Annual Meeting and Board Candidate Petition
Voting for the candidates will be at the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 11, 1 pm, in the Meeting House. Online-only absentee voting begins on June 1, 2023 and regular voting begins at the end of the congregational meeting and ends at 1 pm, Monday, June 12th. Results will be announced via eblast on Tuesday, June 13th.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Board, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution, the board petition process, and the nominating committee petition process.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Board, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution, the board petition process, and the nominating committee petition process.
Board Candidate Meet and Greets!
Meet your 2023 / 2024 Board Candidates!
Your 23/24 Board Candidates
Valerie Jaques, Vice President/President elect; two-year term

Paula Johnson, Trustee at Large; three-year term
Although I attended church a few years before, I actually became a member of First UU San Diego in 1985. While singing in the UU Chalice choir, I met my husband and married him while I was serving on the First Church Board of Trustees.
After the birth of my daughter, Jill, I volunteered in Children's Religious Education, and even worked as the volunteer RE assistant for Liz Jones after Chris Christensen left. In Looking Glass Theatre, I acted, designed, directed and fundraised. JUUL Tones evolved from a Looking Glass Theatre production and I was and still am a founding member of that UU a cappella singing group. Ken Herman and Music Committee asked me to raise money to buy handbells in (I think) 2003 and I have been a ringer in Las Campanas almost since the beginning. I organized the parents in our Youth Choir directed by Lynn Mendoza-Khan to support the choir and choir concert. I taught a Gentle Yoga Class for Adult RE for two years. I sat on the committees who hired the new RE Director (Melissa) and our current pianist, Tomás Acosta.
I look forward to serving on the Board of Trustees as a continuation of my purposeful life at First UU Church of San Diego.
Although I attended church a few years before, I actually became a member of First UU San Diego in 1985. While singing in the UU Chalice choir, I met my husband and married him while I was serving on the First Church Board of Trustees.
After the birth of my daughter, Jill, I volunteered in Children's Religious Education, and even worked as the volunteer RE assistant for Liz Jones after Chris Christensen left. In Looking Glass Theatre, I acted, designed, directed and fundraised. JUUL Tones evolved from a Looking Glass Theatre production and I was and still am a founding member of that UU a cappella singing group. Ken Herman and Music Committee asked me to raise money to buy handbells in (I think) 2003 and I have been a ringer in Las Campanas almost since the beginning. I organized the parents in our Youth Choir directed by Lynn Mendoza-Khan to support the choir and choir concert. I taught a Gentle Yoga Class for Adult RE for two years. I sat on the committees who hired the new RE Director (Melissa) and our current pianist, Tomás Acosta.
I look forward to serving on the Board of Trustees as a continuation of my purposeful life at First UU Church of San Diego.

Sue Marberry, Treasurer; one-year term
I first came to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego to join the Chalice Choir in the late 90s and soon joined the Book Room Committee. As a teenager I had often gone to Unitarian services in Yonkers, NY with my older sister and later had sung in a UU choir in Madison WI for several years in the 70s. Volunteering has always been part of my life, and my involvement in this church grew after I retired from an accounting job in 2015 and joined the Board, becoming treasurer. I was appointed treasurer again 2 years ago after the elected treasurer resigned, and if elected again this time it will be my final term. Outside of church activities I’m in two choruses and am also treasurer of the Choral Consortium of San Diego. Kay Chandler and I got married on the patio in front of the memorial wall while the pandemic had everything shut down, outdoors with only five socially-distanced guests including my daughter, our then 4-month-old grandson and his dad, Kay’s son, who officiated.
I first came to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego to join the Chalice Choir in the late 90s and soon joined the Book Room Committee. As a teenager I had often gone to Unitarian services in Yonkers, NY with my older sister and later had sung in a UU choir in Madison WI for several years in the 70s. Volunteering has always been part of my life, and my involvement in this church grew after I retired from an accounting job in 2015 and joined the Board, becoming treasurer. I was appointed treasurer again 2 years ago after the elected treasurer resigned, and if elected again this time it will be my final term. Outside of church activities I’m in two choruses and am also treasurer of the Choral Consortium of San Diego. Kay Chandler and I got married on the patio in front of the memorial wall while the pandemic had everything shut down, outdoors with only five socially-distanced guests including my daughter, our then 4-month-old grandson and his dad, Kay’s son, who officiated.
Nominating Committee Candidate Petition
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Nominating Committee, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution and the nominating committee petition process.
View the Church's Constitution and the nominating committee petition process.
Your 23/24 Nominating Committee Candidates

Elaina Morrison; three-year term
Hello, I'm Elaina and I became a member of First UU in September of 2022. I am Mom to 3 grown children and Nana to 3 little granddaughters. I work fulltime as a property manager/Realtor for a small company and it's my responsibility to oversee and manage 230 individual single family homes. While I love my career I am most passionate about fitness & nutrition and currently working on getting my credentials to become a certified nutrition coach. I desire more than anything to help people create a lifestyle that helps them achieve/maintain mobility and optimum health through all stages of life. I am now looking for ways to use my career and life skills to benefit the community of First UU. When I have spare time I enjoy spoiling my grandkids, reading, crocheting, hanging out with my sister and sending funny videos to my brother-in-law.
Hello, I'm Elaina and I became a member of First UU in September of 2022. I am Mom to 3 grown children and Nana to 3 little granddaughters. I work fulltime as a property manager/Realtor for a small company and it's my responsibility to oversee and manage 230 individual single family homes. While I love my career I am most passionate about fitness & nutrition and currently working on getting my credentials to become a certified nutrition coach. I desire more than anything to help people create a lifestyle that helps them achieve/maintain mobility and optimum health through all stages of life. I am now looking for ways to use my career and life skills to benefit the community of First UU. When I have spare time I enjoy spoiling my grandkids, reading, crocheting, hanging out with my sister and sending funny videos to my brother-in-law.

Susan Riegel Harding; three-year term
I had attended First UU church a few times before but this time, during the long weekend of Labor Day 2001, as my retirement approached, I began to realize that perhaps this could and would be a significant part of the next phase of my life. I was well aware of Unitarian churches having grown up outside of Boston. Our family went to another church and then years passed before I wanted to try again. I was enormously attracted to the UU church because of the Seven Principles and its emphasis on the democratic process. Also, I love to sing! Knowing The Master Choral would probably not ask me to join, I hoped perhaps the UU choir would take me in.
Over the years I have participated in multiple committees including Stewardship, Planned Giving, Membership/Connections, Nominating, SUUN, Spirit Level amongst others. All have been challenging but productive and fulfilling. I am grateful for all my UU friendships.
I had attended First UU church a few times before but this time, during the long weekend of Labor Day 2001, as my retirement approached, I began to realize that perhaps this could and would be a significant part of the next phase of my life. I was well aware of Unitarian churches having grown up outside of Boston. Our family went to another church and then years passed before I wanted to try again. I was enormously attracted to the UU church because of the Seven Principles and its emphasis on the democratic process. Also, I love to sing! Knowing The Master Choral would probably not ask me to join, I hoped perhaps the UU choir would take me in.
Over the years I have participated in multiple committees including Stewardship, Planned Giving, Membership/Connections, Nominating, SUUN, Spirit Level amongst others. All have been challenging but productive and fulfilling. I am grateful for all my UU friendships.
Randy Brinton; three-year term
Nominating Committee
Contact: nomcom@firstuusandiego.org
Members of the Nominating Committee:
Members of the Nominating Committee:
- Christy Anderson
- Marcia Biller
- Adrienne Kaplan
- Mindy Hochgesang
- Mitch Mitchell
Who to contact
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![]() Rose Riedel
Membership Development and Communications Coordinator (619) 398-4439 rose@firstuusandiego.org |