Aline started life as an "Army brat", moving frequently. She has lived in Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, and 9 states in the US before moving to CO, which she says is definitely the last stop. Raised Catholic, she left that faith early in college and did not discover UU until years later in 1979. UUFD is her third church. Here she has served on the Board, various committees, chaired the FROLIC event, coordinated Circle Suppers, and been active in our remodeling and landscape improvements.
Her work years started with the Job Corps as a resident advisor, then to teaching High School Biology, a career change and nursing school for a RN, then further education and 7 years as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, more education followed by 15 years as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner.
Since retirement, she has learned to quilt and paint and enjoys these hobbies along with volunteering, hiking, skiing, and gardening.
Aline is married to John and between them they have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Her work years started with the Job Corps as a resident advisor, then to teaching High School Biology, a career change and nursing school for a RN, then further education and 7 years as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, more education followed by 15 years as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner.
Since retirement, she has learned to quilt and paint and enjoys these hobbies along with volunteering, hiking, skiing, and gardening.
Aline is married to John and between them they have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Jim Dahlberg retired in 2004 after a 40 year career as a meat cutter. Moving to his retirement home in New Mexico with his wife of 20 years, Jim has been involved in community as an AARP Taxaide preparer and local coordinator, TALON (newspaper) contributor, homeowner's association board member, voter registration volunteer, and neighborhood activist for water and (currently) sewerage lagoon issues.
While still working full-time in the grocery business, Jim used a 'later-in-life earned' AA degree to become an adjunct instructor - providing meat cutter apprentices supplemental and related classroom training of their trade. Since hanging up his knives, he now enjoys remodeling, gardening, and cooking - besides remaining a life-long learner. Jim is proud of having raised his two sons as a single parent, the fruits of which are two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Jim comes from a Unitarian family background and returned to Duluth, MN in 2011 to revisit his childhood congregation there. The visit became a welcome back home to UU and ultimately the Durango fellowship. He has since become active in the CUUPS group and feels honored and privileged to be chosen as a congregational representative on the Ministerial Task Force.
While still working full-time in the grocery business, Jim used a 'later-in-life earned' AA degree to become an adjunct instructor - providing meat cutter apprentices supplemental and related classroom training of their trade. Since hanging up his knives, he now enjoys remodeling, gardening, and cooking - besides remaining a life-long learner. Jim is proud of having raised his two sons as a single parent, the fruits of which are two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Jim comes from a Unitarian family background and returned to Duluth, MN in 2011 to revisit his childhood congregation there. The visit became a welcome back home to UU and ultimately the Durango fellowship. He has since become active in the CUUPS group and feels honored and privileged to be chosen as a congregational representative on the Ministerial Task Force.
Vanessa Self has a B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Teacher Education and is certified in the state of Colorado to teach Preschool-6th grade. Vanessa currently devotes most of her time to raising her four children ages, 12, 4, 3, and 1. In addition, she and her husband, Cody, have been licensed foster parents in La Plata County since 2010. Vanessa was born and raised in the Durango area and spent only a few short years away in her early 20's before returning in 2004. Vanessa and her family now reside in Bayfield, CO which is about 25 miles outside of Durango.
Vanessa joined the UU Fellowship of Hopkinsville, KY in 2002 and the UU Fellowship of Durango in 2004 where she has served as a religious education teacher, the Director of Religious Education, and a member of the Religious Education committee. In addition, she has felt fortunate to have attended multiple UU related confrences and conventions including LREDA events, GA, the MDD annual convention, and Russell Lockwood Leadership School.
Vanessa joined the UU Fellowship of Hopkinsville, KY in 2002 and the UU Fellowship of Durango in 2004 where she has served as a religious education teacher, the Director of Religious Education, and a member of the Religious Education committee. In addition, she has felt fortunate to have attended multiple UU related confrences and conventions including LREDA events, GA, the MDD annual convention, and Russell Lockwood Leadership School.
Tom and his wife of 42 years, Bonnie (current UUFD President), moved to Durango in 2011 to be close to their daughter Shanan, son-in-law Doug and their three children. Tom started his career as a psychologist working in university counseling centers, including the University of Missouri, Illinois State University, and The University of Texas. He joined RHR International, a firm of consulting psychologists to management, in 1986 and worked out of their Denver office until his retirement in 2006. His work as a management psychologist involved helping client companies in diverse industries select and develop their most senior talent. He interviewed candidates for high level positions, helped those selected to enter their new organization successfully, coached individual executives to improve their performance and impact, worked on executive team building, and assisted with talent management and strategic planning. Tom loves everything about Durango and takes advantage of the opportunities to ski, golf, hike and play with grandkids. Tom was raised Unitarian and was glad to find UUFD. With Bonnie, he has been a member for a year and a half. In that time he has been an active part of the leadership transition teams whose work has culminated in the current search for a minister.
Kathleen Adams has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and used that degree during her medical career before turning her full attention in 1983 to the blended family of husband and 6 children. During that time, there was interweaving of volunteer work such as peace and justice issues, bioethics, and advocacy for people with disabilities. In the last 20 years, she has narrowed
her volunteer focus to the development, management and research arm of a disease association related to the illness of one of her daughters. Kathleen has been an active UU since 1972. She has served on multiple committees, UU Board of Directors and spent 14 years as a lead UU Youth advisor. She moved to Durango from Wisconsin in September of 2008 where one of her sons is raising a family. After being raised in Bend, Oregon, she is delighted to be back in dry, mountainous country.
her volunteer focus to the development, management and research arm of a disease association related to the illness of one of her daughters. Kathleen has been an active UU since 1972. She has served on multiple committees, UU Board of Directors and spent 14 years as a lead UU Youth advisor. She moved to Durango from Wisconsin in September of 2008 where one of her sons is raising a family. After being raised in Bend, Oregon, she is delighted to be back in dry, mountainous country.
Ron Garst was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1941, and at the age of ten, moved with his family to Mesa, Arizona. After completing high school, he attended Arizona State University, graduating in 1963 with a BS degree in geography and urban studies. After graduation, he became a Peace Corps volunteer teaching high school in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and then returned to Arizona State to complete an MA degree. Next came a stint on the faculty of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. After three years in Kansas, he entered graduate school at Michigan State University and was awarded a Fulbright
Fellowship and became a Visiting Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In 1972, he completed the Ph.D. at MSU with concentrations in African studies, geography and economics. He then taught at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and the University of Maryland in College Park, and in 1978, became an intelligence research analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. In November 1984, he left the CIA to join the faculty of the National Intelligence University to teach intelligence analysis. From 1989 to 1992, he was the Associate Dean of the School of Intelligence Studies. After that, he served as Chairman of the Department of National Intelligence Studies and Director of Graduate Studies until 1993 when he assumed the duties of Provost. As Provost, he was the chief academic officer overseeing a faculty of 125, and served as Executive Secretary of the College’s Board of Visitors. Upon his retirement in 2005, he was named Provost Emeritus.
Ron became a UU in 1973 while living in Lexington, Kentucky. When he and Marilyn moved to Kensington, MD, he became active in the local UU church and served on a number of committees. He served three years on the board of trustees, including two years as chair of the board. After that, he was on the building committee, the finance committee, chaired the ministerial relations committee and served for ten years as one of a team of three newsletter editors. Upon moving to Durango in 2005, he quickly got involved, serving two years as treasurer and two years as president of the fellowship.
Ron and Marilyn were married in 1966 and have one daughter, Kimberly, who was born in Kisumu, Kenya, while Ron was a Fulbright Fellow doing his dissertation research. Their daughter and her husband have two girls, aged 9 and 6, and live in Adamstown, MD, about 50 miles west of Baltimore.
Fellowship and became a Visiting Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In 1972, he completed the Ph.D. at MSU with concentrations in African studies, geography and economics. He then taught at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and the University of Maryland in College Park, and in 1978, became an intelligence research analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. In November 1984, he left the CIA to join the faculty of the National Intelligence University to teach intelligence analysis. From 1989 to 1992, he was the Associate Dean of the School of Intelligence Studies. After that, he served as Chairman of the Department of National Intelligence Studies and Director of Graduate Studies until 1993 when he assumed the duties of Provost. As Provost, he was the chief academic officer overseeing a faculty of 125, and served as Executive Secretary of the College’s Board of Visitors. Upon his retirement in 2005, he was named Provost Emeritus.
Ron became a UU in 1973 while living in Lexington, Kentucky. When he and Marilyn moved to Kensington, MD, he became active in the local UU church and served on a number of committees. He served three years on the board of trustees, including two years as chair of the board. After that, he was on the building committee, the finance committee, chaired the ministerial relations committee and served for ten years as one of a team of three newsletter editors. Upon moving to Durango in 2005, he quickly got involved, serving two years as treasurer and two years as president of the fellowship.
Ron and Marilyn were married in 1966 and have one daughter, Kimberly, who was born in Kisumu, Kenya, while Ron was a Fulbright Fellow doing his dissertation research. Their daughter and her husband have two girls, aged 9 and 6, and live in Adamstown, MD, about 50 miles west of Baltimore.
Born and raised in Eagle, Colorado, Susan began – in the mid 1960’s - a 10 year journey eastward pursuing graduate studies and jobs. She settled for 20 years in Silver Spring MD, and raised three children. With an MS in Child Development and a PhD in Human Development, she taught at the University of Maryland, and served as an Assistant Dean in the Office for Undergraduate Studies. During this time Susan met her husband, John Lyons and in 1985, combined families (a total of seven children and now 16 grandchildren). Upon moving to Durango in 1991, her activities have included serving on the board of the Family Center, and the Women’s Resource Center, as well as being a member of the Professional Associates at Fort Lewis College.
Susan was raised a Catholic, but left soon after leaving her home town for university. It was not until the move to Durango that she discovered UU.
Over the last 18 years, she has served on the Board of Trustees (3 terms), chaired the Caring and Welcoming Congregation committees, and has been an active participant in most of the church fundraisers and projects. Susan enjoys volunteer work, hiking, snowshoeing, knitting, water color, reading, music and theater.
Susan was raised a Catholic, but left soon after leaving her home town for university. It was not until the move to Durango that she discovered UU.
Over the last 18 years, she has served on the Board of Trustees (3 terms), chaired the Caring and Welcoming Congregation committees, and has been an active participant in most of the church fundraisers and projects. Susan enjoys volunteer work, hiking, snowshoeing, knitting, water color, reading, music and theater.