fun. We meet about once a month. Check out the Beth Am website for more information. (Contact: Cherie Half) Shabbat Committee - In keeping with the ten year vision for Congregation Beth Am, the Shabbat Committee will focus on ways to enhance the experience of Shabbat throughout our membership by meeting congregants where they are and: 1) educating the congregation about Shabbat , 2) enhancing the Shabbat experience and hospitality already in place at Beth Am, 3) encouraging our members to enhance their Shabbat experience in their homes, 4) giving members the tools and inspiration to observe Shabbat. The Shabbat Committee will consist of members who care about deepening their own experience of Shabbat and helping others to discover what Shabbat can be. Together we will use text study, worship, and discussion to create ways to infuse our congregational and home lives with the joy of Shabbat. (Contact:Louise Stirpe Gill) The Tzedek Council strives to provide leadership that will enable the Beth Am community to fulfill the mitzvah of pursuing justice and to integrate tzedek as a pillar of congregational life. To these ends, Tzedek Council activities include spearheading hands-on volunteer opportunities, educating and advocating for worthy causes and the importance of pursuing tzedek, cultivating leadership to guide social justice campaigns and social action projects, coordinating tzedek-related communications, and associated activities. Tzedek Council members typically assume leadership of a project or advocacy effort, with support of the broader Council. Tzedek Council meets quarterly to review priorities and discuss additional areas of interest. (Contact: Tzedek Council) Yad l'Yad (hand in hand) provides volunteer congregants with both practical and traditional guidance for visiting those who are ill or could benefit from a visit. The committee also serves as a source of volunteers for connecting isolated Beth Am members with the congregation through assignments from the clergy and Caring Committee. An interview and training is required before making a visit on behalf of Congregation Beth Am. Yad l’Yad provides support for these volunteers and any other Beth Am congregants who practice bikur cholim (visiting the sick)(e.g.: of their own relatives or as community service). Volunteers can be involved at different levels including: making a commitment to visit a homebound congregant regularly, helping organize and/or attend training events, and participating in meetings/social gathering where volunteers support each other in the work of visiting the sick. Meetings occur approximately six times a year. (Contact: Lisa Whitmore or Diane Weil) To visit the Yad l'Yad website, click here. Young Adults "Roots Collective" : Join with other young adults in their 20's and 30's to create a dynamic community at Congregation Beth Am. Activities include Shabbat evening meals, monthly salon nights encompassing Jewish learning and socializing, pub nights, and social action projects. The young adult community is open to members of the congregation as well as the general Bay Area Jewish community. All are welcome: singles, couples, LGBT. (Contact: Brian Levine) Young Families: Join with other families with children ages zero to five in creating Jewish community at Congregation Beth Am. Opportunities include enrollment in Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program, parent education workshops, holiday and Shabbat dinners and programs, game nights, field trips, grandparent events, and child care for parent’s night out. (Contact: Sherrie Rose Maleson, 650.493.4661 x256 )
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