Board of Trustees and Officers
The Board of Trustees is the primary governing body of the congregation. The Board is made up of 9 voting members of the congregation who serve three-year terms. Three members roll off and three members roll on every year. Trustees are elected by the congregation from a slate presented by the Leadership Development Committee at the Annual Meeting held on the third Sunday in May. The Board elects its own president. The Clerk of the Society is elected by the congregation for a one-year renewable term. The Clerk keeps Board minutes and has additional administrative responsibilities as needed throughout the year. The Moderator of the congregation presides at congregational meetings and ensures that meetings are run according to the rules set forth. The Moderator is elected by the congregation for a one-year renewable term. The Treasurer is appointed by the Board. The Treasurer works with the board and the finance committee to insure that fiscal policy is followed.
Interested in serving First Unitarian as a Trustee? Trustee Job Description – Revised 3/2024.
Class of 2023-2026
Michele Ascione (she/her) has been a member of First U for just about 30 years and has been a Religious Education teacher and a member of the Religious Education Council – even serving as chair for some time – for almost all of those years. She may have even been YOUR RE teacher! She was one of the congregation’s first RE volunteers to get trained for the ground-breaking OWL curriculum for grades K-8. In addition, she has served short stints on the Nominating Committee and the Staff Interest Committee. Michele is proud to have marched and rallied with the congregation, participated in immigrant solidarity activities, coordinated activities at family retreats at Murray Grove, volunteered for UniFair, played parts in numerous Winter festivals (notably playing “The Grinch” two winters in a row), narrated a revised Purim Spiel, and performed two roles in the first congregational theater performances of Mother Wove the Morning. Originally joining in order to raise her children with an open-minded religious education, Michele has found a supportive community and an outlet for some of her talents that she has come to cherish.
Barbara Bornmann (she/her) is grateful to have found a spiritual home at the Unitarian Universalist church in 2021. As a relative newcomer, Barbara has been active in church life and serves on the Weaving Social Justice committee, as a Lay Pastoral Counselor for the Care Committee, and as a member of the choir
enjoying great music and camaraderie of choir members. Driven by a spiritual commitment to healing through the arts, Barbara has worked for 30 years in Healthcare specializing in mental and behavioral health for persons with Developmental Disabilities,
and persons struggling with Serious Mental Illness. A former supervisor and director of therapeutic rehabilitation in hospital settings, Barbara continues to research and author articles on best practice in providing creative approaches to healing. Currently, Barbara works as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist with Correctional Health Services serving persons with serious mental illness detained on Rikers Island.
Jake Powell (Co-President, they/them) has been an active member of First Unitarian since 2018. At First U, Jake is a contributing member of the Immigrant Solidarity Committee as well as the Queer Caucus and Young Adult Ministry. Having grown up in a United Church of Christ congregation in their hometown of Casper, WY, joining First U felt just right. In their work Jake focuses on hiring and HR for nonprofits. Over the years Jake has also spent time volunteering with ACT UP New York and the Ali Forney Center. After 6 years in Cobble Hill Jake recently moved to Flatbush with their partner. In their free time Jake enjoys reading, running, gluten-free baking, and trying to pick up Chinese.
Class of 2024-2027
Anne Calder (She/her, Co-President) began attending First Unitarian in 2014, when she was seeking community and recalled her grandparents’ commitment to their Unitarian congregation. She pledged her membership in 2019, and since has been serving on the Green Team. Over the years, she has enjoyed greeting churchgoers at the door, dropping into Craft Ministry meetings, and volunteering in the kitchen when opportunities arise. Anne has her own residential interior design firm, which she’s working to grow. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, crochet and hiking.
Vicki Antonini (she/her) began attending First Unitarian in November of 2017 when she was looking for a spiritual home after the US Presidential Election result. She has been a lifelong Unitarian Universalist in spirit but didn’t realize there was a name for what she believed until she heard about it in 2016. She signed the membership book in the spring of 2018 and is honored to serve as a Trustee for the place that has been such a source of comfort and affirmation in the last six years. During her time at First Unitarian she has volunteered for UniFair, Folk and Feast (formerly known as Jazz and Pie), various fundraisers including our recent fundraiser for Anera, and likes to pitch in whenever and however she can. She has enjoyed Adult Religious Education experiences including The History of Unitarian Universalism with Intern Minister Kevin Jagoe, the Shmita workshop series and varied book discussions including No Other Gods with Rev. Ana, The Artist’s Way and more, including a current Chalice Circle group. She was a member of Rev. Karen Madrone’s Internship Committee and currently serves as member of Intern Minister Rachel Schmitt’s Internship Committee. She previously served as Co-Chair of the Weaving Social Justice Committee and currently serves as Secretary for the Women’s Leadership Alliance. A lifelong public school educator, Vicki is currently in transition after a 29 year career with the NYC Public School system, having served as an English teacher, literacy coach, and high school assistant principal and principal.
Mark Weiss (he/him, Co-President) and his wife Eva Rogals have been members of First U since March, 2012. He has served as a Coming of Age mentor and hosted children’s activities at many holiday parties. Their son Max (22), and daughter, Abigail (14 in May), have been active in the Religious Education program. Max participated through Youth Group, and Abigail is currently in Coming of Age.
Mark is excited to serve First Unitarian on the board, most of all because of the impact it has had on his life. First U gave Mark and his wife, Eva Rogals-Weiss, the gift of raising their children in an unconditionally supportive community of values aligned with their own. And it has led him to “finally embrace my own path toward faith and participation in a spiritual community”. Mark brings a breadth of work experience to the role, as both a senior manager and lead contributor in startups and established companies, with particular skills in software development, data analysis and motivating teams to complete challenging projects by working together.
Class of 2025-2028
Luke Messina has been a member at First Unitarian since 2018. He has been active in many facets of congregational life including helping to plan events, provide support, and foster community.
Luke has been particularly active with First Unitarian’s queer and young adult groups. This includes helping plan past appearances at Brooklyn Pride and contributing to two summer Pride services.
Since August of 2024, he has co-chaired the Connections Committee. During his time as co-chair the committee has helped launch affinity groups, formalize processes for welcoming/outreach work, and hosted a movie screening. In March of 2025, Luke began facilitating a Queer Spirituality group. He believes our congregation is a unique and special place, and is dedicated to serving our shared community in any way he can.
Luke lives in South Brooklyn and works in voting rights and accessibility for the city government.
Julie Elting is a Colorado native but lived in Hawaii for 20 years before relocating to Brooklyn in 2018. The move to New York was an intentional choice that took 50 years to turn into reality. Professionally, Julie has been a registered nurse (RN) for 39 years and an Advanced Practice RN since 2008. Her clinical focus is on community-based maternal/child health with certificates in lactation and perinatal palliative care. She is an associate professor of nursing at Long Island University – Brooklyn where I teach research, policy, and theory. Personally, Julie and her husband, Dirk, have been married for 39 years. They have three kids, Devin (lives in Queens), Maria (Oregon), and Russell (Hawaii). Julie has been associated with the Unitarian Universalists since the early 1990s and was active in Religious Education, stewardship, and the parking committee at her congregation in Hawaii. She and Dirk joined First U in 2019 and have volunteered at various events including UniFair and the auctions. Her leadership roles include the Women’s Leadership Alliance (secretary, current president) and Share the Plate (chair for 4 years).
Amanda Nietzel is a longtime NYC resident with a passion for community. As a member of the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, Amanda hopes to support all the great works happening in our congregation. Amanda co-chaired (with Mariasara Alcoff) last year’s very successful UniFair. She joined First Unitarian in January 2021.
Amanda’s professional skills include editorial, leadership, project management, and technology development. She brings her empathetic nature to all her projects and collaborations.
Clerk of the Society
Sarah Morgan has been a member of First Unitarian since 2009, and previously served as the Clerk in 2015. She works for the Natural Resources Defense Council and lives in Hastings-on-Hudson with her husband, Jack, and their two kids, Cyril and Lewis.
Moderator
James Goward (he/him) has been a member of First Unitarian for over 11 years. A Massachusetts native, Jim has called New York City home for 34 years. He is a lawyer who has worked at the N.Y.P.D, as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society, and is currently a prosecutor in the Bronx. He has served as the president of co-op boards for two successive buildings that he and his family have lived in. He enjoys playing music, roller blading and reading, (favorite authors include David Foster Wallace, James Joyce, and Stephen King).
Treasurer
Lee Pardee has been attending First U for over 30 years and has served the congregation in many ways. She is a past chair of the Social Action, Membership, and Finance committees. She has served on the Worship and Music and Nominating Committees and on Search Committees for our current Music Director, Facilities Director, and a previous Senior Minister. She has served on the Board of Trustees three times and been President twice. She has sung in the choir almost as long as she has attended First U. Lee is retired from a 30-plus year career in foster care. She lives in Sunset Park.
Deacons
Robert Bero, Thomas Check, Liz Davis, Beth Evans, Patrick Gunn, Laurel Lesio, Edwin Lord, Constance Newsom (Senior Deacon) Lee Pardee, Nancy Wolf
Board of Trustees 2024-2025
Vicki Antonini, Michele Ascione, Barbara Bornmann, Robin Bossert, Anne Calder, Beth Evans (Co-President), Cara Haft, Jake Powell (Co-President), Mark Weiss
Officers: Clerk of the Society: Maggie Norris, Moderator: James Goward, Treasurer: Lee Pardee
Board of Trustees 2023-2024
Michele Ascione, Robin Bossert (Co-President), Barbara Bornmann, Beth Evans, Mary Huhn, Lisa Pacenza (Co-President), Jake Powell, Judith Sedaitis, Jay Sheth
Officers: Clerk of the Society: Maggie Norris, Moderator: Patrick Gunn, Treasurer: Lee Pardee
Board of Trustees 2022-2023
Robin Bossert (Co-President), Beth Evans, Jenny Goldin, Mary Huhn (Co-President), Megan Munroe, Lisa Pacenza, Judith Sedaitis, Jay Sheth, Winnie Zwick
Officers
Elees Woods, Clerk of the Society, Patrick Gunn, Moderator, Lee Pardee,Treasurer
Board of Trustees 2021-2022
Carolyn Ellis
Jenny Goldin
Mary Huhn (Co-President)
Amit Mehta
Megan Munroe
Colleen Olson
Matt Robinson (Co-President)
Judith Sedaitis
Jay Sheth
Officers
Elees Woods, Clerk of the Society
Mike Alcoff, Moderator
Pat Steele, Treasurer
Board of Trustees 2020-2021
Vonda Brunsting
Andrew Bongiorno (resigned mid-year)
John Carroll
Sam McKelvie
Amit Lucia Mehta (Co-President)
Megan Monroe
Colleen Olson (Co-President)
Andrea Parkinson
Matt Robinson
Board of Trustees 2019-2020
Vonda Brunsting
Andrew Bongiorno
John Carroll
Dale Ho
Laurel Lesio-Eisenstadt
Amit Lucia Mehta
Sam McKelvie – Co-President
Colleen Olson
Dawn Elane Reed – Co-President
Officers
Bruce Wilde, Clerk of the Society
Mike Alcoff, Moderator
Lake Wise, Treasurer
Board of Trustees 2018-2019
Vonda Brunsting
John Carroll
Patrick Gunn – Co-President
Cara Haft – Co-President
Dale Ho
Laurel Lesio-Eisenstadt
Sam McKelvie
Dawn Elane Reed
Waciuma Wanjohi
Officers
Bruce Wilde, Clerk of the Society
Mike Alcoff, Moderator
Lake Wise, Treasurer
Alfred Blanco, Warden
Olive Hoogenboom, Historian
Board of Trustees 2017-2018
Roger Cooper, President
Sean Fischer
Patrick Gunn
Cara Haft
Dale Ho
Laurel Lesio
Lee Pardee
Dawn Elane Reed
Waciuma Wanjohi
Officers
Bruce Wilde, Clerk of the Society
Mike Alcoff, Moderator
Lake Wise, Treasurer
Alfred Blanco, Warden
Olive Hoogenboom, Historian
Officers
Bruce Wilde, Clerk of the Society
Lake Wise, Treasurer
Alfred Blanco, Warden
Olive Hoogenboom, Historian
Board of Trustees 2016-2017
Roger Cooper
Liz Davis
Sean Fischer
Patrick Gunn
Cara Haft
James Goward
Mary Most
Kurt Steele
Lee Pardee, President
Officers
Sarah Morgan, Clerk of the Society
Lake Wise, Treasurer
Alfred Blanco, Warden
Olive Hoogenboom, Historian
Board of Trustees 2015-2016
Roger Cooper
Liz Davis
Sean Fischer
James Goward (appointed to fill the position of Jeff Muller)
Elaine Macken
Mary Most
Rachel Michael
Jeff Muller (though Dec, 2015)
Kurt Steele
Lee Pardee, President
Board of Trustees 2014-2015
Michael Alcoff, President
Thomas Check
Devin Judge-Lord
Liz Davis
Elaine Macken
Mary Most
Jeff Muller
Rachel Michael
Kurt Steele
Officers
Christine Lloyd, Clerk of the Society
Mitch Major, Treasurer
Alfred Blanco, Warden
Olive Hoogenboom, Historian
Deacons
Alfred Blanco, Senior Deacon
Robert Bero
Thomas Check
Liz Davis
Edwin Lord
Olive Hoogenboom
Constance Newsom
Lee Pardee
Bruce Wilde
Nancy Wolf
