Annual General Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the 40th Annual General Meeting of the Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue (as an unincorporated association) held on Thursday 12th November 2020 at 8.00pm via Zoom
Those present:
Jeff Soraff – in the Chair Rabbi Larry Becker Angela Jacobs – Minute taker Steve Wynne Frank Godson Reeva Godson Jeff Lustig
Oren Rosenmann Daniel Morgan-Thomas Melvin Pedro Tracy Pedro Rachel Savage Tony Leach Joel Ilson Stuart Jacobs
David Hamilton Alex Richendoller Andrew Lewis
The opening Prayer was provided by Rabbi Larry Becker.
Apologies for absence and welcome from the Chair of Council Jeff Soraff
The Chair reported that this meeting is being recorded.
The Hon Secretary reported she had received apologies from Mitzi Kalinsky.
Minutes of the 39th Annual General Meeting held on 14th November 2019 These have been posted on the synagogue website.
The Chair of the Council asked for any comments. There were none.
The Chair of Council asked for a Proposer and Seconder for the adoption of the Minutes.
Proposer Steve Wynne
Seconder Tony Leach
A vote took place on a show of hands. The proposal was carried.
Presentation of the Trustees Report The report was included in the mailing
Adoption of the Trustees Report.
The Chair of Council asked for a Proposer and Seconder for the adoption of the Trustees Report.
Proposer Jeff Lustig
Seconder Joel Ilson
A vote took place on a show of hands. The proposal was carried.
Presentation of the Accounts for the year 2019/2020 by Examiner Colin Burns
These were available from the Administrator either by email or hard copy by mail
As Colin Burns of Gerald Edelman had not attended the meeting the Hon Treasurer Jeff Lustig reported on the Accounts for the year 2019/2020.
The Hon Treasurer reported that these Accounts were presented to Council and prospective members of the Board of Trustees who were present at the Board meeting on 3 November 2020 and were approved. The Hon Treasurer’s report confirms that the Accounts have been prepared in accordance with the relevant statutory, constitutional, and recommended good financial reporting practice requirements for charities. His report also confirms that the unrestricted funds of the Synagogue, which have not been designated for specific use, have been maintained in reserve at a level equal to a minimum of three months’ projected expenditure throughout the year. That is in accordance with the Reserves Policy approved by Council in November last year and reaffirmed by the Board of Trustees at their last meeting.
Colin Burns our Independent Examiner has examined the Accounts and has certified them. In providing his certification he has made the following statement-:
‘In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
;
(b)
(i) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
(ii) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
requirements of the 2011 Act;
have not been met; or
(b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper accounts
to be reached understanding of the
to be reached.’
In other words, Colin has given his normal certification that the Accounts are all in proper order and meet the requirements of the Charities Act and all other accounting requirements.
The Synagogue’s Accounts are in strong order which is pleasing to report given the difficult end to the financial year. The financial year ended on 30 June 2020 and we went into lockdown during March but there has been no adverse impact on the Accounts for 2019/2020 and with that Chair I would propose adoption of these Accounts to the Annual General Meeting.
Adoption of the Accounts for the year 2019/2020
Proposer Jeff Lustig Seconder Jeff Soraff - Chair
A vote took place on a show of hands. The Accounts for the year 2019/2020 were unanimously adopted.
Any other business
The Chair reported that this is the 40th AGM and the final AGM of the unincorporated body
The Annual General Meeting (as an unincorporated association) closed at 8.10pm
Signed Jeff Soraff………………………………………………………….….Chair of Council
Minutes of the 1st Annual General Meeting of the Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on Thursday 12th November 2020 which will commence at the conclusion of the AGM of the Unincorporated Association
Under Article 11.7 of the Constitution members who cannot, or who are unable to attend the meeting, may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf
Those present:
Jeff Soraff – in the Chair Rabbi Larry Becker Angela Jacobs – Minute taker Steve Wynne Frank Godson Reeva Godson
Jeff Lustig Oren Rosenmann Daniel Morgan-Thomas Andrew Lewis Melvin Pedro Tracy Pedro Rachel Savage Tony Leach
Stuart Jacobs David Hamilton Alex Richendoller Joel Ilson
Apologies for absence and welcome by the Chair of the Board of Trustees Jeff Soraff
The Chair reported that this meeting is being recorded and you all know that we made a seamless transition to a CIO which is how we are proceeding . There are no accounts because obviously we have not finished the first year yet.
For those of you who do not know Larry is retiring and we have now agreed a date of 30 June 2021 and during AOB there will be an opportunity to discuss the matter further.
We have carried on with Zoom services, you all know the effects of COVID-19 and let us hope that in a not too distant future we can get back into physical services and using our premises properly.
Apologies were received form Mitzi Kalinsky.
We need to elect the Examiner for 2020/2021 in his absence. The Treasurer has not spoken formally to Colin Burns but his understanding is that he will be willing to continue.
Election of the Examiner for 2020/2021 in accordance with the CIO Constitution and Rules (Rule 6 of the CIO Rules).
The Chair of the Board of Trustees asked for a Proposer and Seconder.
Proposer Jeff Lustig Seconder Rachel Savage
On a show of hands, the proposal of Gerald Edelman (Colin Burns) as Examiner was unanimously approved.
Election of a Board of Trustees for the year 2020/2021 in accordance with Articles 11 and 13.1 of the CIO Constitution.
The Chair reported that as we have less positions or less people standing than we have positions we do not need to elect anybody.
The Secretary read out the names:-
CIO Trustees
Chair Jeff Soraff
Vice Chair Vacant
Senior Warden Melvin Pedro
Treasurer Jeff Lustig
Asst. Treasurer Rachel Savage
Secretary Angela Jacobs
Chair of Adult Education Tony Leach
Chair of Youth Education Vacant
Head of Security Vacant
Chair of House Jocelyn Shepherd
Trustee positions Joel Ilson
Bunny Jacobs
Daniel-Morgan Thomas
Oren Rosenmann
Steve Wynne
The Chair welcomed Bunny and Daniel to their first time of being on the Board of Management and welcomed back Rachel and Steve.
Andrew, Mitzi, and Reeva cannot stand for election as they have done seven continuous years and according to the Constitution they have to stand down after their 7th year. The Chair thanked them for their hard work and everything they have done, and he is sure they will be back eventfully. He also pointed out that we are struggling to find a Vice Chair, a Head of Youth Education, and a Head of Security. He will not do a third year as Chair so finding a Vice Chair is imperative.
To consider the Special Resolutions shown below and any others duly notified prior to the meeting.
The Secretary read out the first Special Resolution:-
-
That the wording of Rule 7a.(vi) of the CIO Rules be changed from Adult Education Liaison to Chair of Adult Education and that the words Chair of Adult Education be substituted in all places, in both the Rules and the Constitution, for the words Adult Education Liaison, where they appear.
Proposer Tony Leach Seconder Andrew Lewis
By a show of hands, the Special Resolution was unanimously approved by the attendees at the AGM.
The Secretary read out the second Special Resolution:-
-
That the CIO Rules be amended whereby the Finance Committee shall henceforth be known as the Finance and Risk Committee with (i) all references to the Finance Committee in Rule 8d. being substituted by references to the Finance and Risk Committee; and (ii) the following sentence being added to the end of Rule 8d. - ‘The Treasurer and the Finance and Risk Committee shall regularly monitor the CIO’s exposure to risk by taking specific account of the CIO’s Risk Management Policy and report thereon with recommendations to the Trustees as appropriate’.
By a show of hands, the Special Resolution was unanimously approved by the attendees at the AGM.
Any other business
A discussion followed concerning the appointment of a new Rabbi.
The Chair announced the members of the Rabbinic Selection Committee as-:
Melvin Pedro – Chair
Rachel Savage
Daniel Morgan-Thomas
Oren Rosenmann
Andrew Lewis
Frank Godson
The rest of the discussion was not Minuted.
To close the meeting and announce that the 1st Board meeting of the Trustees will take place on Tuesday 1st December 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom
The meeting closed at 9.00pm.
Signed Jeff Soraff………………………………………………………….….Chair of Board