2005 Nominations for the ALRC Board of Directors
The Nominating Committee of the ALRC, which consisted of three members: Karen Harthan, Marty Shifflett, and Bonnie Weber, have met on-line to put together a slate of nominees for the election to the ALRC Board of Directors. The election will be held at the ALRC Conference in Chicago October 27-30, 2005. The following information is provided so that you will be able to understand the process of voting and have the option to nominate others from the floor. Remember that any person you nominate from the floor must give you prior consent.
Currently, the Bylaws of the ALRC under Article VI state:
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) members which shall consist of:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Member-at-large
The Board shall be elected by the voting members of the Association at the biennial meeting. The term of office shall be two years. The term shall begin and terminate with the biennial meeting. Board members may be re-elected for a second term, but may not serve more than two terms in succession. Only one person from a member center may be elected to the Board of Directors.
2. The directors elected by the Association must be members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and must be representatives of members centers of the ALRC.
3. The President shall be elected by the voting representatives of the ALRC at the biennial meeting.
4. Following the election of the president, the voting representatives shall elect the remaining four members of the Board. The Board of Directors shall determine who will serve in the position of Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Things to think about before you vote:
It is important to have staggering terms so that there is always a combination of experienced and non-experienced members on the Board.
Members should represent a variety of regions and Resource Center models.
Read the enclosed bio’s so that you know the person you are voting for a little better.
If you would like to add another nominee to the ballot, please get their permission and then submit their name and a bio to the Nominating Committee. This can be done at any time up to the election.
ALRC Bios
2005 Elections
Dee Wright (Sierra Pacific Resource Center)
While I work at Hope ELCA, I am a member at Good Shepherd in Fresno where Ted Niemi is our pastor.One of the first of the Boomers, I now have two GenX'ers. Frank is 32 (ouch) and works for Snohomish County Planning Dept in WA. Greg is 30 and living in Davis, applying to substitute teach while getting his credential. Both are Eagle Scouts and we've had a lot of fun camping and hiking through the years. I retired from teaching way back in "ought one" and am beginning my fourth year at the SPS Resource Center. If being a member-at-large means I cover a lot of territory, I guess that's true for our Synod. We have 210 churches and our vision is "Serving the SPS congregations"!
Hope this tells you enough, Dee
Irene Flynn (Florida Bahamas Resource Center)
Irene Flynn grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming and received a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Medical Technology from the University of Northern
Colorado.
Upon moving to Tampa, Florida, church work beckoned, and Irene
served as Director of Music and Liturgy for 5 years, and then as
Director of Christian Education for another 5 years at Grace Lutheran
Church.
She joined the Synod staff in January of 1998 as a Specialist in
Resources and Training. She and husband, Truman have two children,
Michael, 26 who is stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, and Erin, 23, who
lives in Sarasota.
Carol Hughes (Chambersburg Resource Center/Lower Susquehanna Synod)
In my "first life" I was an elementary teacher. I have been the Community
Ministries Coordinator at Lutheran Social Services in Chambersburg, PA for
twenty years and for fifteen of those years my office has been a Resource
Center of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. I also coordinate an agency based
Stephen Ministry program, a Parish Nurse program and a Faith in Action
volunteer program. My Resource Center has been a member of the ALRC since
1998 and I have attended all of the ERCG and ALRC meetings since then. I
have two daughters who have blessed me with four grandchildren.
Sister Noreen Stevens (Eastern Minnesota Resource Center)
As a rostered leader in the ELCA, I have had a number of calls that have allowed me to use my gifts, challenge me to grow, and celebrate my passions. Six years ago I was called to serve at the Eastern Minnesota Resource Center – a call that has allowed me to grow my passion of finding the best resources – sometimes the oldies will do, search through stacks of catalogs (print and online,) challenge me to meet the needs of congregations in the Minneapolis Area and Saint Paul Area Synods (as well as the Luther Seminary population,) and connect me with the greater church as I work in partnership with the ALRC, ELCA, and the ecumenical church! Our location on the Luther Seminary campus has allowed me to be a voice for Resource Center ministry as I work with students, faculty, staff, and continuing education participants in their search for resources.
Here’s a bit more bio information too…
Family: Husband, Doug – two sons, Dakota and Colten – three dogs, Boyd, Hooch, and Coal
Call: My part-time call to serve at the Eastern MN Resource Center has allowed me the
time to serve on a variety of Task Forces on the Deaconess Community Board of Directors (8 years) and currently on their Education and Candidacy Committee.
I also serve as the Saint Paul Area Synod Candidacy Coordinator.
Fun things to do: Read, Family Time, Read, Eat Ice Cream, Read, Bike, Read, Listen to Faith Stories
Sister Virginia E. Strahan (New England Synod Resource Center)
Sister Virginia E. Strahan, an ELCA deaconess, serves part-time as manager of the New England Synod Resource Center (eight hours a week).
She is also a communication specialist for both the New England Synod and Lutheran Social Services of New England. As part of that call, she serves as editor of "The Lutheran Link," the award-winning bi-monthly magazine of the New England Synod. In April 2005, she was among 20 ELCA communicators recognized by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) for outstanding communication projects. Sister Virginia won an award of merit for the November/December 2004 issue of The Link.
RCC is an international interfaith association of religion communicators in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial awards are given annually to active RCC members who demonstrate excellence in religion communication and public relations.
A native New Englander, Sr. Virginia was baptized at Gethsemane, Manchester, N.H., and has been a member of First, Gardner, Mass., since childhood. A former newspaper reporter, she received her M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998. She joined the Deaconess Community of the ELCA in December 2000.
She lives in Baldwinville, Mass.
Karen Kaufman (Northeast Ohio Synod Resource Center)
Karen Kaufman (Ohio State University - B.S. Education) is completing her 10th year as Resource Center Director for the Northeastern Ohio Synod. Prior to that time she served on Learning and Evangelism Teams in the church. She has previously served on the ALRC Board and chaired an ALRC Conference Planning Committee. Karen currently co-ordinates the mentoring teams for the ALRC. "The effectiveness of resource center ministry in Northeastern Ohio has been strengthened through the ALRC and I make sure that people are aware of this partnership."
Current Board Members Eligible to Server:
In addition to the above 5 candidates, two of the current ALRC board are eligible to be re-elected to a second 2-year term. They are: Rev. Craig Boehlke (Region 3 Church Computer Resource Center) and Susan Schlitter (The Lutheran Resource Center).