President’s Letter — September 2006

Welcome Back!

I hope the summer was good to you.

I would like to introduce myself. I am Eddy Fried, and last June I was elected President of your Board of Trustees. I am both thrilled and humbled to serve in this role. I admired the leadership of Dave Morkel and am pleased that he has agreed to continue for the next year to serve on the Board and as a valued member of the Administration Committee of the Board. I accepted my new role for just a few reasons:

  1. Reverend Jim Covington and few members encouraged me to do it, and promised they would help. Very few people are successful at refusing a request of Reverend Jim.
  2. There is a fine, capable and hardworking set of people serving on the Board. All deserve recognition. I will single out Betsy Turner whose insight and advice is invaluable and her leadership and dedication to our Fellowship is behind much of our progress. Thankfully she has agreed to continue as Vice President. Expect me to find opportunities to highlight the special efforts of each of your elected members of the Board.
  3. The people drawn to our Fellowship are remarkable. They defy common description; to draw any stereotypes would be a mistake. They are inspiring, challenging, vivacious, generous and needy. Our Faith serves as a magnet for people who I want to listen to and get to know better.
  4. And lastly, I have found solace and strength in our Mission and Principles. I find sacred moments in the spiritual gifts of Reverend Jim Covington, Spirits in Harmony, our Religious Education teachers and the many other ministers in our midst. I have received far more than I can ever give back to this Fellowship.

If I have a personal mission in this role, it is to invite each of you to participate in the life of this Fellowship all week long. The vitality of our Fellowship is driven by its committees, Community Circles and events. What happens on Sunday is truly special, but those of you who limit your involvement to Sundays are missing many opportunities to get more than you can ever give. In my future letters I plan to tell you some of the “secrets” of what happens in this congregation.

For example, you have got to admire the progress on the renovation of our Fellowship Hall bathroom. Please make sure to thank John Mingle, Jim Terry, Carl Grimm, Dave Morkel, and Sandy, Elija and Joshua Lewis. And we please thank Linda Griffin and the other Community Circle leaders who, with guidance from Reverend Jim, provide special opportunities to share and learn and deepen relationships.

If all I do is make sure the light is on and the door is open, then I can confidently leave it to the wonderful people mentioned here and those many others who deserve acknowledgement. You are in great hands with them.

Please come in. We have much warmth to share.

With all Sincerity,

Eddy Fried