The Morning After

They, you remember they the ubiquitous they who always have something negative to say on every issue, were wrong again. It seems that whenever they poke their heads up from the naysayer land where they maintain their negativism they get it wrong. Now, it is not always although mostly because they are on the wrong side of this issue but more often than not they do not know how to accomplish their goal.

So, last night was the big meeting. For those of you not following my life in detail, I mean the synagogue annual meeting. As background, for one long year, I have been working towards this meeting with one mantra "revised constitution or bust". There were uncountable meetings, nights and weekends writing and rewriting, arguing points, researching points, arguing issues and chances to try to be funny. The many arguments with spouse about how I was spending my time and how billable hours would be so much more welcome than that dang-it constitution. At the beginning of the process, I made a declaration ... the process would be completed by the June 2008 annual meeting or I would step aside and let someone else take their turn at the monster. Keep it mind that it has been over 10 years since anyone has completed the climb to the top of Mount Constitution and that last climb only achieved amendments. This effort was for a total rewrite. Now, the potential of my resignation was not a significant reason for the tasks completion, because ... well because you understand.

We got to last nights meeting and what made the constitution issues drop in angst was trying to pass the annual budget. Now a historical footnote, I have participated in the annual meetings for the last six years ... three of those asking questions about the budget, I was generally the only questioner which is why I was asked to move to the preparer side of the table and now three preparing and presenting the budget. In those previous five years, the total time spent on discussing and approving the budget has reached around 30 minutes in total. People either do not understand, can't read the small print which next year I will make smaller to avoid this year's problems, they just want to accept what the Board has approved or they want the budget to pass so they can spend the next twelve months complaining about the fact that those who are in charge making all the decisions never listen to the masses. The later would explain why an institution with 631 membership units struggles and only comes up with 85 families represented by either one or both spouses and singles to actually come out to listen and question. Being apathetic makes it so much easier to criticize. Oops, I should in all fairness of full disclosure, we were competing, unplanned, with an evening kindergarten graduation (who lets their 6 year old stay up till 10 o'clock drinking and partying celebrating the move to 1st grade?). We also had to compete with the WYHS faculty end of year dinner even though school is not over for another day. Last final is not till today, guess the concept of school's over means early dismissal for the faculty. I mean we did schedule our meeting when it was an off night for the NBA Finals.

The budget discussion took more than sixty minutes. Good questions and silly questions. Why are you adding a staff position in these uncertain times? How can you increase pay for the staff by 4.9% (the increase of CPI for south Florida)when social security is only going up 2.3%? Oh, you are only talking about three secretaries and one executive director ... and you have given a 3% increase each of the last five years ... sorry for asking. Don't you think in these trying times that a significant increase in fund raising income might be overly optimistic? Yes, but then it wouldn't be a normal budget if we didn't push the contribution envelope. Couldn't you eliminate the need for an additional staff person if you accepted the numerous waiting volunteers? Yes, if you could guarantee that the volunteers would actually show up and work in a meaningful way and there mass of volunteers would not need the supervision of an additional staff person.

If you ever find you self in a situation where you disagree with the budget, don't talk as much as make an amendment to eliminate the major bone of your contention. If your against adding a proposed staff position, instead of or in addition to speaking out against it philosophically ... make an amendment to not allow for the hiring of such a position instead of voting against the budget in total. Better chance of success.

It was a tough hour when your friends are speaking out against your budget and you have a tough time not saying "your right".

The constitution / by-laws on the other hand was much easier. There was of course the question how "how can you lower the quorum requirement?" Of course the person did not have an answer for "how do you deal with the fact that over the last five years we rarely get a normal quorum and regularly have to wait for the reduced quorum option and then still not always get a quorum.

The new by-laws did change a procedure in the approving the Rabbi's contract. Formerly, the proposal from the Board could be amended by the general membership, as was done for the sitting Senior Rabbi. The individual pushing against the proposed change to reduce the general membership option to an open or down vote on the proposal without amendment was the same individual who when the Rabbi's contract was proposed for 2 years promoted a 5 year contract instead. This was pass almost unanimously by mob rule. When asked if this wasn't an emotional decision without the normal discussion and input, the individual said of course not. The congregation is very thoughtful and reads all of the documents sent to them and views each issue weighing it carefully, pros and cons and looks at the long term consequences of its decision. Right, who is he trying to fool. This is the same congregation that stampedes to the Kiddush table and devours the scraps of food as if it were the last supper. The same congregation who allows their children to leave their plates full of food on the carpet waiting for someone else to clean up. Even the Rabbi said in confidence that although the change from 2 to 5 seemed like a good idea at the time, it probably cost him money because he might have gotten a better contract if were renewed after 2 years than he got negotiating for a 5 year term.

So, three hours later everything passed. What will I do with my new found time? More blog writing and trying to be funnier as opposed to so documentary.

Life moves forward and I ramble on ... I will try to focus but maybe not.