Deadline to vote is Wednesday, May 31
The JUC Board of Trustees is using the bylaws section enacted by the congregation allowing a vote without a meeting. Members will vote by electronic or mail-in ballots.

How to Vote
You may vote in one of the following ways:

• Vote electronically using this form;
• Print and complete this ballot and mail it in;
• Request that a ballot be mailed to you from the JUC office by calling 303-279-5282 or emailing office@jeffersonunitarian.org. Please include your mailing address.

Only members who joined no later than May 1, 2023 may vote. Voting eligibility will be verified by the JUC office, so your name must appear on the ballot to be counted. We must receive 102 ballots in order to achieve a quorum for the vote. Your vote must be received by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 31 to be counted.

Voting includes the following:

• Should the Board of Trustees resume the process of deciding if a campus swap with Lakewood Church of the Nazarene should be recommended? See full information on the Are We Making Room? Page. Note that 60% in the affirmative will be required for this to pass.
• Elect Board Trustees (nominees for three-year terms: Richard Burrows, Steve DeCaluwe, Elizabeth Duhegraham);
• Elect Leadership Nominating Committee members (nominees for three-year term: Pam Moser, Jeff Pederson)
• Elect Endowment and Memorial Gift Trust Directors (nominees for three-year term: Lynn Gedvilas, Allison Windes);
• Approve 2023-24 annual operating budget.

Questions can be sent to president@jeffersonunitarian.org.

2023-24 Leadership Nominee Bios

Nominations for Board of Trustees

Richard Burrows

Richard joined JUC in 2016 with his wife Denise. He is currently completing a 3 year term with the EMGT and is a regular participant in Circles of Connection. JUC is the first Church that Richard has felt really comfortable in, and he enjoys and appreciates the community. An avid rock climber and skier, he is recently retired from a career in environmental chemistry, and looks forward to a deeper involvement with the Church.

Steve DeCaluwe (he/him)

Steve DeCaluwe has been a member at JUC since 2013, joining shortly after moving to Golden, and shortly before he and his wife Heather began growing their family (which now includes Bryson, 10, and Sierra, 8). He was immediately drawn to the sense of community and the care between the church members. The ability of JUC to meld spiritual practice, communal accountability, and empathy in ways that always feel relevant and connected to our lived experiences has been uplifting and sustaining for him (the old sign, with its “A Religious Home for the Liberal Spirit” was a big initial draw to check the church out). While at JUC, Steve has been involved in numerous going deeper groups, volunteered with Family Promise, served as a Coming of Age mentor, assisted with the auction (as the erstwhile “bidding app guru”), and has been heavily involved with JUC’s family programming, regularly attending Family Service, Dad’s going deeper groups, JUC Family Camping trips, and other events. JUC has provided a community and family for Steve and his family, and he wants to make sure it remains a place that is increasingly accessible and welcoming to all who are looking for a similar religious home.

Elizabeth Duhegraham

Elizabeth Duhegraham joined JUC in 2007 with her wife Julie and daughter Jessica. Elizabeth has an MA in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University and currently works at Colorado Housing and Finance Authority conducting management and occupancy reviews for section 8 housing. She was the president of JUC’s Gay Straight Alliance and a Religious Education teacher along with many other volunteer roles at the church.

Nominations for Leadership Nominating Committee

Pam Moser

Pam Moser has been attending JUC since 2014. Though she knew the minute she walked in that this was her new church home, it took her another year or so to become a member. She has volunteered for numerous activities, enjoyed attending and then facilitating several Going Deeper and Circle of Connection groups. She is enjoying learning more about the UU’s and exploring spirituality in her Wellspring group. Pam is currently wrapping up her time on the Shared Missions Team and welcomes the challenge of the Leadership Nominating Committee. When not at JUC she also volunteers at Lutheran Hospice, DCPA, and The Porchlight Justice Center. She is always glad to talk about reading, writing, and gardening.

Jeff Pederson

Jeff Pederson joined JUC in 2014 and has ushered a fair amount, along with other tasks.  He has a B.A. from St. Olaf College and a M.P.A. from the University of New Mexico, and is retired from the NM Department of Game and Fish.  He spent several years writing and producing news and government publications.  Jeff lives with his wife, Steffanie, in Golden.

Nominations for EMGT

Lynn Gedvilas

Lynn became a member of JUC in 2008. She volunteers with Family Promise, Pastoral Care and can be seen from time to time mulching/pruning one of the JUC garden plots. She also served a short stint with EMGT several years ago. Newly retired, Lynn enjoys the outdoors, reading, and keeping pace with grandchildren.

Allison Windes

Allison joined JUC in 2014 after driving by the church for many years and finally acting on her curiosity.  Allison has volunteered doing various small jobs with the church over the years, such as being a greeter, cooking for Family Promise, helping during the auction and craft fair, and weeding during the summer.  This past fall Allison began helping to teach the 8th grade COA class and took a training to be certified to teach OWL.  Allison has also participated in the Wellspring program this year and has enjoyed learning more about Unitarian Universalism and spirituality practices. Allison participates in many family events at the church. She has a 2nd grader in the children’s choir and a 9th grader in youth handbells.  When not at church or driving children around, Allison works as a nurse at one of Denver Health’s pediatric ambulatory care clinics.

Shared Mission Team members (approved by the Board of Trustees)

Pat Emery

Pat Emery and her husband, Keith, joined JUC in 1985, and raised their two children in this church community. Pat was active from the start, serving as part of the leadership during the ‘90s when JUC did the work needed to become ready for the growth during the 2000s. After working on JUC’s mission and organization, she undertook revising the way we greet our visitors and integrate our new members to make us more welcoming to newcomers. Over the years, she’s been involved in JUC’s ministries in worship, faith development, social justice, music, stewardship, fellowship, and denominational connections. Pat currently leads a cook team for JUC’s partnership with Rising homeless day shelter in Arvada and for our Abundant Harvest table on Sundays.  She hopes to bring her long “institutional memory” to the table.

Piper Perry

Piper Perry came to JUC during Covid lockdown for support in her anti-racism work.She joined Reflections on Race and found a like minded and whole hearted community of people who are trying to help the world be a better place. She then participated in New Here, Going Deeper and Circles of Connection and has found a spiritual home. As an animist Heathen of 35 years, she is reviving the JUC CUUPs chapter with a series of rituals and exercises to fight white supremacy. She also helps out with the 6th grade Neighboring Faiths class. As part of being in right relationship, Piper is eager to help make JUC the inclusive place it strives for. She currently helps with social media for Colorado UUs for Racial Justice and The Mountaintop, and is the public relations director for the Troth, an international inclusive Heathen organization.