Regional Teams
Unity Great Lakes Regional Teams 2025-2026
As ratified by the Board of Trustees November 11, 2025
We are grateful for our teams accomplishing essential business for our Region
AdHoc Bylaws Team
Team Lead: Rev. Cindy Yamamoto
Description: As needed, review and revise the bylaws and present recommendations to the board to be voted upon at the annual meeting.
Time Commitment: 3 - 4 Meetings per year
Finance Team
Board Liaison: Paula Land, LUT
Team Lead: Rev. Ric Beattie
Description: Support the Board and Treasurer in ensuring the accuracy and good stewarding of GLR's financial resources. The team meets via video conference monthly to review financial statements prepared by our CPA and bookkeeper. Members also help to shape the annual budget processes, for recommendation to the GLR Board. Additionally, we make suggestions to help streamline operations.
Time Commitment: Approx. 1 hour per month
Policy/Procedure Manual
Board Liaison: Rev. Sandra Higgins-Smith
Description: If you're a stickler for rules and appreciate the clarity generated by well-crafted accountabilities, help us revise and reconcile our PPM to be congruent with current practices.
Time Commitment: 2-4 hours/year
Conference Team
Board Liaison: Kathy Harwood Long, Unity Minister and Paula Land, LUT
Description: Team members include the Board liaison and Administrative employees such as Promotions/Mktg, and Bookkeeper. Working with the budget provided by the board, team implements the overview liaisons for each facet of our annual conference, which includes presenters and programming including contracts and coordination for materials; registration process; facility and logistics such as signage and decorations; promotion plan and content for staff (involves working with GLR Staff)
Time Commitment: Monthly zoom meetings, starting typically in January
Leadership Recruitment & Development Team (LRDT)
Board Liaison: Nancy Berdasco, LUT
Team Leads: Rev. Kurt Condra, Rev. Cindy Yamamoto
Purpose: We identify, vet, and qualify candidates for the Great Lakes Region Board of Trustees, and present the approved slate at the annual business meeting.
Time Commitment: Approximately 4 - 5 Zoom meetings/year, plus phone calls to prospective candidates
YFM DREAM SEED TEAM
Team Lead: Rev. Deb Hill-Davis
Description: The purpose and mission of this team is to develop fund raising ideas which can be implemented across the Region to raise funds to support Youth and Family Ministry. In particular our goal is to help YOUers who need financial support to attend retreats/rallies and churches who may also need financial support for this purpose. Our larger vision for the Dream Seed is to raise sufficient funds to offer financial assistance to Unity Centers/Churches that are re-building their YFM programs.
Time Commitment: Monthly zoom call 60 minutes in duration. There may be additional time when a particular event is planned. This is an ongoing team, and the duration of service is at least a year.
EarthCare
Board Liaison: Kathy Harwood Long, Unity Minister
Description: Team members plan, coordinate, and implement annual communications and efforts in support of EarthCare in the Region. Reports to the Board of Trustees monthly or quarterly (tbd)
Time Commitment: Team discerns number of meetings per year
LUT Ministry Team
Board Liaison: Nancy Berdasco, LUT
Description: Support the Region by meeting with the Regional LUT Representative to form ideas and action plans.
Time Commitment: Approx. 1 hour per month