Member Profiles
Learn more about some of the Fellowship's members below. Then, come and join us! Find out about getting involved.
Member Profiles
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Ben Edwards
Member Since: 1973 Fellowship Positions Held: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Editor Birthplace: Ross, California Family: Spouse Shirley, 9 children combined, 20 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren Other Places Ben Has Lived: Pearl Harbor, HI; Decatur, Georgia; Columbus, GA; Palm Springs, CA; Fort Knox, KY; Carrizo Springs, TX; Kerrville, TX, New York City, San Antonio, TX; Boston MA; Bloomington, IN; Chicago, IL; Greensboro, NC Occupation: Chemist Hobbies: Various Music, Woodworking Crafts Favorite Quote 'I feel more like I do now than I did yesterday." Brad Terry What would we be surprised to learn about you? My father was an Army Lieutenant Colonel so I ended up going to 8 different schools in the first 5 grades |
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Craig Fischer Member Since: 1998
Fellowship Roles You Have Held: Boone UU President, Board Member, Social Action Committee Member, Program Committee Member Place of Birth: Buffalo, New York; Other Places Craig Has Lived: Champaign, IL Current Occupation: App State Professor, Department of English Family: Kathy Parham (wife), Nate Fischer (son), Mercer Fischer (daughter) Pastimes: Reading, walking, going to movies, reading, listening to "The Gilbert Gottfried Amazing Colossal Podcast," reading Words to Live By: "The future is unwritten." Joe Strummer One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I shook hands with O.J. Simpson as a child? My favorite music is punk rock? I love Ethiopian food? I contain multitudes. |
Portrait by Kane Lynch
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Boone UU Member Spotlight: Judy Geary
Judith Geary was Senior Editor for Ingalls Publishing Group for fifteen before it closed after the owner's death in 2015. In her time there, and since, as a freelance “book shepherd,” Judy has participated in the publication of over 100 books, mostly novels and memoirs. She has worked with nationally known authors such as Sharyn McCrumb, Ann Chamberlin, Albert Bell, and Tom Deitz, and regional authors such as Marian Coe, Steve Brown, and Terry Roberts as well as independent authors just beginning their careers. She has been a member of High Country Writers since 1996 and currently serves on the program committee as a co-VP and Zoom jockey for virtual meetings. Geary has also taught in the Department of Communication at Appalachian State since 1986. She has presented at conferences on topics ranging from, “Paths to Publication,” and the novels of her Getorix series, to world-building in speculative fiction. She currently serves as an evaluator in the scenario competition for Future Problem-Solving International. |
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Bettie McKemie-Hill
Member Since: 2022; attending since 2016 Place of Birth: Cynthiana, Kentucky Other Places Bettie Has Lived: Asheville, NC; Steamboat, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Breckenridge, CO; Hood River, OR; Vermejo Park Ranch, NM; various mountain ranges across Wyoming (Can you tell I'm a recovering ski bum?) Occupation: Mental health therapist in private practice Family: Partner, Andy; 6 year old daughter, Willa; - 3 year old son, Cullie; 4 year old rescue dog Rosie; 2 year old pandemic rescue cat, Peggy-O Pastimes: Skiing, white-water boating, fly-fishing, camping, birding, summers in the Rocky Mountains and playing on rivers with our family Favorite Quote: "Be aware of wonder." - Kurt Hahn One thing that we would be surprised to learn about you: My friend and I have a pipedream of starting a podcast on the comedies of parenting and partnering in the modern age. We often write and rehearse our scripts based on the most recent antics of our households. It's ridiculous :) |
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Member Profile: Cinda Member Since 2014
Past Fellowship Roles: Board Member (twice), R.E. Committee Member, Technology Committee Chair, Service Presenter (twice), Strategic Planning Event Facilitator Place of Birth: Hollywood, Florida Other Places Cinda Has Lived: Munich, Germany, & Las Cruces, New Mexico Occupation: Property Manager Pastimes: Volunteering, travel, weaving, barn quilt painting, reading, cooking, pickleball, anything outdoors Words to Live By: It's our job on this Earth to practice hope and kindness and live in service to others and the planet. One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I spent a summer as a tour guide in southern Germany including at Dachau, Berchtesgaden, and Neuschwanstein. |
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Stuart Kaplan
Member Since: 2010 Fellowship Positions Held: President (2021/22 & 2022/23), At-Large Member served on the Board (2020/21) Birthplace: Seattle Washington Family: Two children and one grandchild Occupation: Chiropractor Other Places Stuart Has Lived: New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Korea, Hawaii, Georgia Hobbies: Meditation, yoga and exploration of consciousness. Researching and writing about 18th century Europe as seen through the eyes of a black servant Favorite Quote: "I could be wrong” and "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans”"- John Lennon What would we be surprised to learn about you? I was certified to teach yoga by Swami SatChidAnanda in the house Carole King once lived in and had donated to him. I was a Military Policeman for four years. |
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Linda Larson
Boone UU Member Since 2009 Past Fellowship Roles: Program Committee member and Chair, Board Member Place of Birth: Corvallis, Oregon Other Places Linda Has Lived: Grand Forks, ND; Marietta, OH; Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Ithaca and New York City, NY; Missoula, MT, Indianapolis, IN Occupation: Retired singer, voice teacher, choir director Family: Husband Bill Pelto Pastimes: Hiking, reading, piano duets with Bill, travels Words to Live By: The climb is the fun part. - James Clear One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I grew up in a household in which pickle juice was the primary flavoring agent—that was as spicy as it got. |
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Wendy (Nicholson) Laumer
Boone UU Member Since 1992 Past Fellowship Roles: Boone UU President; Social Action Committee member Place of Birth: Tampa, Florida Other Places Wendy Has Lived: Lafayette, Indiana, throughout school - then Tucson, Az., Hawaii, Los Angeles, Ca, Nicaragua, Boone, NC, Mountain City, TN. Occupation: Retired Teacher and Media Specialist Family: My husband, Christopher Laumer, is fun and sweet and full of adventure! I have a wonderful son who is married to a fantastic lady. Between us, we have 4 kids and 3 granddaughters. We feel truly blessed! Pastimes: With 34 acres, I have many activities at home. I garden, cook, enjoy our dogs, raise chickens and ducks. I own my own chainsaw and help get firewood with my hubby. Chris loves nature & has taught me so much about gardening and raising animals. He is a bird man at heart! I volunteer and teach Silver Sneakers in our community. I enjoy reading and take part in a book club I love where we started watching lecture series instead of reading. I find both endeavors fun and enlightening. Favorite Quote: "Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." Grandma Moses One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I was a preemie at 2 pounds, 12 ounces. I was left legally blind in one eye. What you have never known, you don't miss! But I have always been a fighter! |
Wendy & her mother, who lived to the age of 99 1/2.
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Katie Mack
Member Since: 1987; left and returned in 2017 Fellowship Positions Held: President, Past President, Program Committee, Adult Education Birthplace: California Family: Katie has three daughters Other Places Katie Has Lived: Winchester, VA; Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mexico, Indiana Occupation: Speech Pathologist Hobbies: Music, dancing, gardening and volunteer work What is on your bucket list: Seeking new adventures What would we be surprised to learn about you? I am shy |
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Rebecca Moore
Member Since: 2009 Fellowship Roles, Present & Past: Chair & Member of Social Action Committee, Member of Building & Grounds Committee, Board President Place of Birth: Elizabeth City, NC Current Occupation: Retired Other Places Rebecca Has Lived: Fayetteville, Hillsborough, Laurinburg, Winston-Salem, Rockingham, Durham, and Washington, DC Pastimes: Reading, gardening, cooking, volunteering with Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, yoga and general puttering around. Favorite Catchphrase: So many books, so little time! What is one thing we would be surprised to learn about you?: I have an extensive collection of found object sculpture. |
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Roland F. Moy
Member since: 1998 Fellowship Roles You Have Held: Board Trustee, Treasurer Place of Birth: Wisconsin Other Places Roy Has Lived: Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee Current Occupation: Retired from App State Family: Spouse Barbara; Children: Rhonda Lynn, Rhonda Jean, Sherry, and Randall Pastimes: Singing, Organizing singing events, household projects, writing about current issues Words to Live By: Lift your heart with a song One thing we would be surprised to learn about Roy: Ten years of open road racing up to180 mph. |
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Bill Pelto
Member Since: 2009 Fellowship Positions Held: President, Board Member, Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, Sub Pianist, Treasurer Birthplace: Seattle Washington Family: Spouse Linda Larson Occupation: Executive Director of the College Music Society (now retired- congrats, Bill) Other Places Bill Has Lived: Seattle, Washington (WA); Pullman, WA; Corvallis, Oregon; Juneau, Alaska; New Haven, Connecticut; San Francisco, California, Austin, Texas; Ithaca, New York; Missoula, Montana Hobbies: Hiking, Skiing, Ukulele, Urban Horticulture, Spanish Favorite Quote: "Everybody is ignorant, just on different subjects"- Will Rogers What would we be surprised to learn about you? My grandmother was born to an unwed mother. My great uncle served time in prison for murdering his wife. When my grandparents met, my grandmother had an assumed name. |
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Suzanne Paszkowski
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Phoebe Ann Pollitt
Boone UU Member since 1982; born & raised UU Positions Held at Boone UU: Board member and secretary numerous times, Chair and member of various committees such as Membership, Social Action, Caring and probably others. Place of Birth: Washington, DC - I lived there my first 3 months. Other Places Phoebe Has Lived: Chapel Hill, NC for 33 years and then in Boone the last 43 years. Current Occupation: Public Health Nurse, Nurse Historian, Nursing Faculty at CCCTI & App State Phoebe’s family includes: Bruce Ball, husband; Doug Paletta, son; Betty Tung, daughter-in-law; Oscar and Winston Paletta, grandsons; Andrew and Whitley Paletta, son and daughter-in-law; Olivia and Megan Paletta, granddaughters. Pastimes: Swimming, sewing, kayaking, reading. Words to Live By: “Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole.” One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I was arrested at the White House protesting the Viet Nam war, with the Berrigan brothers. |
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Member Profile: Ree Strawser
New Boone UU Member as of last month! Place of Birth: Brattleboro, Vermont Other Places Ree Has Lived: Miami & Orlando, FL Current Occupation: Meeting Planner Ree’s family includes: T. A. Strawser, spouse; Tracee Page, daughter Pastimes: Photographer and writer Words to Live By: "Persistence. . . Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: I am part Mohawk native American of the Iroquois Nation |
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Richard Tidyman
Member Since: A member or friend since 1985 Fellowship Positions Held: Currently on Building and Grounds as well as President- Elect Birthplace: Cleveland, OH Family: My daughter Hannah and three grandchildren Occupation: Retired middle school shop teacher Other Places I Have Lived: Lakewood, OH, Morristown, TN Hobbies: Officiating weddings, a little bit of handyman work, some babysitting Favorite Quote: "People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care.” - Theodore Roosevelt What would we be surprised to learn about you? I was painfully shy the first 18 years of my life. |
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Member Profile: Mike Walker
Member Since 2017 Past Fellowship Roles: R.E. teacher, O.W.L. teacher, Board Member At Large Place of Birth: United States Other Places Mike Has Lived: Charlotte, NC, and suburbs of Washington DC Occupation: Software Engineer Family: Mary, Spouse of 18 years, Kids: Killian (13 years old), Mick (11) Pastimes: Making things! (i.e. cooking, building tiny homes, sewing, software) Words to Live By: Be kind. Fight for what is right. One thing we would be surprised to learn about you: After I dropped out of college (as a computer science major), the same college offered me a full-time job as a software engineer. |
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"Deb" Casaccia Witherow
Member Since: 2019 Previous Fellowship Role: Treasurer. Place of Birth: Martinsville VA. Other Places Deb Has Lived: Savannah, GA; Northern VA (DC suburbs); Garmisch, Germany; East Lansing, MI; Orange Co, CA; Bay Area, CA; Sacramento, CA; Kanab, Utah; Aiken, SC; Asheville, NC; Linville Land Harbor, Avery County, NC. Current Occupation: Massage therapist; Owner of Zenergy Massage Therapy. Family: Brian Ludwig, life partner; Tabitha, Dog; Abigail, Kitty. Pastimes: Walking and Hiking, spending time with family, watching TV, listening to music, using her iPad to connect with friends and organize her home and business. Words to Live By: "Relax the Body, Calm the Mind," and "Everything happens for a reason." One thing that we would be surprised to learn about you: I have a 1 year old granddaughter, Montgomery "Monty " Lou. |
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