Postcards to voters with Beth Elohim

Congregation Beth Elohim and the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture came together in the BSEC garden on August 17 to write almost 300 postcards encouraging voting in competitive states.
This postcard writing campaign is Reclaim Our Vote.  Some of the pictures can be found below.
 

Photo Credit: Dan Walsh

Get Out The Vote Postcarding At Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture

Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture members and neighbors are writing postcards to get out the vote in competitive states around the country.  Every weekday evening in July, from 5-7 a table is set up in front of the building at:
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture,
53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215
where young and old volunteers write cards together.  It is a fun social time with a purpose.   All necessary material is provided by BSEC (postcards, stamps, pens, addresses, etc.)
Come and join us when it isn’t raining.  Bring friends and make new friends.

This ongoing civic project is in coordination with Reclaim Our Vote, which is one of the efforts of Center for Common Ground.  

 
 
 

BSEC MANAGING DIRECTOR: JOB DESCRIPTION 

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture (BSEC), a religious non-profit with an annual operating budget of approximately $450,000, seeks a Managing Director to work alongside its lay leadership and staff to nurture and grow our community. More detailed information about the Society – its organization, governance, activities and resources, can be found on our website, www.bsec.org.

BSEC has a long history in a building in Park Slope and is planning on a move to an as-yet-to- be-determined new location with a revitalized approach to our mission. We are at a pivotal moment where a new home and corresponding increased budget can expand our operations and deepen our impact.

Interested candidates should provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, sample financial plan, professional references, and other helpful materials such as audio/visual of recent talks; to the BSEC Search Committee personnel@bsec.org, please use Managing Director Application in the subject line.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Managing Director is responsible for the fiscal health of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture and for ensuring sufficient resources to support growth and member engagement plans. They will coordinate programming activities within the building and proactively seek to balance the schedule with a combination of income-producing and mission-driven activities.  They are tasked with recruiting, training, managing, terminating and delegating to employees and volunteers.  They will provide coaching, professional and organizational development for staff, trustees and committee chairs to improve organizational structures and overall planning.

Responsibilities:

Phase 1
– Oversee business operations and financial performance
– Support the Treasurer to plan and track budget
– Ensure that funding is robust enough to meet objectives
– Balance building use to advance mission within budget constraints
– Maintain positive and trust-based relations with staff, members, and renters
– Assist the Trustees to articulate strategic plans aligned with financial projections

Phase 2
– Strengthen organizational design
– Support strategies for membership growth and engagement

Duties:

Phase 1
– Manage rentals: negotiate leases/contracts
– Manage Building Calendar Management (internal/external use)
– Work with Outreach Coordinator to manage CRM
– Read & respond promptly to email, voicemail and mail
– Responsible for recording income and expenses, tracking pledges, paying invoices, preparing
deposits and reconciling accounts.
– Produce financial documents, such as: budgets, P & L, and tax
– Payroll & benefits: Use Payroll Service to run payroll, track staff holiday, sick, personal
days
– Taxes: Use Payroll Service to file Quarterly Employer taxes
– Meetings: assist the Executive Committee to prepare documents
– Archives:  assist the Board/Committees to archive minutes and memos
– Serve ex-officio on the Board and Financial Committees
– Administration: Develop, document and implement simplified administrative procedures

Phase 2
– Employee Handbook: advise and assist the Personnel Committee to revise and expand the
Personnel Manual into a clear and informative Administrative Procedures Guide
– Work with Board and Committee Chairs to build organizational change capacity
– Facilitate mid-range and long-term strategic planning

Salary, Work Hours and Benefits
– Full Time position (35+ hours per week)
– Salary Range $80-90,000 pa
– Hours are flexible but some evenings and Sunday attendance are required, childcare will be
provided, if necessary, on evenings and weekends
– Generous vacation and sick leave policy
– Comprehensive Health insurance

Managing Director Requirements:
– Minimum 3 years Non-profit executive experience
– Degree in business, non-profit management, change management or a related field
– Experience in developing and implementing strategic and business plans
– Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
– Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
– Excellent organizational and leadership skills
– Good writing skills
– Proficient in QBO for Nonprofits, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, CRM

Preferred Qualifications:
– Understanding of Ethical Culture (or similar Humanist organizations)
– Community organizing or Organizational Change experience
– Conflict resolution training
– Fundraising experience
– Experience working with a Board of Directors
– Connections to the local community

Application Deadline: Open until position filled
Anticipated Start: September 2022

Ethics in Action – Collection for Women’s Shelter

Ethics in Action – Collection for Women’s Shelter

At a time when so many people in our communities are struggling, sometimes it seems overwhelming to try to look for solutions, but even small acts can make a difference. As part of the Secular Week of Action, we had a toiletries collection to help support the CAMBA Park Slope Women’s Shelter, which is a​ 100-bed shelter at the Park Slope Armory in Brooklyn. The supportive, structured, and therapeutic facility provides temporary housing, nutritious meals, and comprehensive services and assistance for mentally ill, substance-abusing women.
BSEC members, friends, families from the Park Slope Playgroup, and people in the community came to support the collection and brought over 500 items to donate to the community.
Thank you all who came, who contributed, and who helped us sort the items and bring them to the shelter. The best of ethics is ethics in action!

In support of the victims of the Sunset Park Shooting

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture would like to express our concern and support for the victims of the horrific subway shooting in Sunset Park. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families and friends.