The Nominating Committee this year presents a slate of three candidates for the term expiring on 6/30/19. Art Berman has agreed to serve a second term. Michele Burton and Mary Lynn Lynch have also agreed to serve. Brief biographies of each new member follow.
Art Berman Arnold “Art” Berman, originally a Brooklyn, New Yorker is retired from Rochester Institute of Technology, where he served on both the English Dept. and Social Work Dept. faculties. He moved to Shippensburg, PA to join his wife Margaret Evans who was teaching photography at the University there. Earlier, he taught at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Clair, and at Carnegie-Mellon in Pittsburgh. He has published two books in literature and philosophy. He worked for ten years in the area of alcoholism and substance abuse services and education. He currently chairs the Shippensburg Planning Commission. He has also had residence in California, Greece, and India. Art has retained his Jewish cultural and historical identity. Art has been attending UUCV, originally with his now deceased wife Margaret, for about eight satisfying years. He has been active in the Men’s Group, assisting at many UUCV functions. He has two daughters and a son and three grandchildren. He joined the UUCV Board in June 2015
Michele Burton Michele and her husband, Jim, moved to this area in 2013, after living almost 20 years in the D.C. area. One of the concerns before moving was to find a good UU church in the area. They found it the first Sunday they attended UUCV. Michele is a weaver and had her own weaving business from 1986 to 2014 called The Swift Shuttle. Her main focus was reproduction textiles from the 18th and 19th Centuries and the Shaker period. For 15 years she sold on the grounds of Mount Vernon during their 18th Century Fair. She still weaves in her spare time, but has laid down her shuttle for hiking poles. Since moving here the Appalachian Trail has become part of her life, and you can often find her hiking the trail and leading groups for the Road Scholar programs in this area. She is also involved with the A.T. Museum and works as a docent. She practices Yoga and meditation most days. Here at UUCV she is involved with the Daytimers Small Group Ministry and is a Worship Associate. She and Jim have three grown children and two grand children,
Mary Lynn Lynch Mary Lynn live in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Drew and their son Eric (18). Their daughter Shannon (21) is a college junior at IUP. Mary Lynn and her family have been members of UUCV for about 9 years. She has had many volunteer experiences at UUCV including organizing social events, running the sound board teaching Sunday RE and OWL. She has been on the RE Committee from 2012 to present, serving as co-chairperson in 2012 and chair from 2013 to 2014. She was also on the Music Committee from 2008 to 2011. Mary Lynn is a business graduate of IUP. She has had a wide range of job experience including a market research analyst, a floral designer, a recreation therapist at a nursing home, and currently, an office receptionist. She enjoys the outdoors and helping with environmental projects.
In addition, nominations from the congregation for a board position can be accepted by petition. A petition is a letter that includes the name of the candidate and the term of office which is signed by at least three members of the congregation. This letter only nominates a member of the congregation who has indicated a willingness to serve. It is to be delivered to the President or Clerk of the Board or to any member of the current Nominating Committee, preferably before but acceptably on the day of election. The Nominating Committee currently consists of Gail Black, Priscilla Laws, Drew Lynch, Bev Motich, and Jon Tarrant (chair). All members of the current Nominating Committee have agreed to serve another year.