I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits. In thinking ahead of our next congregational meeting (Sunday, April 28, 4 pm at Grove Ave.) to hire a cantor, additional steps are being taken regarding the structure of the meeting, especially concerning the challenges on Zoom that we faced during the February 25 meeting to hire a rabbi.
In the weeks since we last communicated broadly with the Congregation, Kristin Gorin, our Senior Vice President has had many one-on-one conversations. She took a deep dive into how the meeting was structured and how we can do better next time. Thank you to Kristin for taking this vital project on, and thank you to those who gave your time and insights.
Immediately following the Feb. 25 special meeting, we apologized for the poor sound quality, lack of displayed slides, and inefficient voting process. Since then, we have received additional feedback about the confusion regarding the voting process and the voting tallies, leading to frustration for Zoom users. We apologize for those errors and oversights. Before the meeting, having a streamlined voting process should have been highly prioritized, but it was not. Consequently, there were likely minor discrepancies in the yes and no vote tallies. Though these errors were unintentional, we recognize this should not have happened. Despite the mistakes, we can certify that the margin of error would not have changed the outcome of the vote.
The constitutional requirement per Section 11.h states that for the initial hire of new clergy with a term of greater than one year, at least 2/3rds (67%) of those members in attendance that cast a vote need to approve the hire, and we far surpassed the required percentage.
The steps we take to hire a Rabbi or Cantor: 1. The President appoints a search committee. Per the constitution, at least four members must be non-Board members. The search committee shepherds the majority of the process, including all candidate interactions, resume reviews, Zoom interviews, hosting candidates for in-person visits, obtaining feedback from other committees and the Congregation at large, and reference checks. Ultimately, the search committee’s task is to recommend hiring the best candidate. (The Rabbi Search Committee’s vote to hire Rabbi Salston was unanimous.)
2. The personnel committee enters into negotiations with the candidate of choice. A successful negotiation concludes with the signing of a “term sheet” outlining the critical parameters of the role, including compensation and other benefits. The term sheet is contingent on several items, including the following steps.
3. The search and personnel committees present their recommendations and a summary of the term sheet to the Board of Governors. The Board considers this recommendation and, if in agreement (by a 2/3 vote), forwards a recommendation to the Congregation to hire the candidate. (The Board’s vote to hire Rabbi Salston was unanimous.)
5. These recommendations are presented to the Congregation at an annual or special meeting. Once again, a 2/3rds (67%) vote in favor is required for the motion to pass. (The congregational vote surpassed this requirement by at least 10 percentage points.)
6. Finally, with the completion of the steps above, a full contract is negotiated and signed.
To read the Temple Beth-El constitution, click here .
We also received feedback about unanswered questions from congregants at the special meeting both on Zoom and in person. The questions the search committee did not have a clear answer to should have been proposed to Rabbi Salston for her to answer them, as they were asked. Moving forward, when we don’t have a clear understanding of a candidate’s answer, we will follow up directly with the candidate and allow the candidate to respond. We will then follow up as necessary.
We are incorporating your feedback and suggestions into the planning process of the next special meeting to ensure a better experience on Zoom.
As always, the Board and I welcome any and all feedback. Our community is at its strongest when we work together. Please do not hesitate to contact me, Kristin, or anyone on the Board on this or any topic. Click here for a list of lay leadership.
Respectfully,
Isaac Skromne President, Temple Beth-El ____________________________________
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