Committee News - September 2004

From the Social Action Committee

Get Out the Vote 2004

"One of the most important rights we have as Americans is the right to vote. …a right that is doubly precious because it has been ours so rarely in Jewish history." "For the past 80 years American Jews have voted in overwhelming numbers. This magnified our role in American political life. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case… these numbers are not as strong as they once were, especially in the 18-35 year old bracket." There may be close to one million Jews who do not vote.

In a nationwide effort to reverse this trend, we encourage newcomers to our state, elderly persons who have recently moved, college students and young adults or any others who are not yet registered -to register to vote! The deadline for New Mexico is 28 days before the election. For registration or voting information: Board of Elections 827-3600, www.sos.state.nm.us/Election/ElectionInfo.htm; League of Women Voters, 884-8441. Copies of the national mail-in registration form is available in the Social Action Committee mail box in the temple office.

Collections Update: School Supplies are needed for students at Dolores Gonzales Elementary school. Bring pencils, notebooks, binders, backpacks, glue, pencils, scissors etc. to the foyer collection bin during September.

If you would like to volunteer for any of our projects, please call Judy Smith or Toby Friedman.

Note: We meet quarterly from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dates will be listed in the September, December, March and June calendars that are in the bulletins.

Shalom,
Judy Smith & Toby Friedman, co-chairs

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From the Caring Committee

Shanah Tova to all.

The Caring Committee wishes each of you a very sweet and healthy New Year. Through our volunteers, we have met more than half of the Congregation Albert family this past year touching some 300 families - with our Soup `n Challah, homebound, bereavement and rides programs. While much of our outreach is sparked by illness or loss, we all are enriched by meeting more and more members of our community, and even in times of great sadness, warm smiles of friendship pass between us.

The Caring Committee appreciates each of its volunteers and has room for more. We serve the entire Congregation Albert community.

Perhaps you could deliver a soup and challah on a Friday afternoon once a month, or visit a homebound member during the week. Or, maybe you like to make soup and would be interested in replenishing our inventory. Even more important, if you know of a congregant that would benefit from our programs, please alert either Rabbi Black or Cantor Finn. Remember that the Caring Committee is clergy-driven, meaning that we reach out to members that have been identified by the clergy.

For more information on our particular programs, please contact me or one of the following members of the Caring Committee: Soup `n Challah, Henri Courtnage for deliveries and Marina Rabinowitz for soup donations; visiting the homebound, Ruth Mondlick; and Pearl Gross for bereavement support.

The Caring Committee,
Shawn Perry-Turner, chair

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Open Mind Brown Bag Lunch

Our guest speaker will be

Dede Feldman, State Senator

Thursday, September 23, 2004
12:00 noon

Topic: Health Care for New Mexicans

Among her many committee involvements, Dede Feldman is co-chair of the Interim Health and Human Services Committee and Interim Legislative Health Subcommittee.

Please join us for this stimulating discussion.
Call Pearl Gross for more information.

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From TASTY

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and is prepared for another great year with our high school youth group. We hit the ground running with our first regional Kallah in Prescott, Arizona over Labor Day weekend.

We will hold our annual Yom Kippur food drive this month as well as have some fun filled events here in town. October 21-24 we will be hosting a Leadership Training Institute for our region.

There will be 70-80 young persons who will need housing accommodations for the duration of the Leadership Training Institute.

If you can lend a hand or just want information about TASTY or housing please call Robin Sena.

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