From UUCGV Board President, Laurel Carpenter

What a privilege it is to step into the role of UUCGV President! My years serving in the leadership of our congregation have been a great balance of joys and challenges, and *this* year promises to level up the fun!

For those of you who I haven’t gotten to know closely yet, here are a few details about me. I’m a mom of elementary & middle school kiddos, a Registered Nurse, a 5-generation GJ native, a Miami girl at heart, a writer & artist, a serial entrepreneur, an activist, a fly fisher, a crazy chicken lady, a Unitarian Universalist, and a dreamer.

Our congregation has filled spaces in my life that I didn’t even know needed filled. The faces & voices & arms of our congregants have been my lifeline during some of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. Now, as a leader, I look forward to embodying that steadfast love for each of you, in return.

Just as UUCGV lifts each of us up as an individual, our congregation is also a leader in our community. We’ve often been the one to speak out with our collective voice, open up our campus and our resources, and problem solve the challenges that evolve anew each day, for our broader Grand Junction community. My highest commitment as your new president is to continue all of these outstanding traditions of living into our Unitarian Universalist values. Together we’ll grow and thrive in whatever ways our congregation chooses. 

As we enter this new church year, I encourage each congregant to envision what our church could accomplish this year, how our church can contribute to your life, and how you can invest yourself in our church. Now that you have that vision in your mind, what are the action steps to make it happen? What do you need in order to make those action steps possible?

I can’t wait to hear what ideas and needs you have, and to work together for each of us to live our best lives, together. Thank you for trusting me to help steer our church family through whatever comes next.
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P.S. I can’t wait to get to know you (yes you!) better. I may not always be available for in-person events, due to the nature of my work and my commitment to my family, but if you’d like to connect online, find me at https://www.facebook.com/laurelripplecarpenter or http://www.laurelcarpenter.com or cinnamon06@aol.com.