From the Dues Committee - March 1999

Where does the time go! You will soon be receiving dues pledge materials in the mail. These are being sent earlier than in past years so that you can take the time to better plan your dues pledge for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st. Remember, dues can be paid monthly, and credit cards are accepted.

When we began this column back in November, our primary purpose was to create awareness for and inform you about where your dues dollars go. Left unsaid in previous columns is the remarkable effort of the temple leadership and administration to not only hold down expenses, but to actually reduce them from the previous fiscal year. The cost of running Congregation Albert this year (exclusive of the religious school) is budgeted to be down 8% from the previous fiscal year. The driving force for highlighting the importance of pledging your Fair Share…or more, if you are able…and reducing expenses, has been to get the congregation on a more sound financial footing. We believe that we are on the right track.

This has not come without some sacrifices. A number of projects have been deferred until such time as monies can be made available. Also, we know that some spiritual and educational needs of the congregational community are going unmet. The Budget Committee is hard at work trying to accommodate the everyday needs of the congregation along with addressing both deferred projects and unmet needs. Out of their effort will come the cost for sustaining a membership at Congregation Albert in ‘99/2000, which is currently $1,200, or $100 a month.

Which brings us to the dues policy for Congregation Albert. Let’s take a moment to review it.

Each member is asked to pay dues in accordance with his ability to pay. We suggest using 2% of gross income as a guideline for determining a member’s dues. When applying this guideline, each member is expected to pay at least the actual cost of membership, if they are able. The actual cost of membership may vary each year and is determined by taking the budget for the new year and dividing it by the number of household members.

While members of Congregation Albert who are unable to pay the actual cost of membership are always welcome, everyone is expected to try and maintain the 2% guideline. Those whose self-assessment of dues is more than the actual cost of membership will be performing the mitzvah of helping others who cannot afford the actual cost of membership. They will also help support the development of new programs and activities.

This year has seen a continued turnaround in the financial health of your congregation. This is a result of the "giving" of many of our members either through a donation of time, or by pledging more than the actual cost of membership. We hope you will be equally as generous in the next pledge drive. Remember, your generosity beyond the actual cost of membership will help to ensure that we will be able to continue our policy of keeping our doors open to all who wish to join us, regardless of their ability to pay.

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