Welcoming New Members

WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS &

INTRODUCING NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKS

by Sara Schwindt, Director of Membership and Engagement

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the full-time Director of Membership and Engagement for Temple Israel of Boston. Since I started in November, I have had conversations with a wide variety of members, staff, and clergy, and have been consistently impressed by the diversity, passion, and creativity of the Temple Israel community. I am tremendously excited to be joining the Temple Israel staff at such a significant moment in the history of the synagogue.

My job here at Temple Israel has two facets: On the membership side, I work with the Executive Director and the Membership Committee to ensure that all of the operations related to every step of the membership journey run smoothly and result in the best membership experience possible, with the ultimate goal of fostering strong growth at Temple Israel. On the engagement side, I work with various staff and committees to ensure that every member of Temple Israel knows they are a valued member of the TI community, fully engaged and connected and truly knowing that this is their spiritual home. Directly related to this goal are the Neighborhood Networks, which aim to foster a sense of community within Temple Israel and are smaller communities centered around the geographic sections of the Greater Boston area.

Each network will be holding events both at Temple Israel and at homes and locations in the local neighborhoods. The past few months have seen activities including Yom Kippur break-fasts, a Chanukah party in Brookline, and Shabbat dinners—and there are many more exciting events in the works, including trips to art, music, and sports events; sukkah builds; jam sessions; and more.

If you are interested in helping to plan events in your neighborhood, I would love to talk with you. We are always looking for people to help out, whether by planning or hosting events, or just by spreading the word about Neighborhood Networks and encourage others to participate. For more information, or if you are interested in getting involved, please contact me at sschwindt@tisrael.org or 617-566-3960.

Please helP us welcome our newesT members:

• Susan Gold (Sophia Cecchin, 12) • Elaine Abrams • Deborah and Remy Isdaner (Harper, 2) • Lee Coombs • Doron and Shayla Harlev (Ella, 7; Jonathan, 5; Amy, 1) • Aliza and Matt Schneller (Hannah, 3)

we currenTly have, or are sTarTIng, neIghborhood neTworks for The followIng areas:

• Brookline • Jamaica Plain/Roslindale/West Roxbury • Boston • Newton/Needham/Wellesley • Cambridge/Somerville • North Shore

ENERGy EFFICIENCy TIPS FOR BOSTON HOMEOWNERS

Data from US Energy Information Agency and National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• Stop the air leaks around windows and doors (for older home this reduces yearly heating fuel use by 25 % or more)

• Change all bulbs from incandescent to LED or

Compact Fluorescent (saves 75 to 85 % of electricity for lighting ) • Install a simple clock thermostat to set back the temperature at night and during unoccupied daytime hours (saves 10 to 15 % of yearly heating fuel use)

• For a typical home in Boston a 25% reduction in yearly heating fuel consumption eliminates as much

CO2 emissions as 80 to 120 square feet of a Solar PV roof panel ( 1/3 to ½ of a 4 kW solar system)