A. Committees will have no less than 3 and no more than 17 members for efficiency and manageability.

B. This structure will provide committees enough flexibility to accommodate the interests of all who wish to participate in a particular activity.

C. Committees may include 1-3 current trustees to take advantage of their wealth of experience in Temple services and the role it plays in the community.

D. EACH committee will normally have a trustee- liaison as a member. Trustee-Liaison will be in a committee up to a maximum of 3 years unless BOT explicitly requests him/her to continue.The BOT will decide which committee requires a Trustee liaison.

E. Every effort will be made to accommodate the interests of all volunteers, who are the backbone of the Temple’s organization.

F. If more volunteers sign up than the available openings in a particular committee they will be put on a waiting list for the same year or will be given preference during the following year's committee formation process.

A. Prior to April of each year, an appeal will be made in the newsletter to invite devotees to join various committees. Committees will be formed in July every year.The members of the BOT and the coordinators should actively recruit volunteers to serve as committee members.The Coordinator of the Committee and its Trustee-liaison will then invite the potential new members to join the committee.

B. Each devotee may serve only on one committee enabling the devotee to concentrate his/her efforts. The devotee may continue in the task force group until these groups are converted to committees in July 2003. No limitations apply to any devotee to volunteer his or her time in any temple activity. A devotee may continue in the same committee for a maximum period of 6 consecutive years.After the 6 year term, a devotee must retire from that committee, but can re-join the committee after a period of one year. However, priority will be given to devotees who have not served on the committee and wish to join. A devotee, having retired from one committee, may join any other committee.

C. Throughout the year, recruitment into committees will continue and a devotee may join a committee of his or her choice, provided that the committee membership does not exceed 17. Those committee members who do not attend or actively participate in the meetings need to be reminded of their responsibility, and if the member continues to be inactive, the committee may request the member to step down. Nonetheless, every effort will be made to retain the member for at least one year.

D. Recruiting new volunteers is an on-going process. To widen the scope of adequate representation of the congregation, trustees, committee coordinators and members, both current and past, are encouraged to enlist more volunteers during the annual enrolment period as well as throughout the year. Names received will be passed on to the Coordinators of each committee for inclusion during new committee formation

E. All devotees who have rendered some voluntary work in any capacity at SSVT or have an interest in participating in Temple activities are eligible to serve on these committees.

F. Selection of volunteers to serve on a particular committee is based on: (a) past volunteering at SSVT, (b) knowledge or aptitude in the specific field or activity, and (c) sign-up ranking. While these guidelines have not been consistently followed in the past, it is expected that they will be applied during all future committee formation. Specific qualifications of members if any, are further explained below for each committee.

G. The amount of time that a volunteer has to spend in fulfilling the responsibilities will vary according to the nature of work assigned to a particular committee.

H. Number and type of devotee committees will vary with the needs of the congregation and the strategic direction set by the BOT.

I. In order to retain the expertise and maintain a smooth transition, no more than One-sixth (1/6^th) of the current membership of any Devotee committee can retire at any given time. This provides the opportunity to encourage new members to join the committees and to strike a balance between the experience of senior members and the energy of new members.Beginning July 2002, members who have served in a committee for 6 or more consecutive years will be requested to retire from the committee.

One- sixth (1/6^th) of the current membership of all Devotee Committees should retire every year, beginning July 2002.

J. If the roster of senior members is larger than the 1/6^th and if these members do not choose to retire, then a lottery will be drawn to include the names of all senior members, to select the retirees. That is, all members with 6 consecutive years or more on the committee will be part of a lottery from which the requisite number of retirees will be selected. If any non-senior member decides to retire on his/her own accord, that will be counted toward the required 1/6^th retirement from that committee in that year

K. It should be noted that some senior members may initially continue beyond the 6-year limit (in committees that with several senior members with 6+-year terms); this too will ensure a smooth transition.

L. The BOT may authorize formation of new committees or abolish them when found unnecessary or unproductive.

M. The BOT may initiate new committees. A volunteer will be asked to convene the first meeting of the new committee.

N. All existing devotee committees will be reformulated every year in July. Before each committee's term ends (and no later than early June each year), the trustee liaison of the Committee and the current Coordinator will call a meeting to form a new committee to avoid interruption of any key services at the Temple. Until the new committee Coordinator takes charge, the incumbent Coordinator will continue to serve in the interim and conduct the committee’s business as usual with the permission of President.

O. Committee members choose coordinators. To be a coordinator, one should have a minimum of one-year experience in the respective committee. Past experience on the Committee should be considered.It is preferable to choose a member who has not served as coordinator in the past. At the July meeting, the trustee liaison will convene the meeting to facilitate the selection of the next coordinator, from among the members with more than one year of experience in the committee.

1. Selected members are required to attend the scheduled committee meetings regularly. Absence for 3 consecutive meetings without valid reason(s) may disqualify a member. If and when such a vacancy is created, the next available volunteer on the waiting list will be given the opportunity to serve on the respective committee.
2. If a member is found willingly negligent of his/her duties or is working against the interests of the Temple, the Coordinator, after a thorough review of the facts and circumstances, may recommend to the President of Operations Committee, his/her removal from the committee. The President in turn will bring the matter up before the BOT to take the necessary action. However, such an individual has the right to a hearing by the BOT before any action is taken. Until the BOT rules on the matter, the concerned member may continue to serve on the committee.
3. In most cases, unless explicitly identified under a committee’s description below, each committee will report to the Operations Committee, headed by the President, who provides guidance and administrative support to perform their respective duties and assignments.

1. Selected members are required to attend the scheduled committee meetings regularly. Absence for 3 consecutive meetings without valid reason(s) may disqualify a member. If and when such a vacancy is created, the next available volunteer on the waiting list will be given the opportunity to serve on the respective committee.
2. If a member is found willingly negligent of his/her duties or is working against the interests of the Temple, the Coordinator, after a thorough review of the facts and circumstances, may recommend to the President of Operations Committee, his/her removal from the committee. The President in turn will bring the matter up before the BOT to take the necessary action. However, such an individual has the right to a hearing by the BOT before any action is taken. Until the BOT rules on the matter, the concerned member may continue to serve on the committee.
3. In most cases, unless explicitly identified under a committee’s description below, each committee will report to the Operations Committee, headed by the President, who provides guidance and administrative support to perform their respective duties and assignments.

1. A Coordinator elected by the members of the committee will head each committee.
2. A Coordinator must have been an active volunteer in a particular or related committee for at least one year. Electing an experienced volunteer as the Coordinator provides the committee with the necessary knowledge of the field of activity, taking into account the personal involvement and interest of the individual.
3. Coordinators of committees will normally serve for one year, from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
4. Coordinators may be re-elected by the committee’s members or re-appointed by the BOT for a second consecutive term. A Coordinator who has served for two consecutive terms will be eligible for re-nomination only after a period of one year.
5. Coordinator of a committee cannot be a coordinator of another committee the following year. There should be at least one-year interval before becoming a coordinator of another committee.
6. Executive committee members can be members of a devotee committee but should not become the coordinator.
7. To the extent feasible, a trustee may not serve as the coordinator of a devotee committee.Committees serve to identify and develop needed skills and leadership among volunteers and provide opportunity for volunteers to obtain experience in the operations of the temple.
8. All Current task force groups will be converted to committees in July 2002 and the year following that, the new standing committee rules apply to these newly formed committees.
9. The coordinator of a committee, when selected for trusteeship, will complete the term as coordinator. A member of a committee, when selected as a trustee can finish his/her term in as a committee member if he or she so chooses.
10. EACH committee will normally have a trustee- liaison as a member. Trustee-Liaison will be in a committee up to a maximum of 3 years unless BOT explicitly requests him/her to continue.The BOT will decide which committee requires a Trustee liaison.

1. Coordinators shall discharge their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the policy established by the BOT.
2. Coordinators will assist the President of the Operations Committee with the budgetary process and other needs of the committees.
3. Coordinators have the responsibility to organize their activity in the most efficient manner and collaborate with other committees in all related activities.
4. Each Coordinator will prepare a budget and for approval by the Operations Committee or the Executive Committee of the BOT. Use of funds in the discretionary account must be approved by the Operations Committee after it has been discussed at the respective committee meeting.
5. Coordinators will call for committee meetings on a monthly or as needed basis.
6. The quorum for a meeting must be a simple majority of the ­members of the Committee.In the event the quorum requirement is not met the simple majority of members present can act upon routine agenda items.All critical issues however, need the approval bya simple majority of the members of the committee. THIS MAY REQUIRE CONTACTING MEMBERS BY E MAIL AND/OR TELEPHONE.
7. The coordinator of a committee may invite a retired member or any devotee as an advisor/consultant to participate in a meeting on a particular issue/subject. After input and deliberations, the invitee may be excused prior to the final decision made by the members. Thus, the committee can utilize the expertise of the retired member.
8. Unless otherwise decided by the BOT, the order of business at all regular Committee meetings will be as follows:

   Invocation
   Roll Call
   Minutes of previous meeting approval
   Reports and Statements from BOT or OC
   Unfinished Business
   Record all Decisions
   Agenda Items
   Any other Relevant Business

9. Coordinators will prepare an agenda for the meeting and prepare minutes, which will be submitted to the Operations Committee.
10. Coordinators must obtain approval from the Operations Committee before going ahead with any event/project. The committee must review the feasibility, cost, and projected income of each event/project and every effort should be made to maintain expenses consistent with the approved budget for the event/project, any cost overruns must be discussed with and approved by the Operations Committee.

A. Under unusual circumstances, the BOT may make exceptions to these rules and procedures.

B. The BOT may, at a later time, decide to consolidate or expand the current task force groups.

C. Trustees are devotee-volunteers; therefore, these principles apply to trustees as well, unless otherwise noted above.