Board of Trustees & Officers 2023-2024

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 insures 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 3/2020.

Class of 21-24

Mary Huhn (She/her) was raised a Unitarian, having attended the Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pa., with her mother. After a gap of several decades from being a member of a congregation, she discovered the joys of First Unitarian, where she has made many friends, worked at UniFairs and auctions, and participated in several discussion groups, such as “Walking and Talking with God,” a history of UU with Ethan Loewi and a discussion of “No Other Gods,” as well as one about Christian Unitarian Universalists with Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason. She is now facilitating her first small group on “Soul Matters.”.  Mary has worked to make the world better — engaging in turn out the vote, participating in climate-change marches, and joining groups such as Weaving Social Justice. She is a somewhat retired journalist who spent most of the last year in the Catskills with her husband and teenage son, but returned to Brooklyn in the early spring, full of hope. Mary is the president of the PTA at her son’s middle school as well as president of Brooklyn Alliance of Neighborhood Gardens. She has experience with being on an executive board, budgets, and working with community members. 

Judith Sedaitis (She/her) joined the congregation in 2017 a few weeks after Trump’s election, looking for a place of solace and solidarity. She wrestled with the ways in which the UU tradition departs from the more orthodox Christian teachings so important to her and her ethnic enclave in Chicago. Her parents’ families fled the Soviet invasion of the Baltic during WWII and their Protestant church was a lynch pin for their life in the US.  Judith formally joined as a member two years later in the fall of 2019. She has since been an active in our Membership Committee and in Weaving Social Justice, recently helping to lead the effort getting First Unitarian’s support for Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP). She is currently a mentor to a COA youth and has also worked on UUA campaign efforts last fall and with our own congregation’s phonebank to Florida. An avid participant in our adult RE program, Judith led a book discussion in the Sacred Studies Program, and is a member of an ongoing support group meeting monthly.  She teaches sociology at City Tech and lives in Brooklyn with her spouse and two cats.

Jay Sheth (he/him) began attending First Unitarian in November 2016, when he and his wife Andrea were searching for a new spiritual home. At First Unitarian, Jay has contributed to the efforts of the Green Team, Coming of Age, the Immigrant Solidarity Committee and Weaving Social Justice. He has spent his professional career as a software engineer and, more recently in leading the protection of healthcare data.  He has volunteered as a co-op board member and values the insights he gained from that experience. Jay is an avid gardener (in search of a garden!) and enjoys documenting the wonders of nature as part of the iNaturalist community. One of his majors in college was International Business, and he maintains an active interest in sustainable investing. One of Jay’s favorite things is cooking lentil soup for the congregation. Jay looks forward to the opportunity to serve as a Trustee at First Unitarian and is committed to investing his efforts and experiences in this service.

Class of 22-25

Robin Bossert (Co-President), (he/him) has run his own video production company for over 34 years. As a writer/director/editor, he enjoys all aspects of production working with corporate, public relations, educational and nonprofit clients.

He founded Navigators USA, in 2003, a co-ed, secular inclusive scouting movement, starting over 330 Chapters across the country, the UK, France and other countries.  Past President of the Miramar Ski Club, past hike leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club, and present Deacon at All Souls NYC, he lives in the West Village and works at his loft/office in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Beth Evans (she/her) has been a member of First Unitarian of Brooklyn for over thirty years. She raised her four children in the congregation and is proud to see them living and practicing the UU values they learned here. She has contributed to the congregation in many ways, including building the next generation with the religious education program, celebrating half of humankind in the Women’s Leadership Alliance, knitting with the Crafting Ministry, and exploring spirituality with fellow congregants in monthly meetings with Rev. Ana. She has also served on the Leadership Development Committee, spearheaded the reorganization of the Library, and most recently worked with the Technology Team. In this role Beth has been honored to serve as one of the Zoom services hosts and is preparing to learn the streaming production side of online services. She looks forward to retirement in a few years when she knows she will be happy to contribute more and have more time for her creative writing, but in the meantime, she continues working as an academic librarian, finding time for friends and family, and looking more deeply into what it means to live a life of value.

Lisa Pacenza (Co-President), (she/her) has been a member of the First Unitarian congregation for almost 18 years, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Women’s Leadership Alliance.  She represented First U as a delegate to the virtual UUA General Assembly in 2021, and recently became a Head Usher. She’s been active on her coop board for nearly a decade, including roles as President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Lisa works in strategic marketing and communications in the professional services industry.

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 (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 ofChrist c ongregation in their hometown of Casper, WY, joining First U felt just right. In their work Jake focuses on hiring and HR for nonprofits, currently working at Bloomberg Philanthropies after stints at The Trevor Project, the 92nd Street Y, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center. Over the years Jake has also spent time volunteering with ACT UP  New York, the Ali Forney Center, and the Democratic Socialists of America. After 6years 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.

Clerk of the Society

Maggie Norris (she/her) has been a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Brooklyn since December 2021. Previously, she was a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Jose, California for about 20 years. She has been an active member, with regular attendance at services and contributing to church community events, such as UniFair, Spring Auction, the Greeters group, the meditation group, and online discussion groups. She is planning to co-lead a further series of the UU History and Theology group later this year. She serves on the Board of the Women’s Leadership Alliance as a member-at-large. She is looking forward to joining Board of Trustees meetings as Clerk of the Society starting May, 2023.

Moderator

Patrick Gunn (he/him) has been attending First U with his wife Laura and their three children since 2006.  During his membership he has been an RE/OWL teacher, has participated in several special project teams, has served terms on the Committee on Ministry and the Leadership Development Committee, and is a former co-president of the Board of Trustees.  Professionally, Patrick has spent over twenty-five years in various roles throughout the film and television business, as a producer, studio executive, and manager of content libraries. 

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

Marty Bernstein
Robert Bero
Thomas Check
Liz Davis
Laurel Lesio
Edwin Lord
Constance Newsom
Lee Pardee
Bruce Wilde
Nancy Wolf

Board of Trustees 2023-2023

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