WNCC PAUMCS attends national conference in Chicago

[caption id="attachment_9294" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Back Row: (left to right) Libby Craven, Landa Wallace, Donna Ireland, Tish Schultheiss, Marsha Bradley
Middle Row: Amy Johnson, Patricia Lloyd (sitting), Jana Alexander, Linda Young
Kneeling: Katie Hutton, Debra Stack[/caption] Eleven members of WNCC PAUMCS (Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries) attended the 35^th annual conference of the national PAUMCS organization in Chicago May 4-6.  Rev. Grace Imathiu led a session on “Diversity in Ministry.”  Other speakers included Reverend Young-Mee Park who spoke on “Cross-Cultural Ministry & Experiences” and Reverend James Preston who spoke on “Radical Hospitality.”  Seema Bhagwaker trained the group in “Office Ergonomics.”  New to the training this year was an opportunity to divide into focus groups.  Persons were placed into groups depending on the size of their church, whether they worked in a district office, conference office, or General Church agency.  Lots of information was shared and gained.  The focus group members will be in contact with each other throughout the year. Special kudos to Tish Schultheiss of Wesley Memorial UMC in High Point who completed her tenure as President of the national PAUMCS organization.  Landa Wallace, District Admin in the Northern Piedmont District Office, was elected as Chair of Nominations.  Donna Ireland of Harmony Grove UMC in Lewisville was elected to a vacancy on the PTS (Professional Training and Standards) Committee and Libby Craven of Mt. Tabor UMC in Winston-Salem was elected to the Membership Committee.  Amy Johnson, District Admin in the Yadkin Valley District Office, will continue to serve on the PTS Committee.  Angela Dean of Catawba UMC in Catawba will continue to serve on the Communications Committee. Those persons who have successfully completed the PAUMCS certification course to become “certified” UMC secretaries were recognized at a celebration banquet on Saturday.  Congratulations to Charity Goff and Betsy Tang of Main Street UMC in Kernersville for becoming certified through this process.  Secretaries being recertified through their continued continuing education efforts were Carol Howard of Christ UMC in Drexel (Class of 2000) and Paulette Gregory of St. Luke’s UMC in Hickory (Class of 2006). An important action that was approved was a change in the logo and name of the organization.  We are now: The logo reflects the similarity of other agencies within The United Methodist Church.  There has been discussion for several years to change the name from Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries to something else since not all of the members are secretaries. There are members who are support staff to General Church agencies, as well as persons who serve in the finance realm and may not be a “secretary.” The conference ended with worship with an inspiring message by Bishop Sally Dyck.  Everyone is already looking forward to next year’s conference in Nashville, TN, April 12-14, 2018. Anyone interested in learning more about PAUMCS, please contact Robin Mays, WNCC PAUMCS Membership Chair, at 828-464-4635 or fumcc@fumcconover.org.