CAMP BDJ - Update 3/30/04

Dear Chevre,

After a marathon meeting Sunday night, the board approved a motion to sign a contract with Sam Schaeffer to begin work on our project.

Highlights of the work will include:

Disability access in the main sanctuary, an elevator to the Gold Room and accessible bathrooms.

Beautification of the main sanctuary, including new center mechitza, carpet, paint, chairs and windows.

Repairing and beautifying the lobby, beit midrash and Gold Room, following lead and asbestos abatement.

Fire alarms and new paint in Rechov Yeladim

Cleaning up the outdoor corridor to Rechov Yeladim and creating internal access to the beit midrash, enabling us to use it for Rechov Yeladim.

Repainting and beautifying the Pico façade.

The total cost of the renovations is expected to be $2.6 million. That figure includes costs for engineers, architects, permits, the move and numerous other expenses, as well as cushioning to account for pledges that won’t be paid (no one reading this would consider that, we know), loan servicing and contingency funds for unforeseen construction expenses.

Our current fundraising total is about $2.3 million. The board felt confident that through additional fundraising – both to members who have not yet been solicited and by increasing existing pledges – that gap of $300,000 would be significantly reduced or even eliminated by the time the project was completed. Rabbi Kanefsky is personally pursuing outside sources of funding, including foundation grants and donations from individuals who are not formally associated with BDJ but who believe in its message.

The board felt that authorizing this scope of work would allow our goals to be accomplished with dignity, without impacting either our ability to meet our current operating budget or the future financial integrity of B’nai David.

After Pesach, we will redouble our fundraising efforts. If you have not yet been solicited personally, you will receive a phone call asking whether you would like to schedule a personal meeting or attend a group parlor meeting. If you have already been solicited, we ask you to consider raising your gift by at least 20 percent.

For continuing updates, watch your email or call the construction hotline at 310-GIVE-BDJ (448-3235).

If you have any questions, please call Julie Fax at 310-284-8139 or email juliefax@earthlink.net.

ADDENDUM 3/31/04:
Due to the efforts of the Capital Campaign Committee and the astounding efforts of Robert Blitzstein, Shep Rosenman, Larry Gill, Jeff Rabin, Vivian Lurie and Naomi Langer, who met last night (Tuesday) for over 3 hours with Sam Shafer the hired contractor for the Project. They have come up with a satisfactory agreement whereas today a letter of intent to sign the Construction Contract will be drawn so that Sam Shafer may mobilize his crews and start demolition ASAP (within the next couple of days).

Hazak Ubaruch to everyone involved!