August 2010

Dear Members and Supporters of Temple Beth Sholom:                                             

In recent years, Temple Beth Sholom has asked you to consider paying dues at the beginning of the fiscal year.   This has helped us to plan for the fiscal and academic year. TBS has a Fair Share/Sliding Scale Dues Policy.   We ask member households to pledge dues based on total family income. Suggested dues are listed below.  

For more than fifteen years we have sustained our level of activity based almost entirely on voluntary prescribed dues.  Only occasionally have we had to dip into our savings, generally for building repairs and maintenance.   Our ancient septic system is still functioning, but when it goes, we will have a big budget item.

              In the last two years we haveexperimented with more frequent student rabbi visits and found that attendance at services and adult education was high throughout the year. We will continue approximately every 3 week visits after High Holidays for the coming year. We have thus far avoided having to raise dues for this purpose, but have run operationally in the red last year.  Please try to be generous to support this increase in services.

We are also asking you to help keep our membership and contact records up to date. PLEASE COMPLETE THE PLEDGE FORM BELOW AND THE SECOND PAGE and return with your check in the postage-paid envelope provided.  If you have a Hebrew name, please include it, with that of your parents (if known).  We will compile a list of congregants' Hebrew names to keep on the bima, which will make the student rabbi's job easier during services.

           Regardless of financial contribution, all are welcome at Temple gatherings and services with no questions asked and no need for any concern.  We would prefer to have people here rather than an unused sanctuary.  Members of a household who are unable to contribute for financial reasons can still be considered full members and able to vote as a member household.  Please let us know, and we will make sure you are on our membership roll.

A sincere thank you for your commitment and generosity.       

TempleBeth Sholom is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism.

                 Candace Worthington, President                                     Daniel Arnold, Treasurer

2009-2010 TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM FAIR SHARE CONTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

Family Gross Income                                                                 Suggested Fair Share

Less than $25,000…………………………..................................……………..$240    ($ 20/month)

Between $25,000 and $50,000…………………………...............................$720    ($ 60/month)

Between $50,000 and $100,000……..............................…………..….…$1200   ($100/month)

Over $100,000………………………....................................…………………..$1800   ($150/month) or more

Contributions are made on an annual basis, but other schedules, such as monthly, are also most welcome. Each fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. We will gladly accept donations above and beyond the suggested fair share. We also welcome donations to specific earmarked funds:

A.   Medical Care Access Coalition (Funds will be donated in the name of Temple Beth Sholom.)

B.   Hillel Fund at NMU

C.   Temple Board Discretionary Fund (for assistance of members in need)

Fair Share Contribution enclosed $                             

Additional donation of $                  enclosed.  Designated fund:  A  B  C   (circle & write on check)