Thank you to all who participated in the Annual meeting today. We are pleased to announce John Reith and Diane Teutschman will hold three year terms on the Board of Trustees, and Diane Davis Schneider will hold a one year term. We offer a deep bow of gratitude to Heather Diddel, Dottie Frament and Sharon Stewart for their presence, service and support of Unity of Albany during their time on the Board. We are so blessed!

On Sunday, March 5th, Unity Church in Albany will hold its Annual Membership Meeting at 12:00 PM following the 10 AM service.  The meeting will be a hybrid of Zoom and in person.  The link is the Sunday fellowship link. (See below.)

Or join Zoom by phone:1-646-558-8656 (New York) Passcode:676954156

The Board of Trustees invites and encourages everyone in the community to attend.  Your consciousness and energy are an integral part of this spiritual community and we will all be blessed by one another’s essence and presence at the meeting.

The Annual Membership Meeting Agenda is as follows:

• Opening prayer
• Welcome
• Honoring and Blessing the Trustees for Their Past Years of Service
• Nominating Committee and Election
• Treasurer’s report
• Building and Grounds Report
• Announcements regarding upcoming classes and ways to get involved
• Discernment of 2024 congregational representative and alternate
• Closing Prayer

As noted in the agenda, we will conduct the election of new members of the Board of Trustees at the March 5 meeting.  The meeting is open to everyone– – Active Members, inactive members, and non-members alike.  Only Active Members, however, are eligible to serve as Trustees, vote for the Trustees, and/or serve on the Nominating Committee. We must have a quorum of 15% of the Active Members in order to hold this election.  Please come and vote!

During the meeting, we will use a google e-voting process and will also have paper ballots for anyone who is there in person.

This year, we have three roles to fill:
Two full-term trustee positions (each is a three-year term) and one alternate trustee position (a one-year term).  The positions will be awarded to the candidates based on the number of votes each person receives. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will fill the two full-term positions and the remaining nominee will be our alternate trustee.

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present well-qualified candidates for the three board openings. Each of these individuals is a spiritually-grounded member of our congregation and has demonstrated their ability to lead the community.

They are (in alphabetical order):

Diane Davis-Schneider

I have been a member of Unity Albany for 5 or more years. In that time I’ve attended and participated in many Zoom book, prayer and workshop groups; helped out in youth ministry and occasionally stepped in as an usher or to help in the kitchen. My background is in Human Services. Before retirement I shared my home (for 30+years) with adults with disabilities as extended family members. I have worked at a non-profit community organization supporting people with disabilities and have experience being on the Board for COARC and Columbia Greene Mental Health. 

I also have enjoyed a yearly women’s writing retreat and would be interested in creating a writer’s group that would showcase the talents and life experiences of our Unity family. I want to invite others to come “Pray and Play” with me. My desire is to be a joyful loving presence and appreciate all who cross my path. Blessed with 3 grandchildren that live next door ,I am involved in their lives and activities. Youth Ministry and Youth Arts as well as a Women’s Group are prime areas of interest to me at this time.

John Reith

I have been an active member of different committees at Unity Church since 1990. Over the years, I’ve been involved in service as an usher, team leader for the ushers, on the board of trustees, a teller, worked in the bookstore, and sang in the choir. For the past ten years I’ve been actively involved with the coffee house open mic. 

I am always looking to grow spiritually whether that’s through music, connecting to others and my higher power (God) through prayer and meditation, attending Unity Church or being a regular member of other spiritually based groups. I believe in being of service and being kind and helpful to others. I like having fun while working and one of my priorities is to find more ways to bring our community closer after 3 years of covid-19. The other priority is helping to get more people involved in sacred service.

Diane Teutschman

I started attending Unity Church in Albany in 2003. I’ve always loved the music, the meditation, and the message.  Shortly after that, I became a member, and took advantage of completing the Quest Group, Wednesday evening meditation/Book Clubs, summer retreats at the Poconos and the Dominican Retreat Center, and as many classes on prosperity and spiritual development as I was able.  I served on the Board of Trustees in 2011. Over the years I have stretched my comfort zone in several ways; one of them learning to use the sound (AV) board during the service, and another, successfully completing the Prayer Chaplain training.  One of my favorite acts of service was working on a committee to provide help to our congregation in need, in the way of cards, transportation, meals or phone calls.  I remember organizing a Business Fair to network and expose all of the talent we have among our church family.  

Currently, I work part time as an adjunct instructor and advisor at HVCC, and work for Wildwood programs in adult education and with clients in the group homes.  I would describe myself as an advocate for my students and for the special- needs population.  I would be honored to advocate on behalf of Unity Church in Albany as a member of the Board of Trustees.  We all share this journey of raising our consciousness.  How might we do this more effectively, more personally for each of you, and more deeply?  The needs of the Board are the needs of the congregation. I see the role of the Board as the liaison for our church family.  I value strengthening the relationships within our community, starting first within our own members. Nourishing our spirituality begins individually and ultimately, collectively.  In the words of Mark Shepard “Together We Can Change the World”.

Or join Zoom by phone:1-646-558-8656 (New York) Passcode:676954156