AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR CONGREGATION

As you know, particularly in this difficult economy, we continue to search for ways and means to reduce expenditures and increase efficiency. At a recent meeting, the Executive Committee, based upon a recommendation of the Finance Committee, decided to implement an e-mail system in place of mailed notices and flyers. This e-mail option will be mandatory for reduced dues members and optional for non-reduced dues members.

The usage of the e-mail system will benefit the synagogue in that it will reduce our printing, stuffing and mailing costs which will help to reduce our growing deficit. It will be helpful to you as well in that in some instances, you will receive earlier notices of events at the synagogue. All of the e-mails which seek a response will also include a link, so that you can respond without mailing anything back to us by “snail mail.” The e-mail system will also permit us to send a reminder message for “Shabbat Alive” dinners and other important events for which there are payment and reservation deadlines.
We will, of course, continue to send hard copies of “Mishpachtenu” and for the time being, hard copies of bills and “yahrzeit” notices. If the system works well, we may implement that change as well.
We hope that even if you do not receive all of the mail that now comes to your home, that you will still remain an active participant in our synagogue. Many of the notices also appear in the weekly Shabbat Bulletin which is distributed at the synagogue every Shabbat, and can also be located in Mishpachtenu as well.

Please return the enclosed form to us by September 1, 2009, so that we can be sure we have your correct e-mail address. If this change presents a hardship for you, and you would still like to receive your notices by mail, please call the Administrative Office at 412-421-2288 and we will endeavor to accommodate your needs.

BE ASSURED THAT CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM WILL NOT SELL OR SHARE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WITH ANY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION.
Sincerely yours,
Your Congregational Leadership
Please complete and return this form and return this form no later than September 1, 2009.
I have written my e-mail address below so that I can continue to receive regular flyers and notices of events to me by e-mail.