April President’s Report
by Helen Hansen, WUU Board President
This month I am expressing gratitude to the elected members of the committees of the congregation that make WUU a place of spirituality, fellowship, learning, justice, and beauty.
The nominating committee, Peter Mellette, Trenna Tankersley, and Megan Tschannen-Moran conducted many interviews to finalize an amazing slate of leaders.
The 2026-27 Board year begins May 1. Beverly Peterson and Bill Geary (Finance chair) will be joining. Continuing will be Deb Fabian (President), Sandra Stephan (Vice President), Dave Wilcox (Secretary), Helen Hansen, Asha McLaughlin, and Dan Moore. Phoebe Kent and Angela Surber are leaving the Board with our sincere thanks for their years of service.
Committees of the Board begin new terms July 1. New Nominating Committee member Vicki Hall takes the place of Peter Mellette and joins Megan Tschannen-Moran and Trenna Tankersley. Committee of Right Relations member Eric Smith replaces Fred Gilbertson and joins Jackson Verburg and Joe Ziarko. New Endowment Committee members Chris Faia, Susan Elsass, and Wendy Mataya replace Kerry Mellette, Jim Kent, and Allen Cooke, and join Anne Luchsinger and Susan Fournier. New Trustee Les Solomon replaces Stuart Saunders and joins JoAnn Gora and Nan Piland.
Thanks to all who have served in those leadership positions, and to our minister, Rev. Jude Geiger, and our new Director of Religious Education, Robin Jester Wootton, for bringing energy, creativity, and wisdom to our congregation. Proof is in the increasing Sunday attendance numbers and activities during the week.
The Campus Improvement Team (CIT) Les Solomon, Jim Hall, Joe Cross, Dave Cosgrove, Al Sutton, Fred Bergmann, Phil Antweiler, and Brian Brewer have been working tirelessly at Parker House to get it ready for the Williamsburg Friends to move into. Ixora Montessori will be moving from the RE wing to Fahs House at the end of the school year. Please read the CIT report for details. The newly graveled side parking lot is appreciated and necessary.
The Stewardship team (Camilla Buchanan, Deb Hill, Henry Bellows, Chris Faia, Hilda Gomez, Katrina Landon, Kate McGaw, Mimi Rodgers, Steven Sharp, and Joe Ziarko) has encouraged us to all to be proud of our gifts – both monetary and service. The Gratitude Luncheon prepared by Jess O’Brien and her team last Sunday was appreciated by 100 of us. Thank you all for your dedication to WUU. Gratitude to all who pledged, and all who give freely of their time and talent. Coming so close to our goal makes it possible to care for our staff, maintain our buildings and grounds, and fund our ministries. Bravo!
The Spring Fling will be happening this month, in person and online. The Auction is a fun way to add to our fundraising – you can buy something you didn’t know you always wanted - and/or have a wonderful time with WUU friends at an experience. Thanks to John Hochella (chair), Shelagh Gallagher, Fred Gilbertson, Vicki Hall, Ruth Hopkinson, Melanie McCord, Pat Russo, Les Solomon, and Patsy Wells. I’ll see you at the dinner April 18.
WUU will be hosting the Tidewater Cluster meeting April 25. All are welcome but registration is required. We don’t have many chances to meet our Unitarian Universalist Association President, but this is one! It is energizing to have conversations with folks from other congregations in our area – and always a joy to share our worship space.
I look forward to next year on the Board as a “worker bee” to continue to make progress on our Board goals (they are posted in the Gathering Hall) with the help of Rev. Jude in his developmental minister role. Please feel free to reach out to me or any Board member with questions or comments. We go forward with joy and resolve to live our UU principles with Love.
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Contact the WUU Board President by emailing boardpresident@wuu.org.