PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Summer is around the corner! Although, honestly, the recent weather does give the feeling it’s already here. In our house, summer means it is almost camp time. Our youngest will be returning for his fifth year at GUCI and that month is truly the highlight of every year. As they say, he absolutely lives 11 months for one. It was moving to have five of his camp friends come to Des Moines from Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ohio for his bar mitzvah in January, proving that the bonds made at camp are the strongest bonds possible. This year, our oldest is also returning to camp this time as a counselor! He spent five years as a camper, one in Avodah, and now can’t wait to be at his happy place again.

I am thrilled that there will be 11 TBJ kids at GUCI as campers this summer, which is close to a record for us. A few are new while many are returning. The fact that so many families embrace the benefits of camp ensures the continuity of a strong Jewish community in Des Moines. Oh, and there are now three GUCI staff members, all of whom are former campers, who are from TBJ – Jillian (Shkolnick) Hastings, associate director; Hanna (Marcus) Gurwin, assistant director; and Brandon Kaufmann, assistant director – further proving the camp experience is one that makes an impact for a lifetime.

Per usual, summer is also the time for the Temple’s annual meeting, which, due to an extremely busy June with b’nai mitzvahs and a wedding, will be Sunday, June 22 at 1p.m. Please join us to welcome and approve a new slate of officers, as well as other official Temple business. We will also introduce our new Director of Programming and Communications. If that wasn’t enticing enough, we are saying goodbye – no, not goodbye, best wishes – to David Muenchrath, our executive director, who is leaving after over 13 years at the Temple to focus on his family. There will be an opportunity to thank David for his service and commitment to TBJ and enjoy a dessert reception in his honor. To bring this back to my opening point, if you read David’s article or see the announcement about the annual meeting, both of which are in this bulletin, David has requested donations to the Temple camp fund rather than gifts to him. Thank you, David, for your dedication to our community and for encouraging the power of camp.

Finally, this is my last bulletin article as president before Rachele Hjelmaas begins her term, which you can watch happen at the annual meeting. It has been an honor to serve this congregation for the past two years. While we have been members for a relatively short time, especially compared to Rachele who grew up here, this community quickly welcomed my family and gave us our Jewish home. I took this role because I wanted my sons to see what happens when you give time and talent to something that is important to you. My service to the congregation has fulfilled me in ways I could not have imagined. Many thanks to all of you for your encouragement, enthusiasm, and support. I look forward to our future and am thrilled to be a part of our past.

Emily Kruse