President Mark Stone
Rosh Hashanah 5770 (2009)

President Mark Stone's May-June 2011 Bulletin Message

Shalom Chaverim (Goodbye Friends)                 ????? ????

Well, it’s really not goodbye but it will be the last time I will address in writing you as President of the congregation. My intention was to update you on what we have been doing and where we are headed. I have since changed my mind. In mid-May you will be receiving a communication that will offer you all the updates you need.

In this setting, I would rather like to tell you what I have learned over these past two years as Temple President. First, I wonder if I could ask you a few questions. What does the presence of Reform Judaism in Springfield mean to you? And, what do you think our congregation will look like twenty years from now?

I asked myself that very same question a few weeks ago when attending a Friday night service. You see, in June, I will be one of those congregants who have completed the B’nai Mitzvah for all my children. Yes, Lauren will become a Bat Mitzvah on June 11th. She will be the 2nd third generation B’nai Mitzvah for my family. It so happens that is one of the exit points for some of our congregants. The thought is I’ll check out for a while and come back later. Unfortunately, that model or way of thinking will not perpetuate our congregation into the future. For me it’s easy, being connected for so long and being part of a family that has been part of Sinai for four generations does help me stay connected. Of course, you don’t need to have that many generations belong to Sinai to feel connected.

I have learned that the future of our Synagogue and Reform Judaism in Springfield is ultimately up to us individually as it was in previous generations. They knew that, in order for the congregation to thrive, their continuing affiliation was paramount to its future as they built this congregation. I know we have competing priorities now a days but the Board and committees cannot resolve our retention concerns by themselves. You alone and collectively can do just that. If we were able to retain half of those who leave Sinai, we would not have a declining membership concern.

It is my sincere hope that many years from now, when I have entered my twilight years and I am slowly heading to the glow of a distant sunset, I will have a place like Sinai to be part of and help me complete that Journey.

But what about those of you that need help connecting? Now more than ever synagogues need our support throughout all our life cycle events. We have been working hard these past years reaching out to those who may question their connection with Sinai. We have done many things to communicate and connect with our entire congregation. Our Clergy, staff, board, committees and volunteers have been working very hard on these efforts and to them I would like to say THANK YOU for all you have done.
So here we are, one last time, and part of me finds it hard to let go. I know you may find this hard to believe, but I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute as President of the congregation. Sure, there can be some ups and downs, but I hope you are pleased with what we have accomplished over the past few years. It has truly been an honor to serve the congregation.

On behalf of my family (Grandpa Arthur Rogers and Nana Arlene Rogers - Alav Hashalom – May they rest in peace) who I hope are very proud of our Sinai Temple, my parents Marlene and Nelson, my wife Melanie, children Andrew and Lauren I wish you all health and happiness.

President Mark Stone's March-April 2011 Bulletin Message

I can’t believe this is my second to last bulletin article. Where did the time go? As many of you know, this June will see some changes in leadership at Sinai. I will be one of those changes - completing my term as President. As I write this article, the Nominating Com- mittee is looking into what leadership at Sinai will be for this upcoming year. I am very excited to see new people getting involved as that is extremely necessary for Sinai and its future. If you think you might be inter- ested in Temple leadership, please do not hesitate to let me know.

In the May/June bulletin I would like to look back over the past two years but for now let’s continue our focus on what is going on at Sinai in the present. First, thank you to those who are involved with our last fundraiser or as I would call it,“funraiser.” Martinis and Magic was a terrific night, with lots of smiling faces. A wonderful social event. Thank you to Liz Leshine and her committee for making Martinis and Magic another success this year!!

Looking ahead, we have a few events coming up that I would like to mention:

First, Music Man is scheduled this month with performances on March 10th & 12th at 7pm and a matinee on Sunday, March 13th at 2pm. Tickets are on sale now.

In April we have a fundraiser scheduled with a group that is back by popular demand. Vocolot will be with us on Saturday,April 9th at 7pm.

On Sunday, May 1st, we have an opportunity for our community to get together for Mitzvah Day. This is a great time for congregants to get together and do some good for Sinai and our surrounding community.

In June we will be having our Annual Meeting which is in the planning phases but promises to be an- other fabulous event. It will involve a brief but informa- tive meeting like last year, dinner and a musical perfor- mance to be determined but from the list of possibilities all sound great!!
So, have you been to any events, services or programs lately? If not, I would encourage you to consider attend- ing one or two. Sinai has a lot to offer and reviewing the bulletin is surely proof of that.

As always I thank you all for supporting Sinai Temple. Without your support we would not have a place to call Sinai.

Mark J. Stone - President’s Speech September 19, 2009 Rosh Hashanah Morning

L’ Shana Tova.  My name is Mark Stone; I am President of the congregation.  It is a great honor to be with all of you this morning as we celebrate the Jewish New Year, our traditional time for reflection and renewal.  These words, refection and renewal have somewhat of a different meaning this year for me.  Reflecting back, over the past year, it reminds me of the time your board and committees have spent preparing for the challenges we outlined in our congregational meetings followed up by a congregational letter.  They spoke of the challenges we are facing here at Sinai, how long we have to address them and how we plan on dealing with them in the hopes of preserving the quality and character of Sinai.  From a renewal stand point, your board and committees have come up with our four key areas of transformation to work on which include Worship, Religious School/Youth Programming, Membership Retention, and Marketing/Public Relations to solicit new members.  With these in mind we have been working this fall on what we are referring to as our 10 commandments. 

In part, these commandments will work to address the need to increase the sense of community as well as address retention of members through personal connections. 

You see my friends, if you read the congregational mailing that was sent out in August, you were told that in our heyday back in the early 90’s we had over 600 families and over 300 children in the religious school.  Today we have about 480 families and 145 in religious school.  But, simple arithmetic must tell you we have a financial problem.  The mailing showed that we have cut our costs as much as we could. 

It doesn’t mention how our caretakers have taken on extra duties such as cutting the lawn and our office staff taking on extra work through not replacing a part time retiree.   Unfortunately, all of this without receiving raises this year.  For that I thank them dearly,,, Bottom line, we have cut what we can cut.  Our endowment funds, even though diminished can only carry us for three or four years.  At that point, we could be facing dramatic changes in the Sinai we have known for years. 

So why not just raise dues, our current deficit if divided by our membership would raise them about $225 per family.  Why not have an endowment campaign.  Well, for one, these are tough times and I think we can do a better job at recruiting, retaining and connecting with our congregants.  Maybe these are options we will have to consider, but not first. We must connect with those who are contemplating their connection with Sinai or not affiliated with a synagogue at all.

So, what connects us, what sustains us as a congregation?  What makes us stay beyond Bnai Mitzvah and through our empty nester years?  I think, it is the personal connection we make during our journey in a congregation starting with our kids in Religious School.  But then for some, maybe not.  Maybe it is something else, an event or sadly even a family tragedy.

When we speak of connection, to every person it can mean something different.  For me, my connection started a very long time ago with my grandparents Arlene and Arthur Rogers who were very involved with Sinai. 

These were during the building years, when there was only a Rabbi, a sparse building, a few members and a dream to build a reform congregation in the greater Springfield area.  They were creating something that did not exist, a needed addition to the Orthodox and Conservative congregations so they could celebrate their Reform Judaism.  My connection continues with my mother Marlene and her brothers Alan and Joel, followed by my brother Eric, Sister Debbie and I.  We all participated in religious school, Bnai Mitzvah, confirmation and even funerals. Of course my connection would not be complete without mentioning my children Andrew and Lauren and the wonderful life cycle event of Andrews Bar Mitzvah last May and the planning for Laurens in 2011!!!  This makes four generations of my family at Sinai.

 So why do I tell you my story.  I am sure many of you have connections and they don’t have to be as long as mine to feel a sincere connection to Sinai.  I tell you this because for me, looking back and reflecting on all the life cycle events associated with my family, deeply connects me. 

However it is not total years that make the difference, it is, well, that thing only you can describe.  I know for some of us we can easily identify our connection, others may not.  For those who can’t, I want to make you an offer, let’s try and discover how we can connect you together!!  Tell me how we can help, maintain and connect you. 

You see most of those who leave Sinai don’t move away, they simply have not made that connection needed to stay or understand their importance to our reform presence in Springfield.  They figure they won’t matter.  To those I say you do matter and we need you!! Those who say, I may not be able to stay for financial reasons, please remember we have options..  To those who say I only come a few times and it’s not worth it to me.  Well, this is my toughest group.  They have the means but not the connection.  To those I say, please consider that in addition to services you come to, you are also insuring we continue a reform presence locally.  You may needs us later and we want to be there for you, weather having a Bnai Mitzvah, wedding or other life cycle event.

As many of you are aware, a few of our local synagogues have also faced some challenges over this past year.  Both Orthodox and Conservative congregations in the greater Springfield area have consolidated into single congregations respectively.  But this isn’t only happening in the Jewish community.  By the end of November, our local Catholic diocese plans to close or merge 23 parishes.

You know, over the summer, I started to think of what I would say during the holidays this year and I was not sure.  How deep do we go into the challenges we are facing, how I should mix that with our plans for the future.   How much doom and gloom should I include, how do I enlist your help to deal with the congregations challenges at hand?  I was at a loss. ……

It was on a summer family trip with my daughter Lauren that my story connects me with today. 

You see, every year since the kids were born, we have headed to The Cape for one of our family vacations.  Every year we would have some traditional activities to do.

For Lauren, it was going to the playground by the airport in Chatham.  We had done it since she was a baby.  Every year, the swings, sea saw, slide and marygoround.  It was our little thing we did.  Well, time passes, we get older and priorities change. This year we were packing up to leave The Cape and Lauren reminded me that we never went to that playground.  I instantly remised of the times we had together and how much she enjoyed being there.  You see only a year passed since we were their last.  We jumped in the car and headed down the road to the playground.  As we approached something did not look right.  Laurens smile turned to a look of confusion and puzzlement.  We noticed the grass looked tall; there was tape over the gate, it read, “Caution do not enter”.  We got out of the car and approached, sadly half of the playground was gone.  No slides or swings and what was left was in disrepair.  The trash cans were over filled.  Lauren looked at me and said Dad, what happened?  I paused; I told her I didn’t know, maybe there were too many playgrounds in the area and not enough money to support them.  While some equipment was still there we knew it was not the same playground,, that the quality and character had changed forever. 

"Only visiting this playground once or twice a year" did not lessen the sadness as we knew, inevitably, the playground would be no more. 

So why did I share this with you.  I have done so because, standing there at the playground I did make a connection to Sinai and I was very concerned about our future.  But, at the same time I realized how different Sinai’s future can be.  You see, we have you.   The playground had no one.  It is we the congregation that will make a difference now and for our future.  Just like in the past it was we the congregation that built Sinai from nothing. 

Our challenge now is to help grow and maintain Sinai beyond that critical number of membership that maintains the present quality and character we have come to know.   I know we can do it!!!

Our previous leaders had the foresight to plan, making sure we had a window of time to address these issues so that we do not have to change the quality and character of our congregation.  But that window will only be open for so long. 

As indicated in our mailing this summer your dues, available surplus as well as endowment income can only sustain Sinai the way it is for the next 3 or 4 years. We can’t wait that long to develop more income to sustain us. We won’t go out of business, but, if we don’t act, we certainly won’t be able to conduct Sinai business, as usual.

 I cannot do it alone; the board cannot do it alone.  We the congregation of Sinai must be involved to ensure our future

So how can you help ensure Sinai’s future?  What are WE going to do about it!!!

I am asking you to be participants; Come to services and participate in programs.

Lead Sinai; if you have never been on a committee please join one.

Be a lifelong member; continue your Sinai experience even after life cycle events.

Most of ALL I am asking you to be a recruiter, if you know unaffiliated friends ask them to come to service or a special event.  If you know someone considering leaving, please ask them to stay.

For those who say I am good and not going anywhere don’t worry about me, for those who say I volunteer and that is how I help; To those I say, thank you but, I need you to be a recruiter.

Friends, I emphasized being a recruiter because I think it is one of the most important things we can do as members.    This goes along with the statistic I learned about only two weeks ago.  Our local newspaper, The Jewish Ledger just completed a survey of its subscribers.  They learned that 63% of those who did the survey did not belong to a synagogue.  34% of those who did the survey described themselves as reform, 35% said they were neither Reform, Conservative or Orthodox. 

That means there are a lot of Jews out there who could become members of Sinai.  I have started to think of ways to reach those people. 

Maybe we have less Jews moving into the area but they are out there!!!  We do have a way to take action.  We can be recruiters!!!  So, if you know someone let us know, please, call me, or the office. 

Looking forward it is important for every congregant to understand their importance to Sinai Temple as a whole.  Whether it is adults volunteering for an event or committee, teenagers continuing on with studies after Bnai Mitzvah or connecting on any other level as an empty nester, we need you all!!!   It is important to understand that in order for Sinai to thrive we must consider that our affiliation with the Temple goes further than what we may individually get out of it. 

We do support Sinai for our personal reasons, but we also support it because Sinai guarantees a continuing Reform presence in the Springfield area.  When our founders organized to create a Reform Temple they did so because they could not find a place to worship where they felt comfortable.  Let’s continue the mission they started over 75 years ago. 

For those who have already started to help,

 By participating in the Sustaining Member program or the Legacy Society. Thank you…

For those who volunteer, contribute; participate in a committee, to the teachers and volunteers in our RS Thank you…

To My Exec, board members, committee chairs, To Rabbi Shapiro, Cantor Levson, and Sheila Shear who have been working hard over these past months on our Transformation plan, Thank You…

To the Office staff Karen and Robin as well as Donna and Angel, Thank you…

To our previous leadership, as well as to my mentors who have been inspiring and helpful to this day, as well as being very involved with the creation of our transformation plan, Dave Roberts and Joel Bertuzzi.  Thank You…

And one final thank you, to you, for listening to and responding to my remarks.

I know I haven't raised what you might call "spiritual" concerns this morning.  But, I have spoken from the heart asking you to help me do what we must for the future of Sinai.  The greatest "spiritual" gift you and I can give to our children is a healthy Sinai Temple.  Let's do whatever we can to strengthen this great "spiritual" home we call Sinai Temple. 

Change is not easy.  Some resist it.  Others welcome it.  But in the end it is usually necessary. 

As with many things including that playground, time passes, we get older and priorities change.   Please make Sinai your priority no matter where you are in your life cycle events.  It is my sincere hope for all of us to see many generations pass through these doors.

On behalf of my wife Melanie, my children Andrew and Lauren, my Mom and Dad Marlene and Nelson I wish you all a sweet and healthy New Year.

L’shana Tova Tee-ka-tay-vu.u