Mission Statement
The Mission of UUAMP is to develop and support the ministry of membership
through collaboration and professional development .
The Board’s 2019 goals:
- Increase awareness about our open membership to all passionate about the ministry of membership
- Grow regional networks
- Clear and concise communication with our members
About UUAMP
UUAMP is comprised of about 110 members, both paid and volunteer, serving congregations with membership as one of the main components of their ministry. We also welcome UUA staff and the heads of the other UU Professional Groups to join us in supporting our mission and growing Unitarian Universalism as part of shared ministry.
There are many benefits of joining UUAMP!
- Educational opportunities such as Book Discussion Groups and Webinars, Best Practice Seminars and workshops at Local, Regional, and National conferences.
- A Certification Program to bring out the best in yourself and your congregation.
- Opportunities for growth and renewal at our annual gatherings.
- Opportunities for interacting with others doing work around belonging on our UUAMP Facebook Page by sharing both our challenges and triumphs.
- A website full of practical and immediately usable tools and resources.
- A Mentoring Program available for new UUAMP Members.
- Networking opportunities for all members by facebook, email or phone to problem solve.
- Fellowship and support from colleagues who share your vision and goals.
- An opportunity to advocate for the professionalization of the important ministry of membership professionals.
- Organizational voting rights within UUAMP on issues affecting the future of our faith.
- Increase your value to your congregation by professional development and from sharing of fresh insights, new perspectives and best practices.
You can fill out the membership application to become a member today!
UUAMP History
Steering Committee
In June of 2010, 10 people volunteered to be on a steering committee to start the work of becoming a UUA related association for Membership Professionals.
Establishing UUAMP as a professional group
Since our first Annual Meeting and inception at General Assembly in 2011, UUAMP has been very active in promoting shared ministry and collaboration with webinars, book discussions, workshops for regional gatherings and General Assembly, and a certification program.
UUAMP is run by an elected Board of Directors as well as a nominations and audit committee.
In 2015, we opened up membership to all passionate about the Ministry of Membership, both paid and unpaid.
More about UUAMP
UU World Article "It's About More than Membership" from 10/17/16
UU World Article "80 congregations now hire membership professionals" from 10/6/14
Interconnections Article, December 2013
Interconnections Article, October 2011
UU World Article "UU membership professionals form own organization" from 8/24/09
Unitarian Universalist Association of Membership Professionals
Covenant of the Board of Directors
Our work together springs from our mutual passion for membership work. Upon that foundation we build this covenant.
- The mission of UUAMP is the board’s primary and ultimate guide.
- We value mutuality, collegiality and collaboration, therefore we promise to bring open hearts and open minds to our work together. We will practice and cultivate honesty, trust, and appropriate vulnerability.
- We promise to be accountable and to hold one another accountable for effective leadership. We promise to ask for help, to be open to help and to offer help when it would be beneficial.
- We promise to listen even when it is hard and to speak the truth as we see it, even when it is hard.
- As a board, we speak with one voice. Our ideal is consensus, but if consensus cannot be reached, we will acknowledge and concede the greater authority to the person leading the area that is most closely affected in the matter at hand and others may agree to stand aside for the sake of resolution and unity.
- We promise to balance confidentiality with transparency for the health of the association and to seek “the wisdom to know the difference.”
President: Tina Lewis
tlewis@unitytemple.org
Tina Lewis serves as Director of Membership and Engagement at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park Il. Tina joined the staff at UTUUC in 2010 after many years of volunteering in the religious education program. She has served in various roles on the board of UUAMP over the past six years and is excited to be part of its continued growth and evolution. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors as much as possible!
UUAMP President's Roles & Responsibilities:
Vice President: Mandi Huizenga
Mandi is in her 2nd year as a Seminary Student in the Metro NYC District, and soon moving to the Chicago area. Mandi also worked as a Congregational Admin with Membership responsibilities as well as working at the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation providing program support, managing the annual reporting and archiving the financial and program history of the Foundation. Mandi and her partner, a professor at Drew Theological School are the parents of two children, Luna and Lucien. In her spare time, she gardens, embroiders, cooks, bakes, and writes.
UUAMP Vice President's Roles & Responsibilities:
Treasurer: Peggy Garrigues
peggy.uusic@gmail.com
Peggy has been the Director of Congregational Life at the Unitarian Universalist Society since 2016. She oversees programs and classes for visitors and new members, works with Membership Associates to support member engagement, supports the work of the Publicity Team, leads a Wellspring group, helps engage members in programs of the larger UU movement, does strategic planning for new programs and community engagement, and fills in other ways as needed in the life of the congregation.
Peggy previously served as Minister and Assistant Minister of several United Methodist Churches in Michigan. While there, she served on staff and as President of the Board of Michigan Interfaith Power and Light which helps religious congregations address climate change and save energy.
Peggy grew up in the Chicago area, and went to University of Michigan where she earned a degree in Social Change. After working with college students in New Hampshire for two years, she attended seminary in Washington, DC. She currently lives in Coralville, Iowa with her partner, Sarah Ross, and their three cats: Butter, Confetti, and Dulci. Peggy enjoys Scottish fiddling and dancing, reading, cooking, and sewing. She also enjoys visiting her two sons and a daughter-in-law, who live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and in Syracuse, New York.
UUAMP Treasurer's Roles and Responsibilities:
Secretary: Caron Armstrong
coordinator@uufws.org
Caron is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she met her husband, Steve. Their son, Keegan, lives and works in the NC Triad, daughter Catie is a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and daughter Josie is a rising junior at UNC. As full-time Membership Manager of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, Caron maintains the member database, works with the Membership Committee on programs for newcomers and members, and supports the Fellowship's vision to work boldly and deeply for justice.
UUAMP Secretary's Roles & Responsibilities:
Janine Gelsinger
heartledhead@gmail.com
Janine served as the Director of Membership + Welcoming Ministries at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix for two and a half years. In 2019, she transitioned to the Executive Director of UUJAZ, the Arizona State Action Network.
With a passion for justice, a skill for relationship-building, and a background in curriculum development and facilitation, Janine is excited to explore the intersections of Membership and Social Justice. She will co-facilitate the membership track at GA 2019, "A Radically Inclusive Pathway to Membership."
When not passing out tacos to protesters at the 4th Ave Jail, or meeting with community leaders over vegan Horchatas at the Coronado, Janine loves to build her patriarchy-smashing muscles at Barre class, and snuggle with her two kiddos, Vivienne Grey and Ramona Drew.
Laura Berardi
laura.uuamp@gmail.com
Laura is the part-time Membership Coordinator for First Unitarian Church of Des Moines (Iowa). Laura fell into church work after spending nearly 15 years in other non-profit and public sector jobs in state government (where she developed a taste for crisis response), grant-funded initiatives (where she learned the power of harnessing community leaders), and academia (where she failed magnificently at being a fundraiser).
In doing membership work she has found a place to synthesize her love of working for and with people, all for a greater good. She lives 2 miles from her church on Des Moines’ south side, which is both a wonderful and terrible thing, with her husband and their two recently adopted children, ages 10 and 8.
Sharon Thompson
dallasuu.org
Born and raised in rural East Texas, Sharon Thompson was privileged to be a full time wife and mom to daughter, Shana. Once her daughter graduated from high school and was pursuing her own dreams and Sharon was single again, an entire new world of opportunity opened.
With a Master of Education degree, Sharon held a variety of education positions at the local, regional and state levels. In addition to Texas, opportunities arose in San Francisco, Ca; Ketchikan, AK; and Thibodeaux, LA. Along the way, she served the Solano/Napa Habitat for Humanity affiliate as Executive Director for 2 years.
Sharon landed in the airline industry and spent two years as a flight attendant with a private international charter company. Traveling the world, spending 20 days every month in the blue skies with destinations unknown was fun and exciting; but with the needs of family taking priority, Sharon landed in Dallas, Texas.
Unitarian Universalism came Sharon’s life after she moved to Dallas. She served First Unitarian Church of Dallas on staff for 7 years in the part time positions of Congregational Life assistant and Director of Membership; currently serving full time as Director of Membership & Hospitality with the additional responsibility of Data Base Manager.
UUAMP Members-at-Large Roles & Responsibilities:
Marie Luna
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Congregational Life Coordinator
Appleton, WI
920-731-0849
marie@fvuuf.org
Mary Law
DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church
Congregational Life Coordinator
Du Paige, IL
UUAMP Nominating Committee Members Roles & Responsibilities:
Garnett Losak
First Unitarian
Director of Congregational Life
New York, NY
garnett@fuub.org
Bonnie Guyer Graham
Olympia UU Church
Connections Coordinator
Olympia, WA
(360) 786-6383
connectionscoordinator@ouuc.org
UUAMP Audit Committee Members Roles & Responsibilities
UUAMP Bylaws
These bylaws were amended, voted on and approved at our Annual Meeting in 2019.
Please contact uuampboard@gmail.com with any questions or comments.