Nominating Committee
Report to FCUCC Board
January 6, 2025
Nominating Committee
Report to FCUCC Board
January 6, 2025
Due to Hurricane Helene, the Nominating Committee was not formed until early December 2024. The Committee, consisting of Eric Lyons, Alice Martin-Adkins, and Deb Morris, was convened by Chris Cain, Moderator, on behalf of the Board, to provide instructions and to clarify future needs of the Board. Three Board positions expiring at the end of 2024 were held by Carol Austin-Janssen, Chris Cain, and Joanne Roudebush, who completed their three-year terms. Chris was eligible for a second term but declined nomination.
Based on input from the Moderator, it was desired the Committee provide a slate of nominees from which the congregation would elect three Board members for a three-year term (2025-2027), one of whom would serve as liaison to the Personnel Committee; and separately, a nominee for appointment to the Building and Grounds Committee (also a three-year term).
This year’s election will take place at the January 19, 2025 Annual Meeting. Nominations may still be made from the floor, provided permission has been received from the person being nominated and their biographical statement prepared.
During December, the Committee solicited nominations from the congregation. The Committee reviewed the membership roll, considered nominating guidelines, including congregational diversity, and determined present skills needed on the Board. The Board “Covenants” were shared with all candidates for their review and acceptance as part of their nomination.
By January 5, four candidates accepted nomination for election to the Board and one candidate for appointment by the Board. Since no further nominations were made, the Committee recommends the following nominees with their biographical statements:
3-Year Term (2025-2027)
Faith Cook
My history with FCUCC:
I’ve been attending FCUCC since 2018. The first day I attended stands out in my mind, because it was my birthday. I felt such a warm, welcoming presence that I returned week after week. I quickly became involved in aspects of worship, such as dance circle and changing the paraments, as well as two Church Teams, WISE and Racial Justice. COVID made my involvement more challenging, since I needed to remain isolated for the first two years in order to protect my health. So, I remained as active as I could via Zoom meetings, Faith Formation, Wednesday prayer time, and various meetings. I officially became a member of the Church in either 2020 or 2021 in a Zoom meeting ceremony (time is pretty fuzzy during those years), but I remember being so excited to join.
My leadership history:
I’ve been asked to share my background in leadership. First I want everyone to know that I rarely seek out leadership roles, because I’m introverted. I respond to requests for my skills, and appreciate when I can contribute to community in a meaningful way. Within FCUCC, someone nominated me to the Transition or Search Team, and so I offered my time and heart in the Search Process. I’m so thankful for the Search Team members and our work together.
Outside of FCUCC, I was a clinical and administrative supervisor in the Mental Health Department of the NC Prisons for five years, with four of those years as Psychological Program Manager, meaning that I oversaw the provision of mental health services at several prisons. I was a Board member for the Western North Carolina Psychological Association (WNCPA) for three years (and yes, a WNCPA Board member asked me to serve on that Board).
My Secret Santa nominated me for the Board of FCUCC. (Thank you whoever you are.) I was surprised and honored when I received the phone call to tell me of my nomination. If the Congregation selects me to represent their interests on the Board, I will do so knowing that it is an important duty to be true to everyone’s hopes and dreams for our future. Thank you!
I’ve been attending FCUCC since 2018. The first day I attended stands out in my mind, because it was my birthday. I felt such a warm, welcoming presence that I returned week after week. I quickly became involved in aspects of worship, such as dance circle and changing the paraments, as well as two Church Teams, WISE and Racial Justice. COVID made my involvement more challenging, since I needed to remain isolated for the first two years in order to protect my health. So, I remained as active as I could via Zoom meetings, Faith Formation, Wednesday prayer time, and various meetings. I officially became a member of the Church in either 2020 or 2021 in a Zoom meeting ceremony (time is pretty fuzzy during those years), but I remember being so excited to join.
My leadership history:
I’ve been asked to share my background in leadership. First I want everyone to know that I rarely seek out leadership roles, because I’m introverted. I respond to requests for my skills, and appreciate when I can contribute to community in a meaningful way. Within FCUCC, someone nominated me to the Transition or Search Team, and so I offered my time and heart in the Search Process. I’m so thankful for the Search Team members and our work together.
Outside of FCUCC, I was a clinical and administrative supervisor in the Mental Health Department of the NC Prisons for five years, with four of those years as Psychological Program Manager, meaning that I oversaw the provision of mental health services at several prisons. I was a Board member for the Western North Carolina Psychological Association (WNCPA) for three years (and yes, a WNCPA Board member asked me to serve on that Board).
My Secret Santa nominated me for the Board of FCUCC. (Thank you whoever you are.) I was surprised and honored when I received the phone call to tell me of my nomination. If the Congregation selects me to represent their interests on the Board, I will do so knowing that it is an important duty to be true to everyone’s hopes and dreams for our future. Thank you!
Mark Palinski
Mark Palinski, the Programs Director for Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, leads and oversees innovative programs that empower individuals to reclaim their lives through recovery and peer support. With a deep passion for bridging the gap between recovery and harm reduction, Mark is a recognized leader in fostering collaboration between these overlapping yet often siloed communities.
Drawing on his extensive experience in grassroots advocacy, program development, and community engagement, Mark has spearheaded initiatives that address systemic barriers to care. His work emphasizes dignity, compassion, and evidence-based solutions. Mark’s commitment to inclusivity reflects his belief that everyone deserves access to pathways that meet them where they are.
Mark’s ability to facilitate meaningful conversations and build bridges between diverse stakeholders makes him a sought-after voice in the recovery and harm reduction spaces. Whether leading panels, developing transformative programs, or working directly with peers, Mark’s leadership continues to inspire progress and unity in addressing substance use and mental health challenges.
Drawing on his extensive experience in grassroots advocacy, program development, and community engagement, Mark has spearheaded initiatives that address systemic barriers to care. His work emphasizes dignity, compassion, and evidence-based solutions. Mark’s commitment to inclusivity reflects his belief that everyone deserves access to pathways that meet them where they are.
Mark’s ability to facilitate meaningful conversations and build bridges between diverse stakeholders makes him a sought-after voice in the recovery and harm reduction spaces. Whether leading panels, developing transformative programs, or working directly with peers, Mark’s leadership continues to inspire progress and unity in addressing substance use and mental health challenges.
Margaret Perkins
I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC and in the United Church of Christ. My husband and I moved to Asheville in 2014 and began attending First Congregational in 2015. We became members in April 2015. Having grown up in the UCC, it feels like home to be part of this church community.
After working twenty-two years for a Fortune 500 company, I chose to become an at-home parent to our daughter, who also lives in Asheville with her family. Over the next twenty years, I served on the Board of a local non-profit and was involved in many outreach programs associated with the organization. I enjoy reading, travel, working puzzles and getting together with friends.
I have been fortunate to serve FCUCC as a deacon, a member of the Personnel Committee, a member of the Benevolence Team and a member of the Oak Street Ringers. I also volunteer at the Swannanoa Correction Center for Women who we support via the Benevolence Team. Due to my involvement in various areas of the church, I’m interested in becoming a board member to help the church meet its goals and vision.
After working twenty-two years for a Fortune 500 company, I chose to become an at-home parent to our daughter, who also lives in Asheville with her family. Over the next twenty years, I served on the Board of a local non-profit and was involved in many outreach programs associated with the organization. I enjoy reading, travel, working puzzles and getting together with friends.
I have been fortunate to serve FCUCC as a deacon, a member of the Personnel Committee, a member of the Benevolence Team and a member of the Oak Street Ringers. I also volunteer at the Swannanoa Correction Center for Women who we support via the Benevolence Team. Due to my involvement in various areas of the church, I’m interested in becoming a board member to help the church meet its goals and vision.
Jake Snider
Jake Snider has been a member of FCUCC since 2017 and has been attending our church since 2015. Many of you know Jake by his 5 kids--his older kids are Gavin, Alexis, and Piper; and Jake’s younger kids are Finley and Opal. Jake is married to Rachel Snider, and they often attend church with their kids.
Jake is the senior partner at Asheville Legal, a small local law firm, where Jake practices commercial litigation and business law. Jake is well acquainted with the laws surrounding non-profits, employment-employee relationships, and legal contracts, and Jake believes that his legal acumen could be a tremendous asset to FCUCC. Jake also served on FCUCC’s search committee some years ago, when he helped our church to select Kimberly Buchanan as our senior pastor.
Jake loves music and the great outdoors--he plays guitar and writes his own songs, and is an avid whitewater kayaker. He hopes you will accept his candidacy to serve on the FCUCC Board, and appreciates this opportunity to give back to God and our church community.
Jake is the senior partner at Asheville Legal, a small local law firm, where Jake practices commercial litigation and business law. Jake is well acquainted with the laws surrounding non-profits, employment-employee relationships, and legal contracts, and Jake believes that his legal acumen could be a tremendous asset to FCUCC. Jake also served on FCUCC’s search committee some years ago, when he helped our church to select Kimberly Buchanan as our senior pastor.
Jake loves music and the great outdoors--he plays guitar and writes his own songs, and is an avid whitewater kayaker. He hopes you will accept his candidacy to serve on the FCUCC Board, and appreciates this opportunity to give back to God and our church community.
Candidate for Appointment to Building & Grounds Committee (2025-2027)
Donna Nelson
I joined FCUCC in 2021 and am currently a member of the Chancel Choir and the Earth Justice Team. I have been thinking of ways to increase my service to our church, but I am finishing up my nearly-full time classes at UNCA, majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Ecology, so I don’t feel qualified yet to take on Board-level activities. Instead, I am very interested in helping now on the Building and Grounds Committee.
I worked with Doug Williams this past summer, as he kindly oversaw my installation of several native garden areas in our existing church gardens in what turned out to be the hottest, driest, and most merciless Asheville summer on record. (I’m looking forward to improving and expanding them this spring!) I would love to help restart a church Gardening Team to help take some of the outside work off Doug as we face post-Helene repairs. During this past “interesting” fall semester at UNCA, I studied Agriculture (including non-industrial renewable ag) and Energy and Society (focusing on renewable energy sources and climate change.) I am also (very slowly) taking coursework in grant-writing from NonprofitReady.org, as I will probably be volunteering for environmental causes in the non-profit sector once I graduate.
As more general background, I live in West Asheville with my husband Barry and am mom to Kate Rasche (and husband Michael) and Nonna to the two Chaos Goblins, Martin and Luke, with two more adult kids living out of state. I am a Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener volunteer whose gardening motto is “If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning” (Catherine Aird, English crime novelist), and I sing with the Asheville Symphony Chorus and Symphony Chamber Chorus. And as of possible relevance, I have lived through three successful extensive home remodelings, the last two homes built in the 1920’s with horsehair plaster walls and gutted down to the studs, surviving with sense of humor and sanity (and marriage!) intact.
I worked with Doug Williams this past summer, as he kindly oversaw my installation of several native garden areas in our existing church gardens in what turned out to be the hottest, driest, and most merciless Asheville summer on record. (I’m looking forward to improving and expanding them this spring!) I would love to help restart a church Gardening Team to help take some of the outside work off Doug as we face post-Helene repairs. During this past “interesting” fall semester at UNCA, I studied Agriculture (including non-industrial renewable ag) and Energy and Society (focusing on renewable energy sources and climate change.) I am also (very slowly) taking coursework in grant-writing from NonprofitReady.org, as I will probably be volunteering for environmental causes in the non-profit sector once I graduate.
As more general background, I live in West Asheville with my husband Barry and am mom to Kate Rasche (and husband Michael) and Nonna to the two Chaos Goblins, Martin and Luke, with two more adult kids living out of state. I am a Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener volunteer whose gardening motto is “If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning” (Catherine Aird, English crime novelist), and I sing with the Asheville Symphony Chorus and Symphony Chamber Chorus. And as of possible relevance, I have lived through three successful extensive home remodelings, the last two homes built in the 1920’s with horsehair plaster walls and gutted down to the studs, surviving with sense of humor and sanity (and marriage!) intact.