Dear Temple Beth El Members,
This is a milestone year—Temple Beth El is turning 175! As we look back with pride on our rich history and all we’ve accomplished together, we also look ahead with excitement toward a bold and vibrant future. Our 175th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 will be a celebration of that legacy and a powerful reflection of who we are today.
We’ll come together to honor extraordinary individuals, share important updates, vote on key leadership positions and a proposed package of Bylaws amendments to help strengthen our Temple for years to come.
Honoring Our Volunteers
Every year, one of the most inspiring parts of the meeting is recognizing those who help our community thrive.
This year, I am happy to present the President’s Cup to Rochelle Nelson, long-time member and volunteer. And Rabbi Miller will be presenting this year’s Volunteer Spirit Awards to Bruce Kaczander, Beth Michelson, and Bruce Plisner.
I hope to see many of you there to help us thank and congratulate each of our award recipients.
Leadership for the Future
We’ll also vote on a new slate of officers and trustees as recommended by this year’s Nominating Committee. This dedicated leadership team is ready to guide us into our next chapter with passion and purpose. View the full slate below:
President
To serve a two-year term, ending June 30, 2027:
Steve Tarnowsky
Officers
To serve a one-year term, ending June 30, 2026:
Vice President: Ray Henney
Vice President: Claude Reitelman
Vice President: Jared Rothberger
Vice President: Carol Plisner
Treasurer: Sarah Lyngaas
Secretary: Anne Weiner
Board of Trustees
To serve a one-year term, ending June 30, 2026:
Cindy Hecht
To serve a first three-year term, ending June 30, 2028:
Judy Roberts
To complete the term of a Board member who is becoming an officer (and who will subsequently be eligible to begin their own term as a Board member):
Lenny Kerwin (for Anne Weiner, ending 2027)
To serve on the nominating committee for 2026-2027:
Caryn Emmer, Adam Kessler, and Keith Schonberger
Strengthening Our Foundation
After several years of recognizing the need for updates, the Temple Beth El Board of Trustees Executive Committee tasked an ad-hoc Bylaws committee to review and recommend changes to ensure our congregation’s governance remains effective and efficient. Over the past several months, the Committee has worked closely with the Board to discuss proposed amendments.
On April 22, 2025, the Board of Trustees voted and approved a package of Bylaw changes to be brought to the congregation for a vote at the Annual Meeting on June 11, 2025. Approval will require an affirmative vote by at least two-thirds of the Regular Members in Good Standing present (in person or by proxy), with a quorum of at least forty such members. The Board unanimously recommends approval of this package of Bylaws.
A Zoom information session will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 5:00–6:00 p.m. for anyone who has questions or would like more information about the proposed Bylaws changes. Contact Rachel Ellis CLICK HERE for the zoom link.
Key changes include:
We look forward to your participation and vote as we work together to strengthen the governance of Temple Beth El.
We’ve come so far since 1850—and yet we’re just getting started. This 175th year is not only a celebration of where we’ve been, but a launching point for what’s next. I hope you’ll join us—in person or virtually—for this exciting Annual Meeting and be part of shaping the next chapter in the Temple Beth El story.
Steve Tarnowsky
TBE President
