Board of Trustees

	Steve Tepper, President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Steve Tepper was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to South Florida in 1985. He was unchurched his entire adult life until walking through the doors of River of Grass in 1999. He, his wife Laura, and children, Lian and Jake, immediately knew they had found a spiritual home and quickly became active in many areas of congregational life. Over the years, Steve has chaired many standing and special committees, including Annual Giving, Finance, Auction, Ministerial Search, and Nominating. He also served the Board of Trustees as Treasurer from 2002 - 2004. Yet many members know Steve best as one of the River of Grass musicians, offering ministry through music during our time of worship and at special concerts.
	Marjorie Loring, Vice President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it A charter member of River of Grass, Marjie has chaired the Service and Social Justice Committee, taught Religious Education classes, co-led a Covenant Group, served as on the Membership Committee, and is currently a Lay Leader, and a member of the Community Awareness and the Caring Committees, the Full Moon Daughters, and the bUUkies Book Group. Marjie also designed and manages our website. Her career in academia affords her the opportunity to follow two of her passions - teaching and traveling. Marjie and her life partner, Esther, had their Commitment Ceremony almost 10 years ago at the UU Church of Berkeley. During the summer months, she and Esther can be found on the road, enjoying UU B&Bs along the way. They have three children (all married to incredibly wonderful spouses) and one amazing grandchild! Marjie's latest writing project, "Ethical Eating, a Unitarian Universalist Perspective", has been accepted for publication in a book entitled "Politics, Pluralism, and Religion" published by Cambridge Scholars Press.
	Johanne "Johnnie"Peck, Secretary This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Johnnie Peck has been a Unitarian Universalist for 38 years, as a member of congregations in Annapolis, Kent Ohio, and our sister congregation in eastern Broward County. Her husband, G.L. Franklin, is also a member of River of Grass. Johnnie was one of the early founders who sat around a kitchen table planning what was to become River of Grass. Since then, she has been stepping in wherever she felt there was a need. She has served as a co-chair and as a chair of the Auction Committee, chair of the Service and Social Justice Committee, and chair of the New Space Task Force. She has also served on the Nominating and Finance Committees, an Installation Committee, and the Faith Development Committee. She has been a Faith Development teacher, and an early River of Grass website administrator
	Kathy Jens-Rochow, Treasurer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Kathy Jens-Rochow has been a UU for over 25 years and, with her husband, Steve Jens-Rochow, has been a member of River of Grass for 5 years. She is the coordinator for the Women’s Group and has also been a member of the Worship Committee and the choir. Kathy is also the President of the SE Florida UU Cluster. She has two grown children and shares four grandchildren with Steve. She has a Master of Science Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University and is a Family Court Mediator, mediating divorces and other domestic relations issues.
	Susan Juncosa This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
	Janet Schwartz, Trustee This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Janet and her husband, Roy, joined River of Grass as new Unitarian Universalists in June 1999. Within a year of signing the membership book, she was elected to the board of trustees and served for four years in the capacity of trustee (1yr), secretary (1yr) and vice president (2yr). In congregational life she has served as the chair or co-chair of ministries that have facilitated River of Grass receiving its Welcoming Congregation designation, developed small group ministries, provided lay-leader training, publicized congregational activities, planned the annual auction, and choreographed the minister’s installation service. She also served on the settled minister search committee. Since first joining, she has consistently been involved in some capacity with the children’s faith development program and the congregation’s finances. Apart from her activities at River of Grass, Janet enjoys gardening, entertaining friends, and spending time with her adult daughters and their families.
	Jody Dowgray, Trustee< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Jody became a Unitarian after her marriage to John, and the subsequent move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1971. She was a member of All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa until moving to the Monterey Peninsula where she joined her daughter and son-in-law, Ken and Leana Bresnahan, at the Monterey Peninsula Unitarian Church. Jody owned a travel agency for several years and traveled extensively. She then became active in technology and worked in the telecom industry until her move to Florida. Her third career is graphic design where she is now the Creative Director for an online marketing company. At River of Grass, Jody has been on the Board of Trustees, was a co-chair of the Worship Committee, and has served on the Membership Committee, the Auction Committee, and the Caring Committee.
	Tom Robinson, Trustee This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tom is a native of Philadelphia Pa. He and his wife Mary moved their family to Florida in 1991. They became members of the River Of Grass Congregation in 2007. He retired from Postal Service in 2008 after thirty four years of service, has three adult children,and a granddaughter, Emma Kate, who was welcomed into this world in June, 2010. Tom is a member of the Social Justice Committee, the Men's Club, and the Transition Team.
	Spalding Basham This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Spaulding Basham has been a member of River of Grass since 2004. He is sixteen years old and is a sophomore in high school. He will be attending the College Academy in his next school year. This is his first year as Youth Board Rep. He has been through all ages of the River of Grass youth programs, including Sunday School, OWL, and the affirmation program. He attends service almost every week and stays after to help his parents clean up from hospitality hour. Apart from church, Spaulding enjoys gardening, baseball, and video games.

Board Covenant

Respectful of the authority conferred upon us by the congregation, and recognizing the importance of authentic and transparent leadership, we the members of the Board of Trustees commit ourselves to leading with integrity, open communication, and a calm presence.

We will model the congregational Covenant of Right Relations in our interaction with each other, with members, and with visitors, and in doing so will lead our community toward its vision with one voice gained through mindful dialogue and intentional decision-making.

Core Commitments

Individual Responsibility

I will use “I” language and own my own thoughts.
I will avoid triangulation (if it can’t be owned/attributed, it can’t be addressed)
I will remember that process is more important than task.
I acknowledge my responsibility to resolve any decisions “I can’t live with.”
I will honor Board confidentiality.
I will practice self-care.
I will have fun.

Individual Participation

I will prepare for meetings, adhere to agenda schedule; be punctual; and advise the board if I’m unavailable or out of town.
I will be an active listener.
I will contribute my ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
I will remember that it’s okay to disagree.
Email: my account will not be a shared one; I will check often and “Reply All” on all votes.

Group Process

We will focus on the spirit of Robert’s Rules vs. the letter-of-the-law
We will encourage and support youth participation on our Board.
We will designate a process observer and keep the role meaningful.
We will keep a parking lot/bike rack.
We will keep personnel or personal items confidential.
We will select a participating board member to brief an absent board member.
We will commit to monthly report backs to the congregation after service on the Sunday following the regular Board meeting and agree to share in the responsibility of facilitating the monthly report back session.