Words from your Annual Meeting Committee Chair, Carolyn Haerr

You are cordially invited to attend the 42nd Annual Meeting and Officer Training

for the Holston Conference United Methodist Women which will be at Lake

Junaluska, NC on September 19-20, 2015. If you are a district president or

treasurer, your officer training sessions will start on the evening of

September 18th. ALL DISTRICT OFFICERS are urged to attend so you can

be better prepared to train your district’s local UMW officers.

The speaker and communion celebrant will be Rev. Rhonda Hobbs, who is an

Elder in our conference and pastors Glen Alpine UMC in Kingsport, TN. She is an

inspiring speaker with a mission “to live a life that walks in close relationship to

God and to inspire others to do the same.” We are certain to be blessed by her

message.

Musicians are Dr. Trevor Smith and Gail Morris. Trevor joins us again after providing music at our

recent Mission u event in Lenoir City. Gail was unable to be with us then but is able to join us now to

provide special music and accompany Trevor. They will entertain and inspire us with a short concert

prior to the start of our first session as well as lead us in music throughout the weekend.

Julie Taylor, the Executive for Spiritual Growth for UMW from the national office, will not be present.

Julie is starting a new position with the National Farm Workers Ministry in Raleigh, NC. Instead, the

National Office for UMW is sending us another very knowledgeable person who will install officers, offer a

training session about UMW for those who want to learn more about UMW mission and add the

perspective of coming from the national office. Who it will be is…..A SURPRISE! You can be

assured that our surprise representative can answer your questions about how decisions are made and

how things work at the national level, so come with your questions ready.

Koni Purscell will also be with us to receive our donations for the Big Stone Gap Church and Community

Renewal Project.

Members of the Mission team that went to Sager-Brown will lead our optional Sunday morning

devotional time this year at both Lambuth and Terrace. If you are an early riser, plan to join them

at 7 AM at either location.

Please take a look at the biographies of our speaker,

participants and musicians. We are blessed to have such

talented people in our conference who are willing to share their

talents with us as well as those from outside our conference

who have so much to share with us.

The committee hopes that while you are attending this Annual

Meeting you will enjoy the changes we have made in our efforts

to better serve you.

Thank you, UMW members, for doing your part in fulfilling our

UMW Purpose and your support of UMW missions. Thank you

Program Committee members for all of your hard work

preparing for this event.

Yours in Christ, Carolyn Haerr, Conference UMW Vice-President

Holston Conference United Methodist Women

42nd ANNUAL MEETING and DISTRICT OFFICER TRAINING

September 19-20, 2015

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Rev. Rhonda Hobbs

Our Spiritual Leader

Rev. Rhonda K. Hobbs is an Elder in the Holston Conference, presently serv-

ing as the pastor of Glen Alpine UMC in Kingsport, TN. Rhonda received her

Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta

and a Bachelor of Science in Business-Marketing from the University of

Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to entering the ministry in 2005, she held a variety

of sales and marketing positions with Bush Brothers Company and Kraft General

Foods.

Rhonda’s passion is for preaching following Jesus’ example of storytelling for

teaching and opening up the Scriptures to new light and understanding, and for

the spiritual discipline of retreat, renewal, and transformation. Her personal

mission statement is “To live a life that walks in close relationship to God and to

inspire others to do the same.” In addition to preaching and teaching, Rhonda is a professional coach

working with individuals to become all that God created them to be. She coaches churches, non-profit

and for-profit companies in visioning and strategic planning. Rhonda will be certified by the International

Coaching Federation in 2015.

Rhonda has one daughter, Angela, who is married to Matthew Davis; they have two sons Austin and

Andrew. Rhonda lives in Kingsport with a spoiled rotten Shih Tsu named Hobo. Her hobbies include a love

for both reading and writing, crocheting, and a novice quilter.

District Officer Training

An important part of this event is District Officer Training. Each district officer is expected to attend their respective

training, whether they are a new officer or if they have held the position more than a year. Following the business

session of Annual Meeting on Saturday, training is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Presidents and Treasurers will start their

trainings on Friday evening. Treasurers will continue at 10:00 on Saturday. Communication Coordinators will start

their training at 10:00 on Saturday. All officers will continue trainings on Saturday afternoon.

Location of each training will be listed in the Annual Meeting Program Book.

Together we can make a difference. Together we can support each other. Together we can make it happen. Together

we are stronger.

National Focus Session Learning from the women at National UMW is always an opportunity to grow.

We are looking forward to a question and answer time together. What ques-

tions do you want answered. Write them down and have them ready. We

will do our best to have them answered in the time allotted.

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Our Musicians Gail Morris is a teacher in the Johnson City School System where she is the

Chorus Director at Indian Trail Intermediate School serving 300 chorus

students. She has earned a B.S. in Music Education K-12, Elementary

Certification 1-8, and a Master in Education from ETSU. Gail has been the

recipient of many honor awards such as: Indian Trail Middle School Teacher of

the Year, Johnson City Teacher of the Year; Woodland Teacher of the

Year, Henry Johnson Teacher of the Year; Who’s Who Among American

Teachers, and University of Tennessee Excellence in Teaching Award. She has

served as pianist for the Sulphur Springs United Methodist District Camp Meet-

ing for 25 years. She has also served as pianist, children’s choir director, and

praise team pianist for Jonesborough UMC. She is a member of a traveling la-

dies ensemble, “Closer Walk”, who sing Christian praise and Gospel music for

church services, revivals, homecomings, and conferences. Gail and her hus-

band, Jeff, are the proud parents of a "miracle" son, Jonathan David, who is a

recent graduate of ETSU. Gail loves the gift of music God has given her and

wants to use it to praise and worship His Holy Name.

Dr. Trevor Smith is currently the Director of Music and Worship at Central

United Methodist Church in Lenoir City, TN. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts

in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi,

the Master of Music in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, and the

Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Emory & Henry College. Dr. Smith

has garnered numerous honors and awards, some of which include conducting

Carlise Floyd’s Susannah as an undergraduate at Emory & Henry College,

winning graduate assistantships at both the Eastman School and USM, and

winning the Regional NATS Artists’ Division competition. Dr. Smith has

performed several operatic and musical theater roles including Kodály in Bock’s

She Loves Me, Starveling in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Count

Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and has sung as baritone soloist in

such oratorios as Handel’s Messiah (also performed arias as a counter-tenor),

Saint-Saens’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Schubert’s Mass in G, and the

Fauré Requiem. Also, in both 2000 and 2001, he was selected to participate in the Carnegie Hall Choral

Workshop, where he worked with James Conlon and Sir Neville Marriner, respectively. Significant

teachers and coaches include Mark O. Davis, Maryann Kyle, Benton Hess, Russell Miller, and Steven

Daigle.

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The Nominations Committee of the Holston Conference United Methodist Women are presenting the following

persons on Saturday at the business meeting of Annual Meeting for the open positions on the Conference Executive

Committee. The Nominations Committee members are: Johnnie Bridges, Chair; Sandra Guinn, assistant; Gloria Sims;

JoAnn Wrinkle; Alana Yates; Lori Sluder; and Martha Ketron. The nominees are on the following pages.

2016 Proposed Executive Committee Profiles

CAROLYN HAERR, NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT

Carolyn lives in Spring City, TN with her husband and best friend, Chris Haerr.

Carolyn grew up in a little Methodist country church in Illinois and accepted Christ

at the age of 11. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a

bachelor’s degree in nursing and began work as a RN at the St. Louis VA Hospital

in various areas of practice both as a nurse and as the hospital’s evening shift

relief supervisor. After moving to TN, she worked at Rhea Medical Center as a

hemodialysis nurse and director of nursing before going to UT at Knoxville for a

MSN degree. That led to her opening a home health business in Spring City

where she became especially interested in providing hospice care before hospice

was a recognized need in the area. After serving her community in that capacity,

she retired from the home health field. She was called both by the county school system and God to be

a school nurse.

Carolyn has been an active member of Spring City UMC and UMW since 1981. She has taught various

Sunday school and VBS classes and has served as Treasurer, Mission Coordinator for

Social Action, and President of her local UMW. She has also served her district as President of the

Cleveland District, a member of the Nominations Committee and as Mission Coordinator for Social

Action. Last year, she was elected to fill the vacated position Vice President of the Conference UMW.

Carolyn is passionate about serving God in any capacity but especially UMW endeavors, teaching CPR

classes, and Holston Conference medical mission trips to Mexico.

Carolyn and Chris are the parents of two, Dina Hess and Greg Haerr, and grandparents of seven.

LORI SLUDER, NOMINEE FOR SOCIAL ACTION 2016-2017

Lori Sluder has been active in UMW since 1990 and has served on the local,

district, and conference level in various offices in the Johnson City, Chattanooga,

and Knoxville Districts. Lori is currently serving as the webmaster for the

Conference UMW as well as serving on the Nominations Committee. Lori lives in

Knoxville and works as the Executive Secretary to the Bishop in the Holston

Conference Episcopal Office. Lori has worked with Holston Conference since

2005.

Her husband is the Reverend Michael Sluder, who is the Director of Connectional

Ministries for Holston Conference. They have two young-adult children, Josh and

Katie.

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Gayle Kilgore brings a variety of skills to this position. Her education is as follows:

first two years college at Clinch Valley College, Wise, VA (now UVA-Wise); Bachelor of

Science degree with double major in English and History from East Tennessee State

University; Masters in Organizational Management from Tusculum College, Greeneville,

TN.

She taught English at J. J. Kelly High School, Wise, VA, in school year 1968-69. She

began working at Thompson & Litton, Inc., consulting engineers where she stayed for 18

years. Her position allowed her to type specifications, coordinate them with drawings and

required contractual provisions, and to write grant and loan applications.

She left T&L and opened Kilgore Consulting, writing grants and representing owners

during construction projects. She served for 2 years as Housing Director for Appalachia

Service Project (ASP), overseeing construction projects in TN, KY, and VA. She held

several substitute teaching positions over the next few years, the largest one being for

the Dept. of Agriculture as substitute at Flatwoods Job Corps.

She then went to work for HOMES, Inc., a low-income housing finance and construction business in Neon,

KY. Here, she assisted low-income households in obtaining financing for new or rehabilitation loans, counseled

on budgeting and mortgage issues, wrote grant applications to secure financing, and did field inspections.

After eight years in this job, she retired due to her rheumatoid arthritis. She again consulted for LINKS, Inc.,

another low-income housing organization located in Floyd County, KY.

Gayle joined Pound UMC in 1997 and started attending UMW serving as President of the unit several

times. Gayle served as Big Stone Gap District’s Membership, Nurture, and Outreach office for two terms. At

the time, BSG District did not have a President. Pat Bowden had come back to serve for one year. One day,

the District Team was meeting to plan for the next year. As Gayle was driving to the meeting, God spoke to

her, telling her she was to volunteer to be President for the next four years. 2015 is the last year of Gayle’s

service as President.

Gayle lives in Pound, in the house she was born in, with her two sons, Chris and Sean. Both are in their

40’s. One has been married, and the other has lived alone. Circumstances have dictated that the three of

them again share a home. Gayle loves to read and to do embroidery.

GAYLE KILGORE, NOMINEE FOR MISSION COORDINATOR EDUCATION & INTERPTATION

Amy is currently completing her second year as Holston Conference

Communication Coordinator. She has served as Communication Coordinator in

the Morristown District for four years. She is a member of Christ United

Methodist Church where she serves as UMW President. She is currently

Finance Chairperson, Treasurer of the Trustees Committee, a member of the

Choir, one of the Wednesday night cooks, and facilitator of a Wednesday

afternoon Bible Study and Lay Servant for the Morristown District. Amy is an

active member and Treasurer of the Greene County Firewood Ministry,

providing wood for those with little to no heat.

Amy was married to Dewey Thomas (now deceased) for 40 –1/2 years. They

raised two children, Jeffrey (now deceased) and Marsha, who lives within a mile

of her and remains the light of her life. Throughout those years, Amy remained

active in children and youth ministries.

Amy believes her computer, administrative and accounting training, and leadership classes will allow

her to fulfill the role of Holston Conference United Methodist Women Communications Coordinator.

AMY THOMAS, NOMINEE FOR COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR

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MARY WATTERSON, NOMINEE FOR NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Mary Watterson is the director for Kingsport Community Ministry Center,

a position she has held for the past 12 years. Prior to taking the direc-

tor’s job at KCMC, Mary worked for twenty-two years at East Tennessee

State University. In addition to her work at KCMC, Mary serves on the

board of director’s and support committee for Habitat for Humanity and

she serves on the board of directors for Tri-City Diaper Ministry.

Mary is very active in her church, St. Mark UMC, where she is Lay Lead-

er, PPR Chair, Disaster Coordinator, Trustee Chair, Mission Coordinator,

UMW President, and helps out in any way needed.

Mary has been married for forty-six years to Frank Watterson. She is the

mother of three, grandmother of eight granddaughters, two grandsons,

and three great-grandchildren. When Mary has free time, she enjoys go-

ing on mission trips, reading, and traveling with friends. Mary has a pas-

sion for children and their welfare, and her motto is “if God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it.”

FLO HETHERINGTON, NOMINEE FOR NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Flo Hetherington lives in Pulaski County VA in the Wytheville District.

She has served UMW in the Tazewell and Wytheville Districts. She has served

on District Nomination, Social Action, and a committee called Global Concerns

in 1980’s. She is nearing the end of her 4th year as Wytheville District Vice

President. She has been in the Lay Speaking ministry since 2004 and is

currently a Lay Servant. She currently serves on the Worship Committee,

Alternate Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. She loves working with others

in the many ministries of the church and her local Ruritan Club.

Hobbies are crafts and sewing. Lost her husband of 47 years in 2010, lost her

son Feb 16, 2015 at 49. She has 3 other sons, Wayne, Jimmy, and Steven,

eight grandchildren – 4 girls and 4 boys, and three great grandchildren – a

boy and 2 girls.

She considers herself a servant of Christ.

During the weekend, you will have time to retreat to

Susannah’s gardens, the Biblical gardens, the chapel,

the prayer labyrinth, or a walk around the lake. Make

this week a learning, spiritual, restful, and peaceful

weekend. Renew friendships between the twelve

districts of Holston Conference. Consider these

questions while you are at the lake: “Where does God

want me to be working for him?” and “How can I feed

his lambs?”

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Send Part I Holston Conference Registration Form to your District President by August 29th, 2015 with

your registration check made payable to Holston Conference UMW. Next complete Part II by mail or

call Lake Junaluska or go online to register for your room.

PART I — REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Fill in Part I and mail to your District President with a $15.00 check payable to Holston Conference UMW before

August 29, 2015. Please note: the name you register with will be the name used on your name tag. Registration after August 29,

2015 or at Lake Junaluska will be $20.00. Childcare is available for children, ages 2-9, for $10 each. If you are requesting childcare,

please fill out the required children’s form found on the website at www.holstonumw.org and children must be registered by

August 29th. Information you supply by registering will allow us to have enough supplies for everyone. Childcare will be at the Ter-

race Hotel. Children 11 or under may room with you for free if you register by mail, call, or online.

Part I — REGISTRATION FORM (MUST BE COMPLETED.)

ANNUAL MEETING AND DISTRICT TRAINING SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2015 (August 29 Early Registration Deadline)

FIRST/PREFERRED & LAST NAME ______________________________________________ PHONE: (_____)__________________

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________CHURCH_________________________

DISTRICT____________________________ VOTING DELEGATE FIRST TIMER

PLEASE CLEARLY MARK THE FOLLOWING IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE EVENT.

______ SATURDAY —FOCUS SESSION — 4:40 to 5:25

______ CONFERENCE OFFICER ALUMNAE GATHERING — 5:25—7:00

______ SUNDAY — 7:00 A.M. MORNING DEVOTIONS AT Lambuth _________ OR Terrace _________

CHILDREN ATTENDING WITH ME—NAMES/AGES

Please mail this part to your District President, listed above, by August 29, 2015, with your

registration fee(s) listed above. Additional names of children may be added by an

attaching an extra sheet of paper with information as needed. The childcare form is found on

www.holstonumw.org and must be filled out for each registered child.

YES NO YES NO

Abingdon Prue Oxendine 236 Country Meadow Circle Bristol TN 37620 423-948-3341

Big Stone Gap Gayle Kilgore 7860 South Fork Road Pound VA 24279 276-796-5539

Chattanooga Joyce Guice 3910 Lake Haven Circle Chattanooga TN 37416 423-894-4501

Cleveland Joan Schwiebert 1626 Crestway Drive Athens TN 37303 423-435-2341

Johnson City Kathryn Wilhoit 1161 Willow Springs Drive Johnson City TN 37601 423-534-3000

Kingsport Lynn Carson 2412 Reservoir Road Kingsport TN 37660 423-245-1860

Knoxville Sue Clapp 6704 Circle Road Corryton TN 37721 865-687-2978

Maryville Nancy Lampe 2609 Stock Creek Road Knoxville TN 37920 865-609-3466

Morristown Margaret Forby 118 Skyview Drive Greeneville TN 37745 423-620-2680

Oak Ridge Monica Sheppard-Viator 4429 Plymouth Drive Knoxville TN 37914 865-300-0256

Tazewell Sabrina Johnson 312 Horsley Drive Pearisburg VA 24134 540-921-0369

Wytheville Deborah Carte 1503 N. Main Street Hillside VA 24343 276-733-1182

2015 DISTRICT PRESIDENTS

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RESERVATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED!

LAKE JUNALUSKA ROOM RESERVATION FORM

ANNUAL MEETING AND DISTRICT OFFICER TRAINING

SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2015

NAME __________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY _____________________________STATE ________ZIP _________

CONTACT PHONE ( __)_________________EMAIL _________________ _________________________

I AM REQUESTING HOUSING (Please mark your 1st and 2nd choices.) Deposit equal to the first nights lodging is due at

time of reservation. Roommates should send make reservations together.

Rates on this form do not include the 3 meals which is $33.00 and is not optional. Room rates below are per

person.

SINGLE DOUBLE TRIPLE QUAD

Terrace $ 90.00 ___________ $56.00 ___________ $39.00 _____________ $33.00 ___________

Lambuth $ 88.00___________ $54.00 ___________ $37.00 _____________ $31.00 ___________

PLEASE LIST ROOMMATE(S) __________________________________________________________________

PLEASE INDICATE IF HANDICAP ROOM IS NEEDED. PLEASE SEND AN EXPLAINATION WITH YOUR RESERVA-

TION. If you are mailing your reservation, please send this portion and with your check to Lake

Junaluska, PO Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 27845. Roommates should mail their forms and

deposits together.

PART II — RESERVE YOUR ROOM!

Rates are per person per night. Children 11 years old and under who stay in the room w ith their parents

are free. If you have a roommate, please reserve at the same time to assist the reservation staff at Lake Junaluska in the

assignment of rooms. Notify Lake Junaluska immediately of any room changes. Meal cost is $33.00 for

everyone rooming at Terrace or Lambuth. The three meals for this event includes: Saturday lunch and

dinner, Sunday breakfast.

Reservation Options—please use one of these options to place your room reservation.

1. BY MAIL: A printed reservation form may be sent with your deposit to: Holston UMW Annual Meeting, Lake

Junaluska Reservations, PO BOX 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 27845. Please complete the form below and send with

your check; send a separate form and check for each roommate in the same envelope.

2. BY PHONE: Call Lake Junaluska Reservations at 800-222-4930. You will need a credit card to reserve your room

3. ONLINE: A new option is the direct online room reservation link for this event. Put the following address in your

web browser: www.lakejunaluska.com and enter code 6307 in the online booking section. You will need a credit

card. Roommates should be reserved together. We suggest you keep a copy of the forms or online registration for

your records.

Cancellation policy for participant lodging reservations: 30 days or more before an event receive deposit minus a $15 per

person processing fee; 29 days or less before an event deposit is forfeited.

In case of emergency, the switchboard number at Lake Junaluska is 828-452-2881. You may leave this number with

family and friends.

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Holston Conference

United Methodist Women

Annual Meeting &

District Officer Training

Amy Thomas,

Communications Coordinator

80 Splatter Creek

Limestone, TN 37681

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE

PAID

JEFFERSON CITY TN

PERMIT NO. 87

Return Service Requested

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

SATURDAY — SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

Registration 9:30 —11:30

Early Training Session 10:00 —11:30

Lunch 11:30 — 1:00

Concert 12:45 — 1:15

Business Session 1:15 — 3:00

District Officer Training 3:00 — 4:30

Focus Group 4:40 — 5:25

Dinner 5:30 — 7:00

Conference Officer Alumnae Gathering 5:30 — 7:00

Session 2 7:00 — 9:00

SUNDAY — SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Morning Coffee, Prayer & Devotional 7:00

Breakfast 7:30 — 8:30

Session 3 - Closing Worship 9:15