Meeting Minutes: September 18, 2003

Minutes of September 18, 2003 meeting, Temple Israel of Greater Miami

Present: Sandy Gottesman Breger, Beatrice Citron, Kathleen Clotfelter, Robin Coller, Linda Datko, Lorelei Ennis, Robert Ennis, Heidi Estrin, Inez Feingold, Jackie Fine, Etta Gold, Phyllis Gutmann, Sandy Hirschhorn, Sue Kirschner, Charles Meyers, Beatrice Muskat, Art Quinn, Saresta Rolland, Barbara Samuels, Schlomit Schwarzer, Alice Shook, Lee Wixman, Nancy Zombek

Heidi Estrin called the meeting to order at 12:30pm. Irene Warner, director at Temple Israel welcomed the chapter members. Heidi then thanked Linda Datko for hosting the meeting and Art Quinn for hosting the lunch.

Heidi announced that Esther Hershenhorn, author of Chicken Soup by Heart and winner of the 2002 Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Younger Readers category, would be guest speaker at the January 20 meeting to be held at Greenfield Day School in Kendall. Discussion followed of possible guests speakers for other meetings, including Scott Bernarde, author of a book on Jewish rock stars called Stars of David. The next meeting is to be held November 20. The location will be announced later. The May meeting will be held at the University of Miami on a date to be determined. Heidi reminded members to pay their annual dues. Etta called for recognition of Heidi's work on the chapter newsletter. Heidi had all members introduce themselves.

Heidi announced that the chapter has its own domain and a newly designed website at www.sfajl.org. Thanks to Jonathan Estrin for the new design. Heidi said that the new website has links to chapter members' institutions. Heidi also called attention to a website called the Jewish Values Finder, www.ajljewishvalues.org, a searchable database of children's books arranged by value. The site was designed by AJL's Linda Silver. This site will be especially useful for home schoolers.

AJL has announced a call for papers for the 2004 convention in Brooklyn. The theme of the conference is "Jews in America" to commemorate 350 years of Jewish communities in America. Convention dates are June 20-23. Contact Rita Lifton to contribute a paper. Four chapter members attended the 2003 convention in Toronto. Heidi distributed photos to the members present. Etta Gold, Schlomit Schwarzer and Heidi gave a presentation, "How to Keep a Chapter Alive and Healthy," at the 2003 convention, which they repeated for the chapter meeting.

Accreditations were awarded to four libraries in the south Florida chapter this year. Heidi's library at Congregaton B'nai Israel in Boca Raton renewed basic accreditation. Three brand new accreditations were awarded to Phyllis Robarts at Temple Judea in Coral Gables, Sara Schandelson at Hillel Day School in Boca Raton, and Alice Shook at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach. Alice was presented with her award at our meeting.

Messages from chapter members that could not attend today's meeting were shared: (1) Barbara Share of Bet Shira Congregation in Miami is looking for volunteers to replace herself as librarian. She can be contacted at (305) 250-6882 or Bshare@ransomeverglades.org Sara Schandelson will be going on maternity leave in November and needs a substitute librarian at Hillel Day School of Boca Raton. She can be contacted at library@hilleldayschool.org. Members present also shared news about their libraries and shared information. Heidi announced that ALA will have the 2004 conference in Orlando June 26-29 and suggested that members travel together to reduce expenses. Linda Datko offered to give a tour of the library at Temple Israel before ending the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:55pm.