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Marlboro Jewish Center ("MJC") has provided a number of Social Action programs to the community. These programs, while effective, tended to be fragmented and poorly publicized. They were fragmented in the sense that some of the programs were "owned" by an individual rather than by the institution. Some of these individuals were so effective that they didn't need a committee. However, because they were run in an insular way, the programs were at risk (when the individual was unavailable the service stopped), they rarely expanded (for lack of volunteers who felt unneeded), and the lack of a committee structure made it difficult to do "ad hoc" programs. Finally, the congregation lacked an appreciation for all the work that was being done.

The untapped potential became obvious last March when a few individuals decided to deliver Passover food baskets to seniors who were shut-ins or impoverished. With very light publicity of the event, we had more than two-dozen people come to sort and deliver food one Sunday morning (we only had 24 baskets to deliver!). It was clear to us that people wanted the synagogue to provide them with opportunities to perform mitzvot of a Social Action nature and we formed a committee.

The committee wanted to create an umbrella group that could support the many works - like blood drives, shiva meals, hospital/nursing visitation, chesed committees - already underway and to do more. However, we wanted to create an independent communication vehicle that would stand out from other "temple mail". The purpose of the newsletter was to: · Encourage people to become involved in Social Action activities; · Increase member's appreciation for what they were supporting by being a part of MJC; · Educate members about mitzvot; · Grow the variety and types of programs underway after attracting more people and funds.

We launched a quarterly newsletter last spring. The cost of the four-page color newsletter is approximately $800/issue (1000 copies), plus the incremental mailing costs (it's typically mailed with other temple materials). The newsletter was originally produced using Microsoft Publisher and printed at cost by a congregant. Turn around time is typically a week, so the newsletter has great currency. We now use Adobe Pagemaker for the newsletter. The newsletter is also available in "pdf" format on our website as soon as it is completed.

The result of the first newsletters have been terrific (newsletters attached). Over 30 people have stepped forward to join the committee. A handful of teenagers called and asked to be involved. A recent bar mitzvah boy came in and gave a $1,000 to the Zuppa family after reading the article in the newsletter (see page 1 Spring issue). We have executed a successful calendar for 5761 for Social Action. The USY program has put together an affinity "Mitzvah of the Month" program that we are promoting. People are excited by what is going on at the shul and are proud of the quality of the newsletter. Pictures help give an intimacy to the publication and also provide a "reward" of sorts to those who do "good". It also encourages people to see that people they know are able to find time to do good (not faceless strangers).

The first issue was the job of a single individual. By the second issue there were five contributors of articles. The newsletter really seems to galvanize our existing volunteers and has promoted people to participate in "ad hoc" events like our 5,761 cans of food for 5761 High Holiday food drive.