After the January Pathway to Membership class, we are overjoyed to welcome SEVENTEEN new members into our congregation. Meet Emma Rose, Paul, Robert, Willa, Dan, Dar, Alicia, Ostin, Frank, Chanda, Amanda Jane, Jill, Haley, Britt, Cheryl, Beverly, and Roxana, and say hello to them next time you’re at church!
Our next Pathway to Membership class will be on Saturday, May 11th – save the date if you’re a newcomer interested in learning more about what it means to officially join UUCUC.
Emma Rose Conway and Paul Un
They moved to CU about two years ago, and they currently live in Urbana. They are lifelong Illinois residents, and are originally from DeKalb, IL. Emma Rose previously worked as a librarian, but is taking time off to stay at home with Marie (9mo). Paul is a Ph.D. student in the Political Science department at UIUC. Marie is very social and changes every day! Together, they love trying new food around CU and going on driving trips around Central IL. They are excited to get to know everyone in the UUCUC community.
Willa and Robert Hartman
They are longtime UUs from Decatur IL. Willa loves cooking, and outdoors stuff, plus doing small woodworking projects. Robert loves the outdoors, including going fishing, swimming, and camping. He enjoys keeping his truck in good shape and driving. Also, he has an appreciation for music, and looks forward to singing in UUCUC’s choir.
Dan and Dar (Darlene) Kuglich
They moved to Champaign from Bloomington seven years ago to be closer to their one grandchild, Anna. After some research for an open-minded church environment, they learned about UUCUC. Dan and Dar are both retired teachers enjoying their new life here.
Alicia Buskirk
She moved to C-U in 2018 with her now-husband, Duncan Pettengill. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!). Alicia loves reading, writing, spending time with her cat Eugene, and watching professional wrestling with Duncan. Dune (1984) is her favorite movie and she refuses to debate the merits of this excellent film.
Ostin and Frank Warren
They recently moved to Danville from Oregon. They own and operate a tax filing and preparation business and Ostin works at the Danville V.A. This couple loves traveling and tries to go abroad at least once a year, next trip to the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, Turkey, Montenegro, and Spain) in Spring 2024. Ostin was past President of the Board at Wilmington, Delaware’s First UU Church along with many other involvements (choir, RE, calling a new minister, fundraising, social justice, etc), and is very much looking forward to being “just” a regular member here at UUCUC, and this is Frank’s very first church membership experience. They live in Danville and plan to commute in for church once or twice a month and join virtually otherwise. Both are excited to join the UUCUC community!
Chanda Hott
She is originally from Northwest Iowa. She has worked in Higher Education for about twenty years now; specifically, Residence Life/University Housing. Currently, she is an Assistant Director for University Housing at UIUC. She has lived in Urbana for almost seven years now. She is a cat mom to a very sweet, vocal tortie cat named Luna. Chanda is looking forward to a Hott Family vacation next month. It has been planned as a celebration of her parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. She is excited to spend time with her parents, siblings, brother-in-law, nephews and niece in the San Francisco area.
Amanda Jane Pellett
Her path so far has proven difficult, but she’s glad to begin again as a part of this spiritual community.
Jill Moore
Jill moved from her home town of Beardstown, IL to Champaign in 1962 and has lived here ever since, except for about 5 years. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education came next and a masters in the same department which she got while directing an Infant Toddler Day Care Center in Orchard Downs for four years in the 70s. In 1976, Jill started her own child care center, Early Learning on Kirby Avenue, and ran it for over 42 years until she retired. She has a daughter who lives with her husband on John’s Island near Charleston, SC, which is too far away from here. Jill signed the UUCUC membership book in 1981 but got away from the church and she is glad to have returned to attending the past few years mostly on zoom which she appreciated.
Haley Gibbs
Haley lives in Urbana with her partner Thor, their two children Gabriel(6) & Eloise(3), and a whole bunch of furry children as well! She’s also a student at Parkland, an animal rights activist, and loves baking. She’s been coming to services for a while and has gotten to know the community fairly well, but she is excited to get to know everyone even more!!
Britt Shipley
I’m Britt 🙂 I’ve been a part of the Champaign-Urbana community for the last 10 years. I’ve been seeking more of a sense of belonging in the last few years, which eventually led me to UUCUC. I enjoy cooking for others, gardening, poetry, making and exploring music, chess, hiking, and foraging. I love connecting with people about their passions and discovering where our journeys intersect. I am full of love and love to laugh. If you attend services in person, I’m sure you’ve heard my cackle 😛
I look forward to meeting more of the congregation and learning how you landed where you are today. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself and chat!
Beverly Ochs
She is happy she has found this open-minded, lovely place to build community. She is a former doctoral graduate from the University of Illinois and was a former teacher educator for many years at higher education institutions. She is also blessed to be a mother and grandparent to some awesome human beings.
Attending many events and services at UUCUC has already provided Beverly with the opportunity to get to know many genuine individuals. She certainly looks forward to being with these new friends and working with this community on very important issues of our times. Thank you all for your love and support as we move forward in a progressive and positive way together.
Bob Foote & Cheryl Hughes
They moved to Champaign in July to be closer to Bob’s sister and her husband, Karen and Mike Retzer, and get the benefits of living in a bigger community. Both retired from teaching at Wabash College in Indiana, where Bob taught math and computer science and Cheryl taught philosophy. Bob was still doing research and publishing, but he hoped to get his shop set up in the garage for woodturning. Cheryl is looking forward to gardening and interesting volunteer work. Both love bicycling and music—Bob playing trumpet and Cheryl playing viola and piano and folk instruments for fun. They already knew some people from church because of many visits with Bob’s parents, Lin and Alice Foote over the years. It has been wonderful to find a community of warm and thoughtful friends at UUCUC. Heartbreakingly, Bob passed away after a brief hospitalization in February. His memorial service will be held here at UUCUC on April 20th.
Roxana Carrion