Hello everyone! I hope you all read the messages from the outgoing board members, and also the ones from the new members. I feel like a hybrid – I am not new to the board, but this will be my first full year as a member. As we prepare for our annual Board Retreat, I am eagerly looking forward to getting to know both new and returning members better, and spending some time thinking about what we want to accomplish in the coming year.
I am honored to be chosen to serve as board president this coming year. Natalie has set a great example – wasn’t that a wonderful presentation at the annual meeting Sunday? All I can think of is WOW! I won’t even try to fill her shoes, but will strive to follow her example of caring competence.
I am reminded of the first time I was elected as board chair at my previous very small, lay-led congregation, many years ago. At the time, I think I had three goals – to improve communication, connections, and participation. Ongoing improvements in those areas are always vital in any organization that wants to remain relevant and vibrant. UUCW has a strong foundation to build on.
I recently heard something, I think it was on a Side With Love Zoom gathering, that building community is not a linear process. Isn’t that the truth! There is never going to be a time when we’ve “arrived” where everything is in place and will stay that way. But the good news is that building community, building healthy relationships, can also be fun – and it definitely strengthens both the community and the members working on building that community.
I am hoping my lengthy and varied experience in that small, lay-led congregation will be useful here as we continue to build on the ideas of shared ministry. I was also a member for many years on the Pacific Western Region’s transition team as we moved from districts to a unified region, and then on the original board of that region. In all my experience, what I’ve found is that nothing tops relationships. I would love to get to know every one of you. I realize that’s a little harder in a church of this size, but I can try! Please don’t hesitate to come up to me and say hi, introduce yourself (I am terrible at remembering names!), and chat a while.
– Mary Nordhagen
