On August 31st, the CEH Board of Directors undertook its first training session with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) in a program called Sulam for Current Leaders. Through the course of this program, the board will work on developing visioning and goals, developing membership volunteerism, and improving the functionality and overall governance of the synagogue. It’s a six-to-eight month process during which board members will work with a facilitator from the USCJ and will brainstorm and collaborate. Then a core group, comprised of the President, First Vice President, Chair of the Leadership and Nominating Committee and a non-board member facilitator, assisted by the Leadership and Nominating committee, will take those ideas and create action plans to achieve the goals identified.

In the first session, the board identified the most pressing issues regarding board functioning. The core group is in the process of developing the action plan prior to providing it to the Leadership and Nominating Committee. It will then go to the board in October.

The next session will be at the end of October (after the holidays) and will focus on identifying and improving the structure of governance and committees to make sure that we use resources and engage our congregants to the best of our ability, respectfully, efficiently and effectively.

We look forward to continuing to engage in this effort and to bring the results to bear. The congregation as a whole may not see the immediate benefits, but a well-functioning board with a vision for itself and a good committee structure makes for a more smoothly-run synagogue. And that is to everyone’s benefit.

If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact Jeanne Howard, chair of the Leadership and Nominating committee, at mrs.jeanne.howard@gmail.com.