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Shevet Shemesh - FAQ


The objective of this page is to provide answers to questions that have been raised within our community and to provide clarity and transparency with regards to Shevet Shemesh’s operating budget and other matters.

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Feel free to contact us via email / phone / Contact us page for any follow up questions

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1. Do all members pay membership dues?
Yes, absolutely! All members pay membership dues, as well as fees for special events and camps. 

 

2. Do va’ad members pay dues?
Yes, all va’ad members pay dues - just like everyone else! 

 

3. Do some members receive a discount?
No. There are no “discounts”. Shevet Shemesh is a non-profit organization and discounts can only come from profits.  

 

4. Does anyone attend Shevet Shemesh for free?
No-one attends Shevet Shemesh for free, it is a none profit organization.


5. Why do we pay for camps and events in addition to membership?  How come the membership dues do not cover all expenses for the year?
Membership dues cover all cost involved in our regular peulot (activities) at the JCC i.e. equipment, materials, room rents (if needed) and any and all cost for the Merakezet.   Camps and events incur additional costs such as: transportation, food, materials, security, professional instructors, venue rentals etc.
Camps and Events are all budgeted separately as it is also very difficult to predict the participation level of each event. 

 

6. Does the Shevet make a profit from the fees paid by the families?
No, the Shevet does not make a profit.  However, since founding the Shevet, it has always been a goal that the shevet would put reserves on an annual basis.  This will allow the shevet to recover from unexpected costs.

 

7. What is the Friends of Israel Scouts and what role does it play?
The Friends of Israel Scouts (FOIS), also known as the “Hanhaga” is the parent organization under which Shevet Shemesh, and the other 20 Tzofim chapters operate.   As the parent organization, FOIS maintains the non-profit status of the organization.  FOIS includes a number of programs:  Tzofim Tzabar, Garin Tzabar, Friendship Caravan, Gap Year / Shnat Sherut etc.    For each of the 21 chapters, FOIS provides accounting services, insurance coverage and services, guidance and training for the Merakezet. FOIS also provides multiple levels of guidance to the Rosh Shevet and the va’ad, including professional, legal, psychological and leadership guidance.
FOIS also provides some logistical support for each of the local chapters, and all logistics for hanhaga-wide camps and events.  

 

8. Do any of the fees for the Tzofim program subsidize other FOIS programs?
No, none of the fees for the Tzofim program are used to subsidize other programs. 

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9. Do the Va’ad members receive any compensation?
No. Shevet Shemesh’s va’ad is a voluntary board.  No va’ad member may receive any compensation for their time, or as a result of their role on the va’ad.  Each of the va’ad members give of their time because they fully believe in what we do.
Va’ad members may only receive reimbursement for recognized and approved shevet expenses for supplies and services. 


10. What is the role of the Treasurer?
One of the roles on Shevet Shemesh’s va’ad, is that of Treasurer (Gizbar), who takes on the Fiduciary duties of the Shevet.  The treasurer is responsible for collecting and disbursing of all monies, tracking of the budget, and ensuring that all transactions are logged and categorized accordingly. 


11. How are Shevet Shemesh’s finances managed?
Shevet Shemesh operates as a subsidiary to the Friends of Israel Scouts (FOIS) and FOIS manages Shevet Shemesh’s bank account as a sub-account with Bank Leumi in New York, NY.  All monies collected are logged by both the Shevet Shemesh Treasurer (Gizbar) and the FOIS Finance manager. 

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12. What checks & balances are there to ensure that all finances are managed appropriately?
On a monthly basis, FOIS sends a detailed transcript of all deposits and disbursements made from the Shevet Shemesh bank account. The report is received by both Treasurer and Rosh Shevet.   The treasurer reconciles the reports against the Shevet’s budget system to ensure no mistakes were made and that all deposits and disbursements were correct.  On a bi-monthly basis, the Rosh Shevet reviews the reconciliation and budget actuals with the Treasurer. 

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13. What is done to prevent theft and / or embezzlement of Shevet Shemesh funds?
All monies are managed via the accounting department of the Friends of Israel Scouts. As mentioned in #13, multiple levels of reconciliation and reviews are performed to ensure sound fiscal management. 

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14. What is the nature of the partnership with the Scottsdale JCC?
As part of the Jewish youth movement , the JCC allows Shevet Shemesh to use its facilities at NO COST at this time.  For that, we are very appreciative and ask all of our Chanichim and Families to be respectful in the facilities, respect local law enforcement and think of the JCC as your own home\room.

 

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