I come from the Diocese of Connecticut and belong to Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT. Born and raised on a farm in a small town in Iowa, I was brought up in the German Reform faith. I was a member in both girls and boys 4H, as my father raised purebred Aberdeen Angus Cattle, therefore showed cattle at Iowa State fair, county fairs, and other cattle shows. Since there were no girls who lived near me to play with (there were just boys, and all of them my cousins), I was a real “tomboy” – if I wanted to be involved in the boys’ games, I had to keep up with them. My family were very hardworking, devoted, loving, and religious people. Their lives revolved around the church, as both sets of their grandparents (on the matriarchal side) had formed small churches in the areas where they settled in different areas of Iowa.
During my college days, since there was not a German Reform church, I attended different churches, and was exposed to other beliefs and their way of worship. This was, in addition to my family, an advantage in my growing into who I am today.
My work experience consists of working in the media and direct mail department in three top advertising agencies in Chicago. Also, with my former husband, I opened, decorated, and ran nine restaurants in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Florida. I have worked for Lord & Taylor, in West Hartford, CT; traveled doing antique shows throughout the Midwest, Southwest, and West Coast; and have owned and operated my own antiques and decorator store, as well as arranged estate sales.
In my church, I have served as president of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) for 14 years, two-and-a-half terms on the vestry, hospitality chairman, and enhancement committee. I have also worked on the World Day of Prayer as a lay delegate for the Diocesan Convention, and as fundraising chairperson for the Democratic Republic of The Congo.
I launched a grassroots program to Vinh Long, Vietnam, through a Vietnamese temple. The program raised money for rice and food for orphans, as well as funds to build 20 houses for individuals handicapped by the effects of Agent Orange.
On the ECW diocesan level, I was the publicity chairperson, and I am now 2nd vice president, a well as editor of the Diocesan ECW Communiqué.
I have been involved in Anglican Women’s Empowerment (AWE), which has furthered my interest in global women’s issues, as well as in the United States.
My vision for the ECW is to further women’s work in the church by making things more accessible and attainable for the younger women and youth groups, so they may become involved in missions for their church, state, community, and globally.
It is a calling by God that I feel I have to follow to continue the task he has set forth for me to do on the national board of the ECW.