LitvakSIG Board Meeting March 9, 2008

10:00 AM PDT

Present: Gene Alpert, Judy Baston, Rose Cohen, David Hoffman, Eden Joachim, Howard Margol, Mike Posnick, Aaron Roetenberg

1) Treasurer's Report - Eden Joachim

ASSETS	AMOUNT	AS OF DATE
Checking account - BA from QB	$41,687.54	3/7/2008
BA CD's	$15,785.91	3/7/2008
Schwab	$4,590.00	3/7/08 approx
Transamerica	$36,949.75	3/7/2008
M & T Money Market	$5,191.04	2/29/2008
TOTAL	$104,204.24

We are maintaining about the same financial health month to month, while translation projects are proceeding.

2) Israeli Seminar - Rose Lerer Cohen

A variety of suggestions were made to encourage registration for the LitvakSIG Israeli Seminar, including posting in LitvakSIG Digest emphasizing that this would be the ideal venue for all of the people who live in Israel to get information about their Litvak heritage from all of the repositories that are in Israel.
The goal will be to attract as many Litvaks as possible this year, and build toward a larger attendance next year. We should see this effort as a starting point for building awareness of the LitvakSIG.

3) Ada Green's Donation of Vital Records

A motion was made to accept Ada Green's donation of Krakes and Vanziogola vital records, and sign a contract agreeing that they will. They are to go directly into the ALD where they will always be available to everyone. This motion passed unanimously and Mike agreed to write up the agreement for Ada and Howard to sign.

4) Nominating Committee

According to the bylaws, the President appoints one member from the board and one non board member. The LitvakSIG board appoints one member from the board and one non board member.

David moved that the Board approve Eden Joachim from the board and Linda Cantor from the membership to the Nominating Committee. Judy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

As President, Howard Margol, appointed Judy Baston from the board and Bill Israel from the membership to the Nominating committee.

5) Membership Report: Gene Alpert

We now have about 288 members.
Judy pointed out that once the nomination process is underway, it should motivate people who have let membership drop.
Eden mentioned that we have gotten dues payments from many people who were not members last year.

6) Open Board Position

David nominated Dorothy Leivers to be appointed to the Board to fill the open position as the Coordinator of Research Groups and Judy seconded the motion.. Everyone agreed that Dorothy is very pleasant and reliable. There was unanimous approval for Dorothy to fill Olga's one-year term on the Board.

7) Proposed Terms

In order to clarify the terms left for members of the Board, the following terms were discussed and confirmed unanimously.

A. 2 years left - Eden, David, Judy
B. 1 year left - Howard. Rose, Dorothy
C. 3 years - 3 new nominees to be elected this year.

8) Tax deduction for Canadian citizens .

Eden was contacted by a donor regarding donation benefits for Canadians. We will continue to explore avenues to try to get tax benefits for Canadian donors.

9) Lifetime Achievement Award Nomination Support for Howard Margol

Howard excused himself from the meeting at this time.
Judy noted that Howard has been nominated by the Tampa Bay JGS for a Lifetime Achievement Award. All members of the Board have been polled and have unanimously agreed to the letter. I would like to have a formal motion noting this approval by the Board.

This is not the primary nomination, but only a solicited letter of support, one of many testimonials that will accompany the extensive nominating application prepared by the Tampa Bay JGS.
Judy moved that the LitvakSIG Board approve this letter supporting his nomination.
Gene seconded it and it passed unanimously (with Howard Margol's abstention).
Mike urged individuals to send their own testimonial letters.
David, as Secretary, will send the letter on behalf of the Board.

Meeting Adjourned,
11:09 AM PDT

Respectively submitted,
David Hoffman
Secretary
LitvakSIG