Committees
Touro Fraternal Association is run by committees which are comprised exclusively of Touro members. Touro’s standing committees – and others which may be formed from time to time for special purposes – make Touro function. They are the heart, the brains and spirit of Touro. Serving on a committee is not mandatory. It will cost you nothing but a little time. In return, you’ll get a great deal of personal satisfaction. For more information on our committees, please review the committee descriptions listed below.
Assistance Committee
Chairman – Michael Smith
Touro Fraternal Association was chartered in 1917 primarily to provide assistance to its members in need. That still holds true today. Each request is handled on an individual basis. Only the committee members are aware of the identity of the recipient and the reason for the request for assistance from the Jacob A. Eaton Memorial Fund. For more information,
Budget & Finance Committee
Chairman – Alan D. Lury
This committee reviews the Association’s finances quarterly and recommends the means of assuring a steady fl ow of cash to the Board of Directors. It establishes annual allocations for committees, recommends salaries, and arranges for and supervises the outside independent annual audit of Touro’s books. For more information,
Cemetery Committee
Chairman – Barry Schiff
Touro’s extensive land holdings at the Lincoln Park Cemetery are managed by this committee. Its responsibilities include assignment of gravesites, when requested, sale of gravesites, if available, and maintenance and care of Touro land. The committee chairman also serves on the Chased Schel Amess Association’s board of directors, the governing body at Lincoln Park. For more information,
Communications Committee
Chairman – Larry Berman
This committee keeps Touro visible to the Southern New England community by serving as a clearing house for all advertising and press releases done by the Association. Additionally, it communicates with our membership through print and digital media. The committee publishes the Tourogram, the Association’s newsletter. It is also responsible for maintaining the Touro Fraternal Association website, www.tourofraternal.org, as well as our presence on FaceBook. For more information,
Community Involvement Committee
Chairman – Jeffrey Davis
Over the years, Touro’s reputation has been built on service to its members and to the community as a whole. This committee examines all opportunities to accomplish these goals. Touro has supported area hospitals, nursing homes, civic, educational, scouting, camping and cultural programs via this committee’s annual budget. The committee evaluates requests for charitable support and recommends appropriate action to the Board of Directors, which allocates the funds. The committee is also responsible for distributing proceeds from our 50/50 raffles to area charities. In order to encourage further participation, Touro accepts donations to its Community Involvement, Welfare Fund from the membership. For more information,
Constitution & By-laws Committee
Chairman – Jed Brandes
The documents that govern the Association and its lodges fall under the aegis of this committee. It periodically reviews them and drafts for the Board’s and Association’s approval any changes it deems appropriate for Touro’s efficient operation. For more information,
Golf Committee
Chairman – Jeffrey Davis
Every summer, Touro holds a member-guest 18-hole golf outing at a local course. The Golf Committee organizes the event, including the playing format, groupings, food and prizes. The committee organizes a formal golf league for members only. For more information,
House Committee
Chairman – Ried Redlich
Touro has a major investment in its headquarters building. This committee plans and supervises its maintenance, purchases equipment and supplies, and recommends improvements to the interior and exterior of the building. It also establishes and enforces rules for the building’s use. Members having knowledge in fields such as plumbing, electrical work, general construction, heating, air conditioning, etc., lend their expertise to this committee. For more information,
Investigation Committee
Chairman – Bruce Weisman
All membership applications are examined to assure each applicant is qualified for membership. Where necessary, the committee checks the background of applicants to verify the information contained in the applications. For more information,
Investment Committee
Chairman – Robert Miller
The annual dues Touro members pay does not cover all of the Association’s expenses. The Investment Committee directs the investments, exercising fiduciary responsibility by maintaining a diversified portfolio. The results are investments which have steadily grown in value and have produced the income to underwrite the Association’s operation, as well as the portfolio’s expansion. For more information,
Membership Committee
Chairmen – Andrew Lamchick
The Membership Committee is charged with the responsibility for increasing and maintaining Touro membership through new member campaigns and special events. The committee creates, plans and then implements these programs, working in consort with all other committees in the Association, mainly the Social Committee. For more information,
Social Committee
Chairmen – Scott Halsband and David Nicolato
This committee is responsible for the social events which have earned Touro its reputation as one of the finest Jewish fraternal orders in the East. It plans, organizes and implements affairs which cater to the interests of the members and their families. These events run the gamut from major dinner dances to Chanukah parties for the children, excursions to baseball games, casinos and trips to cultural centers, to simple hot dog and bean dinners at Touro. To quote many committee members: “This may be the most important committee in the Association.” For more information,
Student Financial Aid Committee
Chairman – Ried Redlich
There are two ways the Association provides financial assistance to its members for secondary education: the long-standing interest-free Leo Greenberg Memorial Student Loans which are available to regular members, their children, and the children of deceased regular members and Touro educational grants that are available for regular members and their children. In both cases, the Regular member must be a member in good standing for at least two years. The Student Financial Aid Committee, with the Board’s approval, sets qualification guidelines for both programs, solicits and reviews applications, determines the recipients and assures timely loan collections. For more information,
Sunshine Committee
Chairman – Adam Finkelstein
When a Touro brother is hospitalized, confined to home or a nursing home, his days can be brightened by knowing someone cares. A member of Touro’s Sunshine Committee visits as many of our brothers as possible. For more information,
Ways & Means Committee
Chairman – Barry Ackerman
The dictionary defines ways & means as “methods and resources for accomplishing something and especially defraying expenses.” Touro defines this committee’s task as developing, determining and investigating ways and means of guaranteeing that the Association and its lodges satisfy the needs of their members through financial or other means. Is it a catch-all committee? Yes! But by that definition alone, its importance to the organization’s future is established. For more information,