The following people make up the 2011-2012 UEC Council. Please contact any of them with questions, suggestions and concerns about Unidos en Cristo.
Allocations Coordinator — Cheryl Lecy
Cheryl and her husband, Scott, attended UEC 227/228 in February 2008 and have both served on several teams. They attend First UMC in Linstrom where they are UEC Liaisons. They were married in 2001 and enjoy spending time with family and friends, riding motorcycles and traveling. Together they teach Sunday school, Cheryl is also a church Trustee and serves in music ministry where she sings with the worship band and choir.
Clergy Coordinator — Mary Marcoux
Mary attended Cursillo in 1979 at “a church somewhere in St. Paul.” As both clergy and a musician, she has served on more than 25 weekends, including UEC, Catholic, Lutheran, and United Cursillos, United TEC #1, and a previous stint on our Council back in the ‘80’s—shortly after disco.” While she still keeps active in parish ministry on a free lance basis, for more than 15 years she has coordinated the grief programming and served as grief counselor for North Memorial Hospice.
Clergy Coordinator — Trace James
Trace and wife Karen attended UEC 109/110 in 1994. Trace has served on UEC and Charis teams, including serving as Rector in 2002. Having since received ministry licensure, he has also served as SD. They have three (3) grown children and six (6) grandchildren and attend church at Faith Presbyterian, Minnetonka. Trace is author and administrator for “Studies in Grace”, an intensive and ongoing Bible study taught in the prison community and the Christian community at large.
Clergy Coordinator — Mary Syrja
Mary attended UEC #164 in 2000 and has served on numerous teams since. She is ordained with the Assemblies of God (recently retired). Her passion is to teach both adults and children and to mentor others in ministry. She married Matti Syrja in Feb, 2010 and is currently enjoying newlywed life in Cottage Grove, MN where they attend Light The Way Church. Matti recently attended UEC #247. He is also very glad to support Mary in UEC.
Communications Coordinator — Lisa Boldenow
Lisa, and her husband, Jim, attended UEC 215/216 in May 2006. They live in Burnsville with their three sons and one daughter and attend Faith Covenant Church. Lisa has served on several UEC teams. She volunteers with many ministries, leads women to the Boundary Waters, facilitates women’s Bible studies, started and served as the Chair of the Faith Covenant Food Outreach and serves as mentor/support for an intern pastor. Lisa stays home during the day, home schools one son and teaches math at Metropolitan State university at night.
Convenor — Janice Knight
Janice attended UEC 202 in 2004 and jumped right into service with the Long Range Task Force. She has also served as Spiritual Director. Formerly an Associate Pastor at Church of the Open Door in Plymouth, she is currently serving in a lay minister positionon prayer, communion and pre-marriage ministry teams. She is employed at Capella University as an Academic Advisor.
Co-Convenor — Teresa VanBatavia
Teresa and her husband, Del, attended UEC 205 and 206 in January, 2005 at Wayzata Community Church. They attend Brunswick UMC in Crystal where they are leading the first Brunswick UEC Renewal Group. Teresa and Del have 3 children - one in college, a high school senior, and an 8th grader. During the day, you will find Teresa teaching first grade at Meadowbrook Elementary School in the Hopkins School District.
Convenor Advisor — Kathy Walker
Kathy attended UEC 104 in 1994 in Stillwater. She has served on several teams. Kathy is a single mom with two young men, both in college. She is an Administrative Assistant by day and attends church at Southcross Community Church in Burnsville, MN.
Leadership Development Coordinator— Cathy Eckhart
Cathy attended UEC #134 and has served on several team including Rectora in 2008. She has been married to Dave for 27 years. They live and work in Shakopee. Dave has his own private dental practice and Cathy works with seniors as a recreation coordinator. She also volunteers as a children's leader for BSF. They attend Brookwood Community Church where she volunteers in Sunday school with the pre-schoolers. Dave and Cathy have a 23 year old son who graduated from college and works in Chicago and a 21 year old daughter who in her last year of college at Loyola University in Chicago. They have two dogs.
Leadership Development Coordinator— Rich Schmid
Rich and his wife, Kathy, attended UEC 127/128. After serving on several teams, Rich served as Rector for UEC 233. Rich and Kathy have been married since 1997 and are the very proud parents of Hannah Hope. They attend Christ Community Church in Excelsior.
Leadership Training Coordinator— Carmella Anderson
Carmella and her husband, Charles, attended United Cursillo #33/34 in 1986. Carmella served on several teams including serving as Rectora in 1994. Charles and Carmella have been married for 45 years and are mostly retired, although Carmella is still active as a part time travel agent, specializing in cruises. They are members at Messiah UMC where Carmella plays in the bell choir and serves as membership secretary. She is also active in her renewal group which has met weekly since 1987.
Leadership Training Coordinator— Don May
Don attended UEC #171 in 2001. He attends church at Hastings United Methodist Church. Don is retired and keeps busy with 2 bible study groups, 2 church committees, Charis ministry, ministry in the Dakota Co. Jail, hauling UEC trailers, and more than occasionally taking care of grandchildren. His family consists of my wife of 45 years, 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
Leadership Training Coordinator— Judy Odegaard
Judy and her husband, Chuck, attended UEC 199/120 in 1995. She has served on several teams in both UEC and Charis. She has served as Rectora for both UEC and Charis. She attends Plymouth Covenant Church where she is Congregational Care Coordinator. She and Chuck have three grown children and eleven grandchildren.
Liaison Coordinator — Susan Lay
Sue and her husband, Kevin, attended UEC 189/190 in 2003. She has served on numerous teams and is the UEC Liaison at Faith Covenant Church. Sue volunteers in many ministries including serving as a mentor for a single mom and in the monthly food outreach program.
New Church Coordinator — Kathy Messerli
Kathy attended UEC #124 in April 1996 and served on her first team that fall. She served as Rectora in 2010 after serving on several teams. She attends Plymouth Covenant Church. During the day, Kathy works in the membership and education area of a medical association. She has a son who is a junior in college.
Palanca Coordinator — David Webb
David attended UEC in 2004. He has served on several UEC teams. He attends church at Normandale Hylands UMC and at Church of the Open Door where he is involved as a Sunday School teacher and an usher.
Secretary — Shelley Schuenke
Shelley and her husband, Tom, attended UEC in August 1999. She lives in Bloomington and attends Hope Church in Richfield. Shelley attended BSF for 8 years and is active with Community Bible Study currently. She has served many teams.
Site Selection Coordinator — Diane Martin
Diane and her husband, Steve, live in Apple Valley and attend Grace UMC in Burnsville. Diane works at home as the nanny to a darling 2 yr. old little girl. Steve is a school bus driver. They have two grown children, 25 and 28, and a dear daughter-in-law. Diane attended UEC in Aug. 1998, has served on many teams, and was very blessed to serve on her first Charis team in April 2010.
Supplies Coordinator (Technical) — Brian LaLuzerne
Brian and his wife DeeAnn attended UEC #197 and #198. Brian has served on many teams since. He is a member of Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, MN. He works as a Program Manager for General Dynamics Advance Information Systems. He is the lead sound tech for Faith Covenant Church and Restoration Covenant Church and also runs sound for Berean Baptist Church. Brian and DeeAnn have been married 20 years and have two children, a son and a daughter, both in high school
Supplies Coordinator (Trailers) — Rich Carlson
Rich and his wife Judi attended weekends 149 & 150 in November 1998. They attend Glendale UMC in Savage, MN. They have 2 children, a son that is a freshman in college and a daughter who is a freshman in high school.
Treasurer — Julie Dulac
Julie attended UEC in November 2003. She has served on several teams, usually once per year. Julie is an accountant who spends her spare time with her nephew and two nieces. She also has four four-legged companions (2 cats and 2 dogs). She trains her dogs in agility for fun. Julie is part of the UEC community at Faith Covenant Church.