Rev. Sunshine Wolfe, PWR Regional Lead

PWR Lead

PWR Program Staff

PWR Administrator and Bookkeeper

We want to share some of the exciting changes to the Pacific Western Region in recent months. We brought on four new staff since the end of June, legally became a region on August 1st, and the Pacific Western Region Board had their first official meeting in August!  It is an interesting and busy time for the Board and the staff and we are excited for what emerges out of our creative interchanges in the coming years.

Board:  On August 1st, the first phase of the merger of the districts was completed which formally created the Pacific Western Region as a legal entity.  If you are thinking, “I thought that already happened,” I’m sure you are not alone.  Keep in mind, this changes very little for the everyday UU, but has been a lot of work for the Pacific Western Region Transitions Team and staff.  Special gratitude to Libby Fitzgerald, Bob Miess, Mary Nordhagen, Keith Strohmaier, and Rhoda Whitney who served on the Transitions Team making the legal region and the PWR Regional Board a reality.  Look for updates from the Board in next month’s newsletter!

The Board is currently setting up the structures based on the new Bylaws to have the Board work efficiently and meaningful in support of our congregations.  This includes setting up new Circles (kind of like a committee) and developing their meeting structure.  This will take time.  Most Transitions Team members have agreed to continue on to the Board with two new additions.  There are members from all four former districts with intention given to representation.  They are Keith Strohmaier (President), Libby Fitzgerald (Secretary), Mary Nordhagen (Treasurer), Kia Bordner, Roger Jones, David Sheh, and Bob Miess.  If you have questions for the board, please contact them at pwrboard@uua.org.

Staff:  Please welcome the two newest PWR Field Staff, Sam Pearl and Rev. Tania Marquez.  They are just beginning to reach out to their primary contact congregations- so some of you will be hearing from them directly this fall.  They will share more about their lives and work in the November newsletter.  They bring us to full staffing for the first time in almost a year.  We ask for your patience as we catch up on work and get things in order.  If you have questions or need help, just reach out and we will get back to you.

As Regional Lead, I know that all of the leaders across our region are working hard to support and resource our congregations.  Leaders from congregations, camps, professionals’ groups, caucus groups and organizations, and beyond are shining the light of Unitarian Universalism in a world that too often treats change as inherently dangerous.  We know that, like the chrysalis of a butterfly, times of transformation can be delicate and tricky.  We also know that it can be beautiful and inspiring.  May we lean into the changing times knowing that our actions matter.  We are here for one another.

New this program year! In addition to Compensation Consultants, we now have Treasurer Consultants. This emerging team supports treasurers with responsibilities that fall outside of the Office of Church Staff Finances scope. Treasurer Consultants are listed on the Compensation Consultants