Since this is my first column as president, let me begin by introducing myself to those I've not met over the years.

My wife, Marina Fanning, and I joined Temple Micah 18 years ago. In the years since, the temple has come to play a central part in our lives and has been the source of many of our closest friendships. We have taught in the religious school, participated actively in Kol Isha, gone on a Temple Micah trip to Israel and experienced the joys of two b'nai mitzvah and two conversions. To say we are indebted to the institution and proud of our association with it would be an enormous understatement. One of the things I most look forward to as president is the opportunity to deepen our relationship with this community even further.

Fortunately for me, my immediate predecessors, Bill Nussbaum and Betsy Broder, did much of the heavy lifting. The wonderful addition to our building is complete, paid for and in full use. We are embarked on an active campaign to grow our membership and expand our outreach into the community. And we are set to launch Machon Micah, an innovative reinvention of our approach to lifelong learning.

As a member of the search committee that recruited Rabbi Esther Lederman, I know what many of the rest of you will soon learn--that we are very fortunate to have found her. I hope you will all find an opportunity to introduce yourselves to her and welcome her to Temple Micah.

It is gratifying to note that Temple Micah has been recognized by its peers as a special place. Synagogue 3000 chose Temple Micah earlier this year as one of only five congregations nationwide to receive grants for outreach to young, unaffiliated Jews in their 20s and 30s. Newsweek listed us as one of the 25 most vibrant congregations in America. And a book by Isa Aron, Steven Cohen, Lawrence Hoffman and Ari Kelman, due out later this year, will profile Temple Micah as one of seven visionary congregations in the country.

But this is no time for complacency. As a community, we need to find a way to absorb growth without sacrificing intimacy, to welcome a new generation of leadership and to redouble our efforts to make Judaism meaningful for 21st-century Americans. The board will be struggling with these questions this year, and I invite any of you who are so inclined to contribute your ideas. As a board, it is our intention to do whatever we can to encourage you to do so. As you know, we are actively in search of new members. We are currently home to about 450 families. To make the books balance, we need 500, and the summer is typically the time when many go "temple shopping."

If you know of people for whom you think Temple Micah might be the right fit, I would ask that you invite them to attend services or some other event, and encourage them to make their interest known via the Web site or by calling the office.

The board has constituted itself for the coming year into five committees, and we hope to do as much of our work as possible through 4 committees: Finance; Communications, Outreach and Member Relations; Fund Raising; Personnel and Administration. [membership omitted for web publication]

In addition to these board committees, we have established a House Committee chaired by Ilan S. to advise on issues related to the building and grounds, and we will continue to count on the creativity and leadership provided by the Education Task Force, chaired by Mary Beth S., for guidance on a host of issues related to Jewish education.

Each of these groups needs help and welcomes input. Feel free--and encouraged--to contact any one of us if you have ideas to contribute or are willing to pitch in and do some of the work that needs to be done.

[By Larry Cooley; from October 2009 Vine]