Note: In case you already received this in the US mail, please forgive the repetition.Shalom all:Last year your donations supported many programs and services which our community enjoyed. As the year 5776 approaches, we look forward to many community events, both tried and true and new. As we begin to plan for the New Year, your Board of Directors has considered the dues structure and recommended a change.For the last 25 years our annual donation request has remained the same. However, as all of us know, the cost of everything has risen. In order to continue our current programs, and provide some of the new ones you asked for in the survey we sent recently, we have decided to raise the requested donation amount to $360 for a family and $180 for a single person.Why a dues increase? Here are some of the programs/activities that we supported in 5775.We hired Cantor Ken Cohen for the first Shabbat service of 2015, which was such a great success that we are bringing him back for High Holiday services (please refer to the website for the schedule).We created many enjoyable celebrations during the year. We subsidized the community Seder since the amount we charge does not suffice. We provided a wonderful break-the-fast at the end of Yom Kippur. We re-instituted Oneg Shabbats after Shabbat services. We hosted Purim and Chanukah celebrations.We reached out to our members in times of simchas and tsurrus. We purchased Jewish history books, Hebrew books, and books about Israel for our Sunday school – and the students have thrived.We incurred other non-program related expenses. We give an annual donation to St. Michael and All Angels Church to thank them for their generous hospitality in allowing us the use of their chapel, meeting room and facilities. We purchase liability insurance in order to protect all of us.As always, if you would like to be a member and support the community, we will gladly accept whatever you are capable of giving. And if you can afford to give a bit more, your generosity will be greatly appreciated and wisely used.Each and every one of us matters in Klal Yisrael – the shared sense of community and destiny among all Jews.If you have questions or comments, please call Sally at 821-0579 or Marty at 652-7297.Sally Wilson, Board of Directors PresidentMarty Kahn, President Emeritus