Kol Halev - Cleveland's Reconstructionist Jewish Community

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    Kol HaLev's new governance model (2019)

    On March 4, 2019, the community passed a new bylaws amendment formalizing the process for governance model change. (A big thank you to the 115+ members who responded so quickly to our call for votes.) On March 6, 2019, the board voted to authorize a trial run of the proposed new governance model which will go into effect in FY2020, which begins July 1, 2019.

     

    Get involved in creating our community!

    The goals of the new governance model include:

    • Reducing the size and power of the board
    • Reducing the number of levels in the decision-making process
    • Increasing communication between leaders and the larger community
    • Routinely inviting community members to participate in the work of the community
    • Giving members easy access to all the information they need to participate fully in the community

    We've heard from many members who want to help us meet these goals but who need different or more flexible volunteer opportunies than we offer. Some people are willilng to help with projects as long as they're not in charge of them; some members prefer tasks with immediate results; some don't want to go to meetings; some want to engage more fully but have time restrictions.

    If you're willing to get more involved in the work of Kol HaLev at any level, you can be in touch with co-president Lila Hanft or Rabbi Steve at any time to learn more and discuss your interests. Be thinking about your preferences with regard to the size of job, the degree of authority, skills, passions and limitations, etc. that you feel would be suit your needs and interests.

    Thanks in advance! We appreciate and value your help, your ideas, your energy and your time.

     

    Want to learn more about the model and the way it came to be?

    You can read more here:

    • The full-length Proposal for the Proposed New Governance Model (38 pages, including figures, appendexes, endnotes and works cited), which includes: 
      • Overview of the research and study conducted by the Governance Working Group
      • Assessment of Kol HaLev's current operational reality (i.e. how work actually gets done)
      • Differences between old and new governance models with rationale for the changes and supporting research
      • Full descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of a) individual board positions and b) the board as a whole
    • The Executive Summary of the Proposal (10 pages), which includes;
      • Overview of Kol HaLev's current operational reality (i.e. how work actually gets done)
      • Differences between the old and new governance models
      • ​Full descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of a) individual board positions and b) the board as a whole
         
    • A Google Docs folder containing the some of the research that figured most prominently in the creation of the new governance model, divided into 5 subfolders: 
      • Readings: Synagogue/church governance 
      • Readings: nonprofit organizational structures 
      • Readings: "Working" boards  
      • Readings: Community engagement  
      • Researching other synagogues 
         
    • This chart of board roles and responsibilities (it is included in both the long and short versions of the new governance proposal, but if you want to see the bare bones of the new model, this is it.) 

     

     

     


     

    Most services and programs are currently being held online! Visit our home page for more information.

    Office: 2245 Warrensville Center Road, Suite 215 . University Heights, OH 44118 . (216) 320-1498

    Kol HaLev is affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

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