Temple Sinai Adult Engagement Strategy

ADULT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

Background on Director of Adult Engagement Position Since starting at Temple Sinai of Roslyn three years ago, Adrianne Rubin has worked to ensure that we have a robust calendar of diverse programs that appeal to as many constituents as possible in our community and beyond. She has incorporated more visual arts programming, as well as niche programming for various segments of our population (i.e. parenting workshops for young parents, small cooking events for foodies, etc.). This program year especially, Adrianne increased the number and frequency of programs, since people are home and seeking intellectual stimulation and a sense of community. Adult Engagement has been able to get many speakers free of charge or for a nominal fee, and they have collaborated with numerous external institutions, as well as with Friend of a Friend and Youth Engagement, respectively, on more events than in years past. And with the help of the clergy, TSR has taken part in more co-sponsored events with neighboring institutions, often interfaith. Since the pandemic began, Adrianne has ensured there has been phone outreach to each congregant/family, making many calls herself and enlisting a corps of dedicated congregant volunteers, including many of you.

Adult Engagement Committee The Adult Engagement Committee's mission is to enhance the Congregation's knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Jewish experience. In cooperation with Temple Sinai's Clergy, the Committee researches, develops, and implements relevant programming and events.

The Committee's tasks are: Research and explore program possibilities and potential topics of interest Develop relevant, varied, and informative programming Ensure programs/events are effectively publicized Implement all logistical aspects of programming (i.e. meals, reservations, etc.)

Current Areas of Engagement Temple Sinai currently engages our community in several ways. Areas of engagement can be understood within the following categories:

Programming: Programming invites current and prospective congregants into the TSR community by connecting them to the things that interest them (i.e. activities, events, and classes) Immersive Experiences: Congregants are brought together by shared interest and experience; they have intense bonding time with fellow congregants, as well as clergy, outside the walls of TSR; relationships are then brought back to TSR (i.e. congregational trips and travel missions) Worship: Worship experiences create space for individuals to connect deeply to their faith, clergy team, Jewish ritual and tradition, and one another (i.e. Friday night services, Morning Minyan, High Holy Day services) Life-Cycle Events: Brit Milah, baby naming, B’nei Mitzvah, weddings, funerals (i.e. reaching out to surviving spouse after Shloshim to find ways for them to get involved at TSR)

Current Areas of Engagement cont.

Leadership: Inviting congregants into leadership roles allows them to see themselves as stake-holders in the current and future success of TSR (i.e. Board, committees, and task forces) Individual Outreach: Providing personalized attention to our congregants allows each person to feel seen and heard

by Temple Sinai and helps people stay connected. *This has been especially crucial during the pandemic (i.e. staff to congregant calls; congregant to congregant calls - both adult to adult and teen to adult - one-on-one socially distanced visits with clergy or with fellow congregants) Donation of Material Resources: Congregants give back to their temple community and the larger community through financial support and/or the donation of needed goods and products. In so doing, they gain a sense of Tikkun Olam central to TSR’s mission (i.e. Social Action Committee’s monthly drives)

Worship Donation of Needed Goods

Financial Donations

Programming

Current Areas of Engagement

Individual Outreach

Life Cycle Events

Immersive Life Cycle Events Experiences

Leadership

Prospective Engagement Initiatives In addition to current engagement opportunities, there are also several prospective engagement initiatives:

Small Groups: Bring together approx. 6-8 people, either by age and stage or by affinity to form bonds outside of TSR, which they can then bring into TSR (i.e. go to services and events/programs together) Modified Membership Dues Structure: Create more “a la carte” style options and/or tiered options to make membership more financially feasible/attractive to prospective congregants Family Programming: Provide opportunities for parents and children (of various ages) to attend programs together Increase Intergenerational Programming: Create more offerings along the lines of the Adult/Teen Conversations taking place this year, co-sponsored

by Adult Engagement and Youth Engagement Customized Programming: Provide desired programs based on information garnered from congregants through conversations, focus groups, and, in future, "avenues of engagement" survey

Small Groups

Customized Programming

Prospective Engagement Initiatives

Intergenerational Programming

Modified Membership Dues Structure

Family Programming

Expanding Adult Engagement Engagement by Target Groups: Temple Sinai is committed to engaging 100% of our congregation, and we are working strategically to achieve this goal. To that end, we have identified several target groups who are currently under-engaged, with an eye toward engaging them more deeply in the future.

Strategy: Make sure that our programmatic slate provides on-ramps for every age and stage reflected in our community

Expanding Adult Engagement cont.

We also want to engage congregants based on shared interests and passion areas using the following mechanisms: Small Groups Arcs of Engagement (i.e. using attendance tracking to help chart future participation)

Strategy: Help people build meaningful relationships with their fellow congregants to anchor them more firmly to Temple Sinai

ECC Parents

20-Somethings

Currently UnderEngaged Populations

Parents of CollegeAged Kids and Empty Nesters

Religious School Parents

Parents of Teens

Membership Retention

Financial Donations

New Member Acquisition

Metrics for Success

Program Attendance

Small Groups Life Cycle Events Participation

Feedback Taking on Leadership Roles

Telling Our Stories and Measuring Success We recognize how valuable data can be to tell our story and measure success. At this juncture in the synagogue’s evolution, this is of critical importance. Here are ways we currently, and will in future, track engagement at Temple Sinai: Chart last five years’ membership numbers Chart program attendance Track individual congregant engagement: this includes one-on-one interactions, group activities, repeat attendance, one-off attendance (*while this data is currently unavailable, it will be available in future years)

So ci et y

W ed di ng

Li fe tim e Sp ec Ar rI nd Sp ec Ar rF am

Le v

Af fil ia te

In di vi du al Yo un g Fa m ily

Fa m ily

2016/17-2020/21 MEMBERSHIP SNAPSHOT

600

400

200

0

2016/17-2020/21 MEMBERSHIP DROPS 125

100

75

50

25

0

2016/2017

2017/2018

2018/2019

2019/2020

2020/2021

Engagement Strategy Outline for 2021-2025

Engagement Strategy Outline for 2021-2025 cont.

RECENT ANECDOTAL FEEDBACK

Keep doing what you’re doing; we are so appreciative.

Temple Sinai has done an amazing job of keeping us all connected.

We joined Temple Sinai because of all of the wonderful adult programming. You offer such a wide array of classes, concerts, and interesting speakers, and it's all done with such a warm, welcoming spirit.

I love my Sinai.

Especially during these strange, seemingly endless, conditions we’re living under, Temple Sinai has majorly added a wonderful dimension to my life, & the lives of those who participate in its programs.

The virtual programs, much like the excellent live programs, cover a wide range of interests.

Spiritual, educational, entertaining and supportive Zooms are all available on a daily basis.

Many Zooms have been intergenerational and others are geared to specific age groups.

Even during quarantine, we feel connected and in touch with our Sinai family.