CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL

     When I was asked to try to do the job, some people said it couldn't be done. They said no one would raise their Temple dues in these hard economic times, especially since all members' dues were only recently raised by 10%. However, when the membership was shown that, even with expenses cut to the bone, the 10% raise still left the Temple with a deficit of almost $9,000 for 2009 and an almost $16,000 projected deficit for 2010, enough members came through with enough in additional dues raises to give the Temple just about the $16,000 more in dues that it needed to make the income equal the expenses for 2010.  

     I say congratulations to the entire Congregation because we had members who cared enough and who were able to raise their dues again and did so when they saw the need, and many thanks to those persons.

     Of course, the Temple has another need: roof repairs that are projected to cost between $125,000 and $250,000. That expense is expected to be met by each member donating the amount of one month's dues each year for five years, which sum will be matched by the Endowment Fund, and two years of such donations have already been collected. Now that many members have raised their monthly dues, the question arose as to whether those members should be billed for the 13th month dues donation they have been making or at their new monthly dues amount. 

     The Board has decided that every member who has not paid the full five years of the 13th month dues amount donation in advance shall be billed in January of each of the years remaining to be paid, the amount of one month's dues that they are paying that January, with the option to pay the amount for one month of the previous year, instead, if they write the Temple office and ask for that reduction.

     And now I wish to thank everyone who helped me to make our recent drive for increased dues a success.

John Simon