TJ Connection - Summer 2003

The theme for the Thomas Jefferson District Annual Meeting was Belonging: The Meaning of Membership. Kay Montgomery, Executive Vice-president of the UUA, in her keynote address spoke to the issue quite effectively. Her message prompted many great questions from the audience to a panel of leaders, including Ms. Montgomery. Other members were Qiyamah Rahman, TJ District Executive; Leon Spencer, District president; Laurel Amabile, District Program Consultant; Rev. Jacqueline, Minister, UC of Charleston; and Chuck Dualney, past president of UUF Raleigh. Evaluations indicate the participants really liked the panel idea and want us to continue to use it. The panel did a great job.

Workshops dealing with membership included Membership in an Era of Emerging Earth Community, led by Richard Bruckart; Pathways to growth, Frank Benedetti and Gary Trowbridge; Small Group Ministry, Carol Flake; Unitarian Universalism & Christianity, Richard Culler; The Significance of Symbolism, Leon Spencer; Investing in the Future: Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Shannon Cocheo and Elandria Williams.

The 2003-04 Budget proposed by the Board of Directors was approved unanimously. It is a reduced budget, but one which the Board feels is realistic. The Board appreciates the cooperation of all the committees and staff as we try to reduce our budget, but not our services.

The slate of new officers and Board members presented by the Nominating Committee was also approved unanimously. For a list of new and outgoing board members, please see page 9. We welcome the new people to positions of leadership. We appreciate the work of all those folks whose terms expired or other commitments are preventing further service at this time service.

The Unitarian Church of Charleston, SC was a wonderful host as it shared its beautiful city and facility with us. I want to especially thank Reverend Jacqueline Collins, Minister, and Brock Collins, local meeting coordinator, for all their wonderful planning and help. The Friday evening entertainment was a real treat. Delicious food was served all weekend in beautifully decorated Heritage Hall by gracious hosts.

Annual Awards are presented each year at the Awards Banquet. For a list of award winners, please see page 9. The Awards Committee has the unenviable task of choosing only a few recipients from so many worthy nominees. If your nominee was not chosen this year, please submit the name again. The same goes for Newsletter nominations. Please continue to enter your publications.

I want to take a personal prerogative now to thank Margaret Anne Link and Judy Edmonston for being the "registrars." They rode with me to Charleston and asked if there was any thing they could do. I suggested that they might sit at the registration table until the District Administrator, Shannon Cocheo, arrived. They stayed at the table all weekend. We thank them. It freed Shannon to do other necessary tasks. I thank her, for all she did prior to the meeting and on site!

Myrtle Hepler,
District Meeting Coordinator

2003 Annual Meeting Awards and Elections

President’s Award
Myrtle Hepler, UU Fellowship of Raleigh, NC

Distinguished Service
Dr. Willard Frank, Unitairan Church in Norfolk, VA

Excellence in Congregational Leadership
Charles Lee, UUC Charlotte
Pat Yaros, UUF of the Peninsula, Newport News
Anne Liddell, All Souls Waccamaw, Myrtle Beach
Elizabeth “Tibby” Middleton, UUF of Fredericksburg, VA

Unsung UU Hero
Pete Leary, Universalist Convention of North Carolina, Inc.

Newsletter
UU Fellowship of Waynesboro, VA

2003 Board of Directors Transitions
Newly Elected TJD Board Members
Carol Flake, Secretary (2005)
Tamia Buckingham, Treasurer (2005)
Rev. Barry Whittemore, Director (2006)
Rev. Dan King, Director (2005)
Leslie Trew, Director (2006)

Departing Board Members
Jan Humphrey, Treasurer
Amassa Fauntleroy, Director
Rev. Wyman Rousseau, Director