Home  News Articles 2012 Vestry Candidates |
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| 2012 Vestry Candidates |
I believe I can contribute in a positive manner to the Vestry leadership team of St. David’s given my volunteer and professional experiences as well as my organizational and communication skills. I began coming to St. David’s in 1999 with my husband, Rich, when Fr. Stephen McWhorter gleefully greeted us and remembered our names the following Sundays thereafter. It was such a refreshing, positive experience of God’s love and intent for our lives! I volunteered on the first “communications team” with Dwight Zscheile, held a church staff position for a year under Fr. Stephen (while pregnant with my son,) and have volunteered and participated in various capacities over the last 12 years (cottage meetings, budgeting exercises, strategy discussions, Ministry Fair with Mary Kay, Web site implementations, etc.) Most recently, I co-created, structured and then co-led for three years the Communications Ministry, which supports over 25 ministries. I stepped down from the Communications Ministry at the end of September 2011, although I continue to take photos at services for the Web site among other Web support activities. I am now ready for a new serving opportunity! My son attended St. David’s Preschool for two years, and I volunteered as Co-President and then President of the Parents of Preschools (POPS - parent board) those two years. I also co-chaired the annual Preschool Auctions and chaired the communications committee for two years. The auction is the preschool’s largest fundraiser for scholarships and extra educational student activities, and we raised as much money with a picnic silent auction as we did with a formal dinner live/silent auction with less cost, time and logistics. Following my tenure on the POPS Board, I was honored to be asked to serve on the Preschool Board of Directors, of which I am now in my second year of service. Education and professional experience: I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing from Auburn University (War Eagle!) My background includes being on both sides of corporate technology and PR agency marketing positions (from print advertising, brochures, Web sites, publishing, Public Relations campaigns, etc.) to the business side of running a services business as Chief Operating Officer (overseeing client services, operations/finance/admin, HR, etc.) After 13 years, I made the decision to stop working full time in 2004 to focus on family, welcomed our son, Connor, into our family in 2005, and in 2006 went to work part time for a little over a year as the Vice President, Operations for a fast growing $10M Web application services/software firm. For the past three and a half years I have been doing finance, administration and operations consulting part time for a social media marketing firm in Silver Spring, MD. My son is now 6 years old (and keeps me busy, amazed and grounded,) and Rich and I will celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary in May. A lot of great work has been accomplished by the Vestries over the past three years defining the direction and goals for St. David’s Episcopal Church, following the transition of rectors, including getting back to a balanced budget. My skills and experience will contribute to keeping our congregation on this positive path moving forward as we evaluate and execute next steps on the journey God intends for our community. I look forward to the potential opportunity to serve in this new capacity.
My name is Keith Korin. I have been married to my wife Cindy for 5 years and have two beautiful children: Madeline 4 years old, and Tommy 2 years old. Just over a year ago, Cindy and I started looking for somewhere our children could start their spiritual journey while we could continue ours. After visiting St. David’s and as well as others churches in the area, we felt most comfortable with St. David’s not only spiritually but with respect to the fellowship provided. As I continue each day to grow in my faith, I believe serving on the vestry may be part of that journey. Having grown up in the Methodist Church, faith has always been important but has not always played the most important role in my life due to many obstacles that individuals can fall into. However since my wife and I have started our family I have seen the light in a much brighter manner and that light has brought my family to St. David’s and that I am grateful for. Currently I work at Washington Gas Energy Services as a Field Sales Operations Supervisor for the Mid-Atlantic Region. My business background can be summed up as a proven, talented senior sales executive with 15 year track record of results in penetrating markets, developing territories and growing sales. I graduated from Marshall University with an undergraduate degree in Sports Marketing and Management and a post graduate degree in Education along with being a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Over the last several years I have volunteered with the Loudoun County Habitat for Humanity and I currently coach basketball for the Farmwell Middle School Basketball League for 7th and 8th grade students. I am honored that I was asked to submit my name for the vestry and feel that my 15 years of business experience that includes but not limited to planning and budgets, sales forecasting, revenue growth, team building, workforce planning and recruitment would be a huge asset to the church and meeting the goals and handling the churches needs that have already been set by the vestry. In the past year at St. David’s, we have attended several of the church functions including movie night and the Easter egg hunt. Madeline attends Sunday school regularly and both Cindy and I will be guest starring throughout the year as Sunday school teachers when called upon. Compared to many that are already serving the vestry, my journey with St David’s is relatively young in tenure but my spiritual journey has been a lifelong commitment and will continue for a long time to come. I want to be part of the vestry because I feel I can make a difference for the church and the community it serves along with growing my own spiritual needs and strengthening my faith. If elected to the vestry my focus and priorities would be the following:
My name is Nancy Ruttenberg. My family and I have been members of St. David’s since 2001. I am a wife, a mother and a nurse. Eric and I have been married for 18 years and our faith has been the foundation of our marriage. I am the mother of two extraordinary girls who remind me every day that God is good. As a pediatric nurse, I have experienced miracle of healing and the gift of peace that faith can bestow. Who I am is why I feel at home at St. David’s. It is a place where the Spirit thrives and as a result the community of St. David’s continues to grow. Being an active member of a church is a value I have learned from my mother, who served on every committee known to man. She taught me never be a pew sitter. As a result, I currently serve on the Altar Guild, Verge, and help coordinate the acolytes for the 10:45 service. In the past, I have been a youth mentor, a shepherd group member, LEM minister, delegate to the Dioceses of Virginia and a Crown graduate. Serving on the Vestry, although an enormous responsibility, is simply a natural progression of my active faith. I also have the advantage of living with a former Vestry member. Miraculously, he has not dissuaded me. Rather he has encouraged me to be a part of the current Vestry. Aside from being an active member of St. David’s I am currently a Resource Nurse for Loudoun County Public Schools. I supervise the Health Clinic Assistants in the elementary schools and develop health-related training programs for school personnel. This is my 9th year working in the school system. I love being a part of a coordinated team that focuses on the optimal well being of a child. Nursing has a way of providing daily reminders of the good that exists in the world. My other full time job is being a mother to Caroline (17) and Julia (14). Anyone who is a mother or who has had a mother can empathize with the enormous responsibility that encompasses this job. My goal is to instill in my daughters the values of faith and service that my mother passed on to me. If I am selected as a member of the Vestry, I will bring a high level of commitment to the position. I have a collaborative spirit that allows me to work well in groups with differing opinions. I do not have a specific platform or agenda. My goal is to serve in the best interest of the entire community of St. David’s. I would like to see the local outreach programs expand, because I see a deep and growing need in our deceptively affluent area for not only economic but spiritual help. As the mother of teenagers, I would like to expand our youth programs because they are the future of any church. I would also like to help cultivate an atmosphere where every member feels inspired to be an active participant in the St. David’s community. I feel honored to be nominated as a member of the Vestry and would be privileged to serve God and the St. David’s community.
Personal / Professional Accomplishments related to my service on the Vestry: I have been a practicing Episcopalian (and very involved in the church) my entire life. As a young adult, I participated in the Young People’s Fellowship (YPF, a ministry designed for the youth of the parish) and as an acolyte for many years. Since then, I served on the Vestry (at Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, CT). I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and sincerely hope to have the privilege to serve all of you, and our broader community, in this capacity at St. David’s. I have an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from the Wharton School. I served in our nation’s nuclear submarine force for 6 years to begin my career. Since then, I’ve held executive positions at several outstanding organizations, among them Westinghouse, Gateway, and AOL. I believe that my background and education would serve me well on the Vestry for our church. I feel that I would bring a strong sense of perspective, balance, and financial acumen to our church leadership team. My involvement with St. David’s: Since October 2010, I have enjoyed the privilege of serving as the Treasurer here at St. David’s, working alongside our CFO, clergy, Vestry, and many others. I have been an active member of the St. David’s community since 1995. During my time at St. David’s, I have been active in many activities, among them (a) discernment committee for Holly Hanback (the precursor to her candidacy for ordainment as an Episcopal deacon), (b) Truth or Consequences workshop facilitator, (c) active in support of our church’s causes, programs, and charities, among them the Loudoun Interfaith Relief food pantry, Relay for Life, and Shepherd Group. I have always given of my first fruits to our church and our community. Why I’m running for Vestry: I very much want to expand my Christian leadership in our church. I’m running for our Vestry for the continued opportunity to serve God, His Christian community, and each one of you. My Vestry priorities: Continue to evolve and improve our Christian faith community, including the following: (1) continue our investment in, and recognition of, outstanding leadership for our church, (2) maintain and nurture a strong Christian foundation among our children and young adults, the future of our parish community, (3) support a strong financial framework for our church, and (4) build upon our momentum in spreading God’s word, within our church, among other Christians, and among those who do not yet know Him. I would be honored and privileged to serve all of you in this capacity if called to do so. Many thanks for considering my candidacy.
My journey to St. David's began in the early 1990's along an interdenominational path. As the United Methodist church pianist accompanying an ecumenical Thanksgiving service at Ashburn Presbyterian, I was introduced to our founding rector Father Stephen McWhorter, who preached that evening. In the late 1990's, the need arose to find a new church home where the Gospel was being preached; I met with Stephen regarding this, and so assured I came to St. David's. I was one of the many taken under Dee Drummond's wing and she guided me through, what were for me at the time, the mysteries of the Book of Common Prayer. I found that the beauty of the liturgy and focus on the Eucharist filled something in my soul. At St. David's, I've served as Lay Reader and Lay Eucharistic Minister, been active in Pastoral Care, sung in the choir, played in brass ensembles and served as substitute and interim organist, a humbling experience for one who is really a pianist. My husband (of going on 20 years now) Jerry and I support St. David's through pledging. We moved to Ashburn Village from Old Ashburn in 1994, and share our home with the most easy going border collie in the world and a spirited ginger cat. A medical technologist by profession, I've served as Hematology Department supervisor at Quest Diagnostics/Nichols Institute in Chantilly, Virginia, and as a field technical service specialist for the US division of Diagnostica Stago, a laboratory instrument manufacturer based near Paris, France. These positions gave me valuable experience in dealing with diverse personnel, technical and customer service issues, as well as further developing my lecturing and writing skills. Having committed to readjust my work life in terms of commute, business travel and leadership demands, I accepted a med tech position back at Quest in spring of 2010, where I'm learning the intricacies of leukemia and lymphoma analysis by flow cytometry. It's very challenging and worthwhile work, and a constant reminder of people who are facing serious medical issues. I say lots of quick prayers at work for our patients and their families. My first inclination when invited by a vestry member to allow my name to go forward for vestry nomination was, "Oh, thanks, but I don't think so!". My spiritual growth as it applies to being part of a church family has sometimes been a very rocky road, and I must confess there have been times of great disillusionment for me as I witnessed the hurtfulness that can occur within the church at every level, including leadership. Can't we, as Christians, do better than this?, I wondered. Can't I myself do better than this? I believe the answer lies in great part on focusing on the familiar verses from the Gospel of Mark: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. And the second is this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these". No catch phrases, no buzz words - and not always easy to accomplish on a daily basis, at least for me, but clear direction from our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps my favorite quote from missionary Oswald Chambers is this: "It is not so true that 'prayer changes things' as that prayer changes me and I change things". Being part of the continued positive change occurring at St. David's means involvement, so I accepted the invitation to be considered for a vestry position. What I believe I would offer to the St. David's vestry in general would be my listening, diplomacy, confidentiality and presentation skills. Of particular importance to me is ensuring that the Gospel is proclaimed through word and music at our worship services in such a way that it reaches and transforms everyone in our diverse congregation and community. |
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