My wife, Suzanne Williams, and I joined the church in early 2005. Our first introduction to UCH was when a friend invited us to the Holiday Harvest social event; we met a number of church members and decided to come to a Sunday service. On the way home that first Sunday, we found ourselves talking excitedly about the sermon—imagine that! Sunday services always give me something to think about, and I enjoy the fellowship and friendship of the church community— but there’s more. I have never considered myself a “religious” or a “spiritual” person, but my spiritual side has truly awakened at UCH.

I live in Brookfield with Suzanne and my son Geoff, when he’s not away at college. My background is Roman Catholic and Sue’s is Episcopalian. I have lived all my life in the Chicago area, and went to college and law school at DePaul University. I am a partner in a small law firm in Orland Park, but my real job is as a volunteer in natural habitat restoration.

I have enjoyed volunteering for UCH in several capacities over the years. It’s exciting to be president of the congregation, as there is so much energy among our members and so much potential for the church to be a positive force in all our lives and in the world.

Darline Peterson – Vice President

My husband, Gene Parvin, and I joined UCH in 1993 after searching for a church for quite some time. I was raised Protestant but I was really attracted to the idea of non-creedal church where I could develop my own beliefs and where I could hear practical commentary about day-to-day living on Sunday mornings.

I became quite active in the church in 2005 when I started working part time instead of 60 hours a week. I helped out in the office and also did paperwork and food preparation for Holiday Harvest, our fun annual fundraiser. The church became increasingly more important to me the more I participated in it. As time went on I joined the finance committee and started proofreading the newsletter. This May I was elected Vice President of the congregation and am responsible for the administration of the church.

Gene and I live in Elmhurst with our two cats. We also spend a lot of our time on the farm in Wisconsin where my brother and I grew up. Growing up in the country has given me a deep love of nature and a real appreciation and interest in food and food production. Ironically, my brother and I were raised knowing that we would go to college so we wouldn’t be farmers. So we went to college and went to school and went to school. Now I am a retired attorney, having practiced for 20 years. I’m also a retired chef, food service manager and college instructor.

During this coming year I’m looking forward to my new “job” working with the congregation and the board of trustees here at the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale.

Beth Staas – Secretary

Reared Lutheran by devout German immigrants, church attendance provided an excellent education, exposing me to serious poetry and classical music in the form of hymns, and the discipline of deductive logic found in Sunday sermons. This, along with its spiritual nourishment, has kept church important to me. So when intellectual honesty demanded that I reject traditional theology, I still felt the need for a church home. Newly married, my husband and I found it at Third Unitarian Church in Chicago. Soon corporate gypsies that followed my husband’s paycheck, we moved across the country, finding a welcoming Unitarian home each and every time. We were even involved in building several Fellowships into bona fide churches. Hinsdale Unitarian is the twelfth congregation I’ve joined and am pleased to say that my five children are still Unitarian. Over the years I’ve been active in Religious Education, chairing committees and teaching as well as serving two short stints as DRE during baby-boom years when volunteers did everything. I was active in Women’s Alliance, sang in the choir and spent several years writing a church newsletter. I have been on two different Minister’s Advisory Committees, have conducted occasional lay-services and plunged into the demands of organizing and running a church library. Now widowed and retired from teaching, I spend my time writing in whatever venue strikes my fancy.

Rich Lomasney – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Communications

Bio to come

Dana White – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Facilities

Raised in the Methodist church, I began to question my beliefs while in college. I became a UU while living in Peoria after graduating from college.  Became trustee and sang in the choir like I do at UCH. Moved away from Peoria in 1972 and didn’t rejoin the a UU group until 2007 when I started coming to UCH. I now wish I had been active in the UU as my kids were growing up.

I am a retired manufacturing engineer and currently drive a school bus for something to do. Live in Darien with wife Shirley. Two of my sons live close with their families. My daughter and her family live in Minneapolis area. I really enjoy the non-fiction book club and choir. I’m a fix-it guy and have restored a 1969 Mustang which I take to car shows and cruise nights throughout the summer.

Steven Trout – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Finance

I grew up attending Paint Branch Unitarian Church in Silver Springs, Maryland, where my parents have
remained active members for over 40 years. Since moving to Chicago 23 years ago, I first attended
the Second Unitarian Church of Chicago. Later, I joined the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist
Congregation, after Athena and I married and moved to Elmwood Park over 20 years ago. We
discovered the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale over 8 years ago, shortly after moving to Western Springs.

Since joining UCH about 5 years ago, I have gotten increasingly involved, helping with business
solicitations for Holiday Harvest, a Chalice Circle group that meets Saturday mornings twice a month,
and with special projects, such as installing insulation in the Sanctuary attic. While getting involved
takes time, Athena and I find that doing so offers an enriching opportunity to learn, grow, and make
friends and connections to the UCH Community.

Paula Sejut-Dvorak – Trustee at Large

Portfolios: Membership

In 2001 my husband Tim and I were looking for a place to get married. We happened upon the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale and soon found not only a place to hold a ceremony, but a church home as well. Reared as a Catholic, I attended Benet Academy and Loyola University and reveled in the social justice and volunteer opportunities presented to me as a student. However, I often recoiled from the judgmental nature of religion in general. Tim and I have been lucky to find a place to be able to continue our social justice work in a loving and supportive environment.

Our family has since expanded to include two boys, Alex and Ben, who are currently two and four. My parents have also become members of the church. We appreciate the RE program at church and enjoy attending services as a family. Professionally, I have my Master’s degree in child and adolescent counseling psychology as well as my LPC. I am currently working part time for Encouraging Changes Counseling in Plainfield. At church I have been an RE teacher for many semesters, I currently teach both Junior and Senior high OWL. I have been involved with Holiday Harvest, the Social Action Committee and the membership committee.

Debbi Daniel-Wayman – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Religious Education

My husband Bob & I have been members of UCH for over 20 years. We found the church while looking for someone to marry us who would allow us the freedom we wished for in a ceremony while still bringing a spiritual presence to the event. Ed Searl fit that bill, and, as it turned out, also was a wonderful spiritual guide for us as well, so we quite unexpectedly joined the church soon thereafter.

The religious education program was much smaller when we joined the church, and so the birth of our first child, Adam, was a wonderfully celebrated event among the community who looked forward to a new generation of children to be raised as UU’s. Since that time Adam and his sister Shelby (now in high school) have been joined by many other families looking for the welcoming guidance our R.E. program offers.

Through the years I have taught From Nursery through Jr. High on Sunday’s at the church, sung in the choir many years, accompanied the children’s choir, and have worked on the annual auction and it’s many predecessors. Professionally my background is in music, and I have taught from Pre-school through undergraduates in music and humanities.

Kathy Salzano – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Worship

We live in Elmhurst and have been attending the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale since 2004. My husband, Antonio, and I have three children. We came from different religious and cultural backgrounds and were looking for a church home that would accept people and their diversity. We were welcomed here and are grateful to be a part of this open-minded, intellectual community that honors each individual’s spiritual path.

Pam and the RE program were a huge part of why we joined. We wanted our children to have a broad exposure to religious beliefs and encourage critical thinking to foster their own credo. Now all three of our children have written their first statement of belief, we have two daughters in the Youth Group, and our oldest son is in the Engineering Program at University of Illinois (Urbana).

I enjoy singing in the choir and have participated in other activities, before considering a position on the board. This is an open congregational community that thrives on democratic input. We may not always agree on everything, but we respect others’ opinions. I look forward to serving on the Board and working with the other trustees to continue to grow and improve our church.

I studied Psychology and Spanish at Elmhurst College, before continuing in Spanish Linguistics at UIC. Now I am a Spanish/ Language teacher.

I enjoy meeting new people, talking with friends, reading and learning.

As Trustee for the Worship portfolio, I will be responsible for scheduling lay led services, and making sure that services have flowers, ushers, and after-service refreshments.

Meet me at Coffee Hour!

Tiff Bohn – Trustee at Large

Portfolio: Social Action/Denominational Relations

Bio to come

Mark your calendar now and invite your friends.  You are invited to the 2011 Annual Holiday Harvest Silent Auction & Festival which is being held 5:00 – 9:30 P.M., on November 12, 2011.

The live auction will again feature the professional talents of the loquacious auctioneer “Babe” Tipton. Ever-engaging Dave Lloyd will emcee the entertainment, which, as always, includes a jazz band and dancing!

Separate from the live auction, you can also bid on high quality Silent Auction items as well as events to fill an entire social calendar.  Those who arrive early have the best chance to “win”  sign-up events that often sell out early.

The gastronomic offerings, alone worth the admission, will include a variety of pizzas, multiple palate pleasing side dishes, dessert, wine, beer, soda, and more, under the culinary command of our chef Tim Dvorak.  The nominal admission, covering food, drink and entertainment, is $15 advance/$20 at the door.

We sincerely hope all members, neighbors and friends will join us for an adult evening of fellowship and lively shopping.  Have fun, eat well, and come away with some choice items.