Minyan Shaleym is entirely run by its members. They are expected to volunteer for roles ranging from one-time tasks to ongoing positions. The descriptions below should help you make an informed choice. More detailed guidance will be provided when you choose a job. Mentors are available upon request to assist members who are filling a role for the first time.

Shabbat and Yom Tov Positions
Special Holiday and Event Positions
Short-Term Leadership Positions
Officer Positions
Ongoing Leadership Positions

Shabbat and Yom Tov Positions

Each Shabbat, three volunteers coordinate various aspects of the service and recruit the other volunteers who actually lead services. Minyan members are expected to fill one of these three positions at least three times a year.

The davening coordinator contacts Minyan members in advance of the service to recruit volunteers for leading the davening and chanting Torah, Haftarah, and (when applicable) megillot. S/he also recruits gabbaim and assigns aliyot, hagbah, and gelilah during the service, or designates someone else to do so

The set-up coordinator obtains a set of Minyan keys prior to Shabbat and arrives early on Shabbat morning to set up the room for services, mainly schlepping chairs and books.

The kiddush coordinator ensures that food, wine, and grape juice are served for Shabbat kiddush and cleans and locks up after services. S/he also turns the lights on before and off after Shabbat.

These coordinators are also needed for Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot/ Shemini Atzeret morning services.

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Special Holiday and Event Positions

Several times a year, we need coordinators for holidays that do not follow the Shabbat morning pattern, as well as volunteers to organize certain holiday-related events. These positions include coordinators for the following: Simchat Torah, Purim services, Purim shpiel, Tikkun leyl Shavuot, Tisha b'Av, and Selichot.

Other activities include a "nosh and drash" (lunch and study/talk session after Saturday services) and Friday night services with potluck dinner. Food coordinators are needed for these events to ensure a balanced menu, purchase and drop off food before Shabbat, and coordinate set-up and clean-up.

Hosts are needed who live in walking distance of Coolidge Corner and can accommodate a crowd for events that take place in members' homes, such as Friday night potlucks and the Hannukah party.

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Short-Term Leadership Positions

Several times a year, several important short-term positions need to be filled.

Each quarter, the meta-coordinator recruits all the set-up, davening, and kiddush coordinators needed for that period. S/he alerts the davening coordinators to any special features in the service and keeps the Secretary and Web site coordinator informed of the schedule. Meta-coordinators typically serve in three-month periods: October-December, January-March, April-June, and July-September.

Every year, the high holiday coordinator (or two co-coordinators) take(s)  responsibility for organizing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, from making decisions about the schedule to coordinating the davening to recruiting set-up and other volunteers.

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Officer Positions

Each year, the membership elects three or four officers to take overall responsibility for the Minyan's operations.

* The Steerer (or two Co-Steerers) serve(s) as executive directors of the Minyan, setting policy and making sure that all responsibilities are assigned and all problems are addressed.
* The Treasurer manages the Minyan's finances and membership.
* The Secretary takes notes at Minyan meetings, maintains records, and writes and distributes the weekly announcements and annual newsletter.

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Ongoing Leadership Positions

A number of specialized positions are typically held for a year or longer.

* The Temple Sinai liaison interacts with the Temple Sinai administrator to schedule and manage the Minyan's use of the building.
* The d'var Torah coordinator recruits volunteers to give divrei Torah at our regular Shabbat and Yom Tov morning services.
* The social coordinator organizes occasional Minyan social events.
* The social action coordinator organizes our community service activities.
* The hospitality coordinator welcomes new members and organizes periodic mixers for newer and older members to get to know one another.
* The Family Table coordinator organizes the Minyan's participation in Family Table, greater Boston's kosher food bank.
* The tzedakah coordinator convenes the annual committee to decide on the Minyan's tzedakah allocations.
* The Web site coordinator maintains the Minyan Web site.

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