ESRA AGM and Executive

The ESRA Annual General Meeting 2017, held on 13th June at the Kiryat HaSharon Community Center in Netanya, ‎was very well attended and we were delighted to have members there from all over the ‎country, - even from the rejuvenated branch in Eilat, our southernmost outpost (at least until ‎ESRA Friends is established in South Africa).

Unfortunately, our Life President and Founder, Merle Guttmann was unable to attend our ‎AGM due to the illness of her sister in the USA. We send her and her family our warm wishes ‎at this difficult time.‎

Following a short film showing some of ESRA’s wide-ranging activities, Baruch Tanaman ‎gave the Chairman’s Report. Roger Lavender presented the Finance Reports with his usual ‎aplomb and these were approved, as were the appointment of the Control Committee and the ‎External Auditors, Stark and Stark.‎

A lively discussion on Membership and Volunteering was led by Stephen Jacobs. All points ‎raised and discussed will be considered by the new Executive.‎

Sunny Marshansky gave the General Manager’s Report. ‎

Richard Stein ensured that the Elections for the new Executive were run efficiently.‎

We owe thanks and appreciation to outgoing Executive members, Rene Goldstein and Ed ‎Wolfe, who have contributed so much to ESRA during their years of volunteering.‎
Rene Goldstein has been a stalwart of the Fund-Raising Committee, an Executive member ‎for several years and spends countless hours contacting lapsed and new members. ‎
Ed Wolfe has been active with our ESRA Nearly New stores since 1997, together with his ‎wonderful wife, Betty, and has been a member of the Executive for many years. No praise ‎is enough for his hard work. We wish Rene and Ed many healthy years of volunteering.‎

Sam Kirsch, a long-standing member of our Internal Control Committee, recently had an ‎operation and has decided not to stand for the Committee again. Thanks for all the volunteer ‎hours, Sam, and get well soon.‎
Janet Kiesari, our Southern Branch Coordinator, has also been unwell and we wish her a full ‎recovery and that we will soon see her attending Executive Meetings again.‎

We are extremely pleased that Terry Morris will be continuing as Vice-Chairman and Chair ‎of the Media Committee; his support is invaluable. ‎

Thanks to all who attended and contributed, and thanks to the ESRA Netanya Branch for ‎hosting an enjoyable, well-organized meeting.‎

Baruch Tanaman, ESRA Chairman