By Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board President

This is my last month as UTO Board president and my final article for our newsletter. I’ve been thinking about my tenure on the Board (nine years!) and all the things that have changed in UTO and how much UTO has changed me. When I joined the Board as Province I representative I had known about UTO and been a diocesan leader for only about a year, so it was a real leap of faith to accept the Board position. It was a choice I’ve never regretted and one I would recommend to anyone. Being on the UTO Board is a lot of work—especially as president—but it is also extremely satisfying to be part of an organization that focuses on changing people’s lives and building up The Episcopal Church through gratitude. If the opportunity to become a UTO parish leader, diocesan leader, or Board member ever comes your way, please take advantage of it.

I also want to thank the other Board members whose terms are ending this year: Joyce Landers, Gail Donovan, and Lorraine Candelario. Joyce has been a tireless vice president/grants chair for the past six years and has kept us all on track and organized through seven grant cycles (two in the first year of COVID!). Gail was a faithful and fun Province V representative and always a voice of wisdom and reason on the Board. Lorraine, our appointed member for six years, has done so much for the Board (including Spanish translations) and was always a joy to work with. If you have a chance to, please thank each of these wonderful women for all they’ve done for UTO.

The UTO Board’s next officers were elected several months ago so they could “understudy” with the current officers and have a solid understanding of their jobs before they had to take over, and I know UTO is in safe and talented hands for the next three years. Karin Elsen (president), Rowan Larson (vice president for grants), and Maggie Noland (vice president for finance) are creative and committed, and I look forward to seeing how UTO evolves under their leadership. Finally, Heather Melton has been a tireless, imaginative, industrious colleague who has supported the UTO Board in every way possible and encouraged us to try new ideas for UTO and ourselves. After six years as president and nine years on the UTO Board, I must confess that I’m ready to let go of these responsibilities and just be grateful as a private citizen, but I will miss working with these people and all of you who’ve joined us in webinars, training days, and Ingathering celebrations. Thank you for letting me serve you and learn so much from you.