As their terms on the Board of Trustees draw to a close, outgoing members Erich Zuern, Barb Holzhauer, and Kathy White look back on their years of leadership at UUCW. From navigating shared ministry and strengthening community connections to deepening their personal alignment with UU values, each has offered unique insights from their time on the board.

Kathy White: As my three year term on the Board of Trustees comes to an end, I feel much gratitude for the loving support of my fellow board members as well as so many kind and encouraging comments I’ve received from community members. In my first year, I had the privilege of serving on a subcommittee to discuss ways to bring the new mission statement into common awareness and practice. It was thrilling to be part of the process of growing from the annual awards to a more inclusive expression of gratitude to all those who freely volunteer their time and talents to our church. My love for UUCW has grown as I have learned about shared ministry, taken part in discussions about the spirituality of serving on the Board and have had the honor of interacting with Rev. Julie during my first year and with Rev. Jill for the past two years.

Erich Zuern: When I joined the board three years ago, this was part of my observation at the time:

“I said yes to serving as a trustee this year because this community at UUCW is important to me and I want to do what I can to help ensure that it prospers and grows. I am pleased to be back at church on a regular basis seeing everyone’s friendly faces and am happy to be able to help as we find our path together toward a new ministry.”

I served on the board once before – about 20 years ago. I knew that it would take some time and effort, but it is one of many great places to make a difference in our community. Some of my stand-out experiences:

  • Working together with Rev. Jill as President of the Congregation as we began to find our way together in shared ministry was a joy and a privilege.
  • Having the honor as President of the Congregation to ordain (now) Rev. Jill as a minister in our faith was a humbling and unique experience. I highly value our tradition of Congregational Polity, and I find the responsibility and authority to ordain a minister among the more significant aspects of that tradition.
  • All three boards I served with quickly coalesced into strong working teams. Getting to know fellow members on this level and intentionally working to strengthen those relationships in service to the congregation is just a joyful thing. I have gotten great satisfaction coming to know my fellow board members better.
  • If you have never had the opportunity to stand before our congregation, try to find a time to do that. One thing I always enjoy about serving as Board Representative on Sunday mornings is the simple joy of seeing everyone’s smiling and hopeful faces – all gathered I always get butterflies when I speak, but they always settle down when I stand up and see everyone.

I have found serving on the board to be an enriching experience, full of opportunities to grow and learn. A Board position may or may not be your thing, but I encourage you to find that thing that help you find joy through service.

See you in church! – Erich

Barb Holzhauer: Post pandemic, when face to face gatherings were restarting, I was a relatively new member of UUCW with no close ties to anyone in the area. I’d moved to a condo in New Berlin and had only a few acquaintances nearby. I immediately felt connected by the shared values that were evident in multiple activities and discussions. So, when approached to become a candidate for Trustee, I saw the possibility of better understanding/living UU values while also interacting with other members. In retrospect, that was a good decision. I have found my time as a Trustee to be an extremely positive experience on many levels. This congregation truly “walks the walk” and routinely exhibits their commitment to UUCW values. Unlike past church board experiences, I encountered individuals who were willing to volunteer AND follow through on commitments! What’s not to like!?