From Our Board President
Dear Countryside members and friends –
It’s hard to believe we have already started a new Church year – 2025-26 – which runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
This is my first letter to you as your new Board President.
Earlier in July, I presided over my first board meeting as President, and it went well (I survived at least). Back in our June meeting, we said farewell to retiring board members Lisa Gilley (President), Debbie Lee (Treasurer) and Jerome McDonnell. We thank them for their many years of selfless service to CCUU. Please thank them the next time you see them. During the July meeting, we welcomed new board members Rick Rayborn (Treasurer) and Elizabeth Van Orden. They both each possess unique talents, skills and experience, and we are fortunate to have them on our board. In case it’s slipped your mind, our returning board members are Mike Berry (Vice President), Pat Wydell (Secretary), Nancy Frenk, Ryan Schaefges, Peggy Simonsen, and Dan Yokas.
New Board Liaisons to Committees
Each year, we assign a Board Member to serve as a liaison to several of our committees. The purpose of these liaisons is to provide committees with a first point of contact on the Board, so that, if questions arise from the committee, the liaison can provide guidance and context to the committee. Having a variety of Board liaisons also helps avoid bottlenecks due to funneling all questions directly to the Board President or to the board at large. Here are the new board liaisons for committees this church year:
- Personnel – Peggy Simonsen
- Operations – Ryan Schaefges
- Social Justice – Pat Wydell (this covers Outreach Steering and Green Sanctuary Committees and Justice Matters activities)
- Safety – Dan Yokas
- Endowment Committee – Gary LaBedz
- Identity / Marketing Team– Elizabeth Van Orden
- Stewardship team – Rick Rayborn
- Ministry Council – Mike Berry
- Membership – Nancy Frenk
Fall Retreat
We are in the preliminary stages of planning the Board’s Fall retreat. The specific topics have not been determined yet, but we will announce them as soon as we can. Typically, at our retreat, the Board of Trustees meets together on Friday evening and then committee chairs and interested parties join them during the day on Saturday for learning, brainstorming and planning. We plan to hold the retreat during September and will announce the exact dates when they are decided upon.
Willow Trees
If you’ve been to church this past week, you may have noticed that the two large willow trees directly outside the south facing windows of the Sanctuary are missing. A year or so ago, Siri Laurin had requested that the trees be removed, since they were old and somewhat frail, and could have blown over onto our building during a violent storm. The Board approved the expenditure for the removal of the trees at the July meeting.
It’s been quiet so far this summer at CCUU, but in early September we’ll have our ingathering and the congregation will spring back to life as it always does. I look forward to working with you during the upcoming year.
~ Gary LaBedz, Board President