The Official Board is comprised of representatives from each organization and board in the church. The Official Board is also responsible for the Nominating and Auditing Committees.
Elected officers of the church and representatives on the Official Board are:
Moderator: Greg Dickson Vice Moderator: Jennifer Barry
Diaconate: Elaine Coffey
Women’s Fellowship: Sharon Heinrich (OB Treasurer)
Sunday School/Christian Ed: Linda Elkins
Thrift Shop: Cathy Hawk
Church Dinners/Free Lunch: Betty Craig
Trustees: Greg Dickson
Stewardship Committee: Linda Stepan
Music Committee: Ingrid Dickson
Mission/Outreach: Judy Carte
Organ Preservation Committee: Jim Heinrich
Church Treasurer: Sally Herzog
Church Financial Secretary: Gary Zielinski
Fit Club: Irene Joyce (Official Board Secretary)
Minister: Rev. Heidi Denman McDougall
Clerk: Judy Gaumer
One of the main functions of the Official Board is to manage and coordinate the church’s events calendar to make sure each organization is aware of other organizations’ activities. This board also sponsors the Pancake Breakfast at the Annual Meeting, the Annual Winter Retreat in February, and the Easter Breakfast. Our primary source of funding is a two-day Garage Sale, which was held in July. This year, we also had a Pig Roast. We hosted the Live Nativity in November. Thank you to everyone who participated and especially to Dale & Cathy Hawk, Rachel Zielinski, Doug Thorn, Jim Heinrich, the kitchen crew who hosted our volunteers and Strongsville’s CERT team, and our music team of Mike Elkins, Tom Foley, Ken Mehalko, Sharon Heinrich, and the Chancel Choir with a large turnout of our singers and guests from Southwest Community Chorus and Columbia United Methodist Church. We appreciate everyone’s efforts in making this event so much fun for the community. In addition to these events and activities, the Official Board sponsored many special projects this year, including the following:
*Sponsored our Annual Winter Retreat at Inspiration Hills with 54 participants.
*Hosted a Family Game Gathering in May which was a wonderful time with about 25 adults and kids attending.
*Oversaw the continued Panera Bread program, with thanks to Teri Barbish, Wayne & Bobbi Cook, Colette Emerson, Roz Fotos, Linda Elkins, Carole Kapcar, Jane Kossin & Ed Geyer, Sharon Lempner, and Cherie Teagno, who made the Panera Bread ministry possible in 2025. Also, thanks to Irene Joyce for delivering the bread downtown when needed.
*Hosted Sanyuka Children’s Chorus from Uganda for a benefit concert in August.
*Had our first Pig Roast, with thanks to Erik Joyce, who roasted the pig and smoked the chicken, along with the crew of meat cutters: Jon Hayes, Jim Joyce, Ed Sobek, and Dale Hawk. Many thanks to the team of volunteers who donated side dishes, including Cathy Hawk, Ingrid Dickson, Irene Joyce, Linda Plain, Marty Winch, and the 18 folks who donated desserts and pop. Thanks also to everyone who helped with set-up, cooking, serving, and cleaning up, as well as selling sideboards and 50-50 tickets, and to Betty Craig, who sold left-overs the next day.
*Coordinated the collection and distribution of gift cards to help 34 families with Thanksgiving food assistance in cooperation with the Strongsville City School District and the community.
*Renewed our certificate of deposit to make good use of the funds in the Official Board account.
*Hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Sunday to recognize the contributions of our volunteers, particularly those who are not official members of the congregation. We had a recognition during worship, followed by a reception.
