Our 2017-18 Board of Trustees

 

Michael Malone (President):

Michael joined the congregation in 1992 together with his wife Chris Kirchner. Their daughters, Raen, Kayla and Trina, all thrived growing up in the church’s Religious Exploration (RE) program. Michael served as RE director for three years, and has chaired the Leadership Development Committee and Herrschaft Committee for several years. A writer and former journalist, he is currently the director of Editorial Services with the Office of Communication team at the University of Miami and worked previously for The Children's Trust. He has served as board president since July 2016. Serving on the Board furthers his personal mission to inspire more compassion, justice and wisdom in the world.

  

(Vice-President): Vacant

 

 

Margaret McAlister (New Trustee):

Margaret has been a member of UU Miami since 2009. During her membership, she has served on the following committees: Membership, RE, and Social Justice. She has chaired Membership, Welcoming, Caring, and Auction committees. She served on the Board of Trustees for 3 years as the VP. She currently is a Trustee, as well as a member of Caring, Auction, and RE committees, and teaches the teens in RE. Outside of UU Miami, Margaret is a Human Resources Generalist and, while she loves her work, is counting the days to retirement. She also enjoys her walking/running group, meditation, & throwing Murder Mystery parties. She is the mother of two, David & Alexander, and is married to fellow UU Miami member Reed Olszack, whom she met at UU Miami in 2010, and considers snagging him her best UU Miami accomplishment to date.   

 

Janice McArthur (Treasurer):

Janice has been a member of UUCM for more than 30 years. She has served as president of the congregation, as treasurer, and on the Board of Trustees, and enjoys singing in the choir. A certified public accountant, Janice has handled bookkeeping and other related services at UUCM for many years. Janice is an innovative cook who understands vegan cooking; she and her partner Bob Jacober have prepared more meals at UUCM they either would care to remember. A talented pianist, Janice travels occasionally to Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

 

 

Joanna Sandstrom (Secretary): 

Joanna hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she was born and raised.  After a brief stint in Ohio (attending Miami University) she spent 7 years in the Washington, D.C. area before moving to Miami in 2004.  In Washington, she briefly worked for a Congressman before spending 4 years working for the federal government.  She then attended law school at American University Washington College of Law.  Upon graduation, she moved to Miami to work as an Assistant State Attorney at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.  As an ASA, she focuses exclusively on Mental Health and Substance Abuse cases and issues.  An avid reader and defender of the Constitution, when she’s not working or at UU Miami, you can probably find her curled up on her couch or balcony with a good book and her beautiful cat, Betty. 

 

Ben Morgan (Trustee):

 

 

 

Ruth Trencher (Returning Trustee):

Born in Florida, Ruth has lived here most of her life. She taught reading, literature and science and worked for 35 years in the Miami-Dade County Public School System. She joined the UU in 1969 where she met her husband George and their three children all participated in our R.E. program. Ruth has served on two different occasions as chair of the Social Justice Committee, has served on the Facilities and Design Committee, and remain a member of the Grounds and Landscaping Committee. She also sings in the choir. This is her second time serving as a member of the board. She is pleased to have been chosen to again work on behalf of our church community.