Draft Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of The Movement for Reform Judaism held on Sunday, 30th June 2019 Held at The Sternberg Centre, 80 East End Road, London, N3 2SY Meeting Chair: Geoffrey Marx 1 D’var Torah 1487. The D’var Torah was given by Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, based on readings from the Reform Judaism siddur. 2 Chair’s Welcome and Report 1488. Geoffrey Marx (GM), Chair, welcomed those present and online. Attendees, Online Attendees and Apologies are attached as APPENDIX A. GM also asked us to remember those who were no longer with us – this list is attached as APPENDIX B. 3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Sunday 2nd December 2018 3.1 To Amend, Approve and Sign the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Sunday 2nd December 2018 1489. The Minutes were approved unanimously by those in attendance and those online. The minutes were signed by the Chair. 3.2 Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Sunday 24th June 2018 1490. There were no matters arising. 4 Treasurer’s Report and Accounts 4.1 To Receive the Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2018 1491. A question was asked referring to the free reserves which were above the recommended range and the reason given was that, over the next few years, it was likely that these reserves would be dipped into bringing the figure inside the range within the next two to three years. 1492. It was also queried why the figure for Governance was high and included accountancy costs, which was not the norm. Chief Operating Officer, Debbie Doobay responded that we had been instructed to record this in this way by our auditors, but she would question it further. 1493. Richard Woolf, Sha'arei Tsedek, proposed acceptance of the Trustees’ Report and it was seconded by Andres Kupfer, Wimbledon. A show of hand was asked for; there were 25 in favour, none against and five abstentions. Contd …. Page 1 of 12 Draft Minutes - AGM – Sunday, 30th June 2019 Contd ….. 4.2 To appoint Auditors for the Year 1494. It was proposed by Mike Salida, Finchley Reform, and seconded by David Brown, Alyth, to re-appoint Nyman Libson Paul as auditors for the year. This was carried unanimously. 5 To Elect/Re-elect the Movement for Reform Judaism’s Board of Trustees for 2019 1495. Thanks were offered to retiring Board Members, Sherry Ashworth, Brenda Dinsdale and Debbie Jacobs, for all their efforts as Board members. 1496. A response in verse, to the tune of ‘Three Little Maids’, was given by Brenda Dinsdale and Debbie Jacobs. 1497. Sue Pearlman (SP) asked for a proposer for Geoffrey Marx to be re-elected as Chair. Mike Salida, Finchley Reform, proposed and this was seconded by Irene Blaston, Radlett. 29 were in favour, none against and one abstention. 1498. GM asked for a proposer for Sue Pearlman to stand for re-election as Honorary Secretary. David Safir proposed, Debbie Jacobs seconded and this was carried unanimously. 1499. GM asked for a proposer to elect new Board Members, Mark Fox – West London, Kathy Hirst – Finchley Reform, Nicki Karet – Alyth, Ian Lancaster – North West Surrey, Elliot Perry – Alyth, Roy Saatchi – Manchester, Laura Solomons – RSY-Netzer and Madeline Young – West London. Proposed by Sue Pearlman and seconded by Brenda Dinsdale. This was carried unanimously. 1500. It was suggested that, for future elections, nominees are voted for individually. 6 To Approve the Board’s Recommendation for Sir Trevor Chinn to Continue for a Second Term as RJ President 1501. Grateful thanks were offered to Sir Trevor for his work as President and for his support of Reform Judaism. 1502. Mike Salida, Finchley, proposed and this was seconded by Elliot Perry, Alyth. A show of hands resulted in this being carried unanimously. 7 A.o.B. 7.1 Yammer 1503. Yammer is an online social networking tool, which it is hoped will help communities to engage better together. It can be used to share files and be used for conversations. It can have open or closed groups. If you wish to join please contact either Sarita ([email protected]) or Amit ([email protected]) and you will be sent the link. This is also open to all members of your community. Contd …. Page 2 of 12 Draft Minutes - AGM – Sunday, 30th June 2019 Contd ….. 7.2 Draft Strategy 1504. Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner (LJK) responded to a question asking where the Reform Judaism draft strategy was up to. She said that when reviewing the draft, it was felt that it needed more work, that it wasn’t strong enough or bold enough. There are three strands, a grass roots, storytelling medium term strand which is a longer, slower process, the second strand is using trained people to facilitate what can be done which is a more thorough methodological strategic process and the third strand is called ideation, based on fast thinking and deciding what cannot be done. Anyone who would like to be involved should get in touch. 7.3 Closing 1505. GM closed by offering thanks to all the staff of Reform Judaism. 1506. LJK offered thanks to the Board and in particular to the Chair, Geoffrey Marx. Immediately following the AGM, the meeting continued with a number of facilitated Covenant Workshops. The tasks (Exercise Shalhevet) that were used in these workshops are attached as Appendix C. The Facilitator will summarise the findings of these workshops and the Covenant Group will consider these as part of their next meeting. I also attach the tasks that were used in these workshops. Appendices: Appendix A – List of Attendees, Online Attendees and Apologies Appendix B – We Remember Appendix C – Covenant Workshop Tasks Please note the date of the next meeting: Leadership Meeting - Sunday, 3rd November 2019 Page 3 of 12 Appendix A Reform Judaism, Annual General Meeting Sunday 30th June 2019 Attendees Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu Sha'arei Tsedek Rabbi James Baaden Sha'arei Tsedek Mr Jeremy Bard Kol Chai Mrs. Nicola Bard Kol Chai Mr Russell Baum Alyth Mrs Irene Blaston Radlett Reform Mrs Janet Brand EHRS Mr David Brown Alyth Mr Michael Dalton SWESRS Mrs Brenda Dinsdale Newcastle Reform Mr Brian Dinsdale Newcastle Reform Mrs. Priscilla Dorrance Milton Keynes Mr Mark Fox West London Mr Peter Fraser Kol Chai Mrs Lois George Shir Hayim Rabbi. Naomi Goldman Kol Chai Rabbi Mark Goldsmith EHRS Mr David Grossman Radlett Reform Dr. Maureen Grossman Radlett Reform Mrs Kathy Hirst Finchley Mr Bob Humphreys Finchley Mrs Debbie Jacobs Finchley Mrs Nicki Karet Efrat Alyth Mr. Andres Kupfer Wimbledon Mr Ian Lancaster North West Surrey Ms Barbara Levy Sinai, Leeds Miss Sophie Lipton Kol Chai Mr. Daniel Mackintosh Willesden Minyan Mr Geoffrey Marx West London Dr Lynette Nusbacher North West Surrey Mrs Sue Pearlman Finchley Mr Elliot Perry Alyth Mr Roy Saatchi Manchester Reform Mr David Safir Mosaic Reform Mr Michael Salida Finchley Ms Rachel Savage Sukkat Shalom Mrs Liz Sawyer North West Surrey Contd … Page 4 of 12 Appendix A - Lists of Attendees, Online Attendees and Apologies Contd ….. Attendees (Contd) Miss Laura Solomons RSY-Netzer Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick Reform Judaism Rabbi Kath Vardi North West Surrey Mr Richard Woolf Sha'arei Tsedek Ms Madeline Young West London Online Attendees Mrs Michelle Brooks Evans Bromley Reform Mrs Fortune Chamberlain Southport & District Dr Scott Chase Glasgow Reform Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe Southport & District Mr Michael Harris Brighton and Hove Miss Kathryn Michael Radlett Reform Mrs. Sarita Robinson Ne've Shalom Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky Menorah Synagogue Mr Ian Sugarman Ne've Shalom Mrs. Rebecca Teiger-Marcus Sinai, Leeds Mr Peter Vos Brighton and Hove In Attendance from Reform Judaism Mrs Ruth Aarons Ms. Debbie Doobay Mr Amit Handelsman Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner Mr. Gary Naseby Mrs. Sarita Robinson Mrs Gilly Shulman Page 5 of 12 Appendix A - Lists of Attendees, Online Attendees and Apologies Contd ….. Apologies Ms. Sue Bayliss Menorah Synagogue Mrs Valerie Berkson Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue Mrs Helen Bussell Newcastle Reform Synagogue Mr. Alan Cohen Harlow Jewish Community Mr Elliot Collins Ms. Debbie Danon The Willesden Minyan Cantor Zoe Jacobs Finchley Reform Synagogue Ms. Sue Kayne Maidenhead Synagogue Mr Brian Kriefman Maidenhead Synagogue Dr. Rudi Leavor Bradford Tree of Life Synagogue Mr Jose Lehmani Maidenhead Synagogue Mr Leslie Lipert Kehillat Kernow Dr Dolf Mogendorff Sinai Synagogue - Leeds Mr Adam Payne Maidenhead Synagogue Mr Alan Rae Liverpool Reform Synagogue Mr Steve Robbins SWESRS Mrs. Gail Royce Menorah Synagogue Mr Stephen Rubin West London Synagogue Mrs Anne Sheppard North West Surrey Synagogue Mr Ian Smiler Thanet & District Reform Synagogue Mr David Tilles The Wimbledon Synagogue Mrs Hannele Tilles The Wimbledon Synagogue Mr Hiram Veniar Maidenhead Synagogue Mr Steven Wynne Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue Page 6 of 12 Appendix B We Remember Date we were Relationship and to Name of Deceased Additional Information informed Whom 31 October 2018 Dennis Lewis Former President of NWSS and former Chair of LBC 13 December 2018 Jeffery Rose Father of Simon and VP of Reform Judaism, Chair of YASGB, Alyth, the Sunday European Region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (now EUPJ), Leo Baeck College and the Reform Foundation Trust. He served as Treasurer of the College and of the Centre for Jewish Education. 14 January 2019 Della Carr Jackie and Phil – Della’s Former Chair of SWESERS and Southend and of RJ’s Board daughter and son of Trustees 29 January 2019 Harvey Cohen Husband of Ruth and Former Patron and Vice-President of RJ father of Jonathan and David 21 February 2019 Rabbi Jeremy Collick Wife of Cindy, father of Former Rabbi at EDRS and Brighton and Hove Jacob and Joel 07 April 2019 Barry Deitch Chair of Coventry Reform 01 May 2019 Rabbi Harry Jacobi MBE Father of Rabbis Richard Harry was Liberal Judaism Vice-President and Dr Margaret Jacobi 01 May 2019 Rabbi Dr David Goldberg OBE David was Liberal Judaism Vice-President 21 June 2019 Mannie Maran Honorary Life President of SWESRS and former RSGB Honorary Treasurer Page 7 of 12 Page 8 of 12 Page 9 of 12 Page 10 of 12 Page 10 of 12 Page 11 of 12 Page 12 of 12 .