2021 Vestry Nominees

At our annual meeting on January 24, 2021, we will elect four new members to our Vestry (parish leadership board). Thanks be to God for these St. Georgians and their willingness to serve our parish! Please join us in praying for them.

Nominations remain open until the annual meeting. If you are interested in being considered, please contact Joe Hensley as soon as possible.

Dave Davies

Preferred Worship Service: 9 am
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 2003
Hobbies: Reading, golf, walking

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
God has richly blessed me throughout my life, personally and professionally. As a consultant working part-time, I have time to devote to serving my church in whatever ways God calls me. St. George’s has inspired me through its various ministries, and I am eager to help advance that mission.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…

• Jazz choir (2018-present)
• Chancel choir – (2018-2019)
• Vestry – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Albany GA (2010-2015)
• Rector Search Committee – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Albany GA (2012-2013)
• Music Director Search Committee – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Albany GA – (2011-2012)

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
My career consisted of 42 years in independent school administration. As such, I bring experience leading non-profits including schools with $9 million and $12 million annual budgets. I have led successful annual and capital campaigns. As a consultant, I do board governance workshops and strategic planning processes for schools.

Recent places of work:

• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School – Saratoga CA – Interim Head of School
• Deerfield-Windsor School – Albany GA – Head of School
• Parish Episcopal School – Dallas TX – Assistant Head of School and Founding Head of Upper School

Recent Community Involvement:

• LOWLINC – Lake of the Woods – assisting senior citizens, enabling them to continue to live in their own homes
• Rotary Club – Albany GA
• Board of Directors – Albany Civil Rights Institute – Albany GA

Casey Hu

Preferred Worship Service: 9 am
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 1975
Hobbies: Puzzling, reading, and playing bridge. I am an avid music lover and really miss seeing live shows.

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
I love St. George’s! Having attended St. George’s since before my boys (now 22 and 26) were born, this is my “home church and family”. The call to Vestry is a desire to support St. George’s mission to spread the Gospel through active engagement in our community.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…

• Flower Guild – since 2009
• Altar Guild a long time
• Christian Education Teens Class co-mentor 2007 – 2008
• Education for Ministry student and co-mentor 2014 – 2019
• St. George’s Vestry 2006 – 2008

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
Skills I bring are a knowledge of the community, its needs, and resources. I have experience in the world of nonprofits and working with donors. I am a creative person who loves to brainstorm ideas and develop an action plan

Recent places of work:

• The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region – Director of Donor Services
• GEICO – Claims Examiner

Recent Community Involvement:

• In my role as Director of Donor Services at The Community Foundation, I manage grants to local nonprofits, so I feel “involved” with many as I track their work.
• Fredericksburg Food Access Forum – an informal network of area agencies (to include The Table) who meet to share information related to food access.
• Be Well Rappahannock Board Member 2020 – Be Well Rappahannock Council is a collaborative comprised of agencies representative of the community, with a deep concern for the health and well-being of the residents of the Rappahannock Region

Beth Klein

Preferred Worship Service: 9 am (Sign Language Interpreter)
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 2012
Hobbies: Volunteer, history buff, water aerobics, cat mom

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
After ten years as a St Georgian with experience in several ministries I would like to serve the Parish in the form of participating in the Vestry. My past leadership positions have taught me that listening is the most important skill any leadership team can learn to incorporate into their culture.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…

• Deaf Ministry-2016-present
• ASL Interpreting for 9 am service 2018-present.
• The Table (various roles) 2012-2020
• Produce delivery coordinator 2013-2017
• Community Dinners 2018-2020
• Micah Christmas AM 2013-present
• World Mission Commission 2020

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
I come from a nonprofit background and have worked with a variety of agencies and churches. By nature I am drawn to feeding ministries, but I’ve worked with individuals with disabilities and been on three different nonprofit boards. Other areas of interest are Interfaith relations and meditation.

Recent places of work:

• I am the owner of Employment Solutions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the past twelve years. I provided employment services and SSI/SSDI benefits planning for individuals that are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind.
  Seeing gaps in services inspired me to started a nonprofit called PAH, Inc that provided advocacy and info referral services for individuals who are Deaf with a focus on access to healthcare. I was also involved in managing grants and setting up conference and workshops. Sadly, this grant funded program closed in 2018 due to lack of continued funding.
• Executive Assistant: Episcopal Conference of the Deaf, a national organization that advocates and supports outreach and services for Deaf people in the Episcopal tradition.

Recent Community Involvement:

• No Barriers Zen- I am involved with a Buddhist Temple in Washington DC and Fredericksburg (pre-COVID)and now via ZOOM. I was asked to be on their founding Board and am currently am the Vice President of the NBZ Board.
• Independence Empowerment Center is a nonprofit with supports all individuals with disability to live as independently as possible. I currently am an At Large Board Member.

Meghan O’Connor

Preferred Worship Service: 9 am (Sign Language Interpreter)
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 2011
Hobbies: Lately I color pictures – sometimes obsessively.

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
Having served on Vestry previously in a time of transition for St. George’s I am interested in participating in this ministry in a time that is perhaps both more stable but with new challenges for the church community. The role of vestry as part of building community appeals to me.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…

• Pilgrims program
• Communication commission (2010-12?)
• Vestry 2013-15
• Rector Search committee 2014-15
• Liaison while on vestry to world mission and adult education

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
My experience is largely organizational and leadership oriented. Building consensus and organizing people around mission are skills I utilize regularly. I have an interest in financial matters, and regularly work with a budget in my day job.

Recent places of work:

• Spotsylvania County Schools as a school based administrator for 20+ years
• Currently a principal
• Anticipating retirement within the next 12 months

Recent Community Involvement:

• Board member Fredericksburg Area HIV and AIDS Support Services (FAHASS)
• FAHASS Board president 2017-2020
• Participated in one SAWs build prior to Covid

Suzan Voga-Duffee

Preferred Worship Service: I started with the 11:15am service and after our son was born, we moved to the 9am service because it suited us as a family.
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 2019
Hobbies: Crocheting

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
St. George’s has become both family and community to me; serving on its vestry will be my contribution to my second family.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…
I am a young member of St. George’s, having come to be a member through marriage six years ago. However, I served in a Parish Discernment Committee, I have volunteered, albeit briefly, with the Children’s Ministry, once at Summer Bible School and then with the Sunday School before COVID struck.

Before coming to St. George’s, I was a member of All Saints Cathedral in Juba, South Sudan, also an Episcopal Church, and before that, I was a Catholic. In the Catholic church, I served in the choir and youth group.

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
Generally, I will bring on board my experience from outside the US. Specifically, I will contribute my organizational skills, having worked in the non-profit sector for over ten years. I will also contribute program management and leadership, contributing towards the implementation of St. George’s various projects.

Recent places of work:

• Stafford County Public Schools.
• Strentz, Greene and Coleman PLC.
• Christian Aid.

Recent Community Involvement:

• Children’s choir at All Saints Cathedral, Juba.
• Primary school teachers in Yei, South Sudan.
• The disabled in Mundri, South Sudan.

Jane Yaun

Preferred Worship Service: 9 am
Year of Confirmation / Reception into Episcopal Church: 1979
Hobbies: Running (not fast, but persistent and determined!)

I am called to the Vestry ministry because…
Over the past few years I believe St. George’s community has provided Kate and me with a sense of belonging. I would be humbled and committed to do the work to help St. George’s show our community that we walk in love and that we are truly welcoming to all.

My past involvement at St. George’s or other parishes includes…
I have been involved with St. Georges since 2012, when my daughter Kate was in the inaugural Pre-School class. My involvement has primarily been with youth – chaperoning ski trip, DC trip, youth group events.

In the past I assisted with bagging of vegetables on Sunday afternoons, and this past year I helped with church cleaning and twice my daughter and I helped with Monday dinners. Pre-pandemic I participated in the choir for a season.

The gifts, skills, and abilities I would bring to the work of the Vestry include…
I believe my gift will be in community connections, leadership, and building relationships internal and external to St. George’s. I am also open to learning what gifts and skills may surface as a member of the vestry.

Recent places of work:
The bulk of my career has been with Rappahannock Area Community Services Board where since 2017 I have served as Executive Director. In the past I also worked with children and adolescents at Snowden at Fredericksburg and in Richmond at what was then called the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (is now the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services).

Recent Community Involvement:
In addition to my job which serves and intersects with many aspects of community, I also serve on the Board of Directors of Rappahannock Area United Way, and am a member of Rappahannock Rotary.