2023-24 Board Candidates

We have a great slate of candidates to fill board positions this year. We will vote on new board members at the May 21st congregational meeting.

Vice-President: Martin Poteralski

My wife Erin and I were married in a UU church, and were members of a UU church in suburban Richmond, Virginia for several years while our two children were young. In 2017, when we moved to Georgia, we also found a new spiritual home at UUMAN.

Since joining UUMAN, I have been involved with a few different committees including the annual Auction committee and Stewardship. Our children have been growing and learning through programs such as RE and OWL.

We especially value the connections we have made at UUMAN, and our impact on the community in which we live. I hope to build upon the great work others have done before as a member of the Board.

Secretary: Laurie Wheeler

Like many people, my husband Mark and I began attending UUMAN when our children were young and we were looking for a spiritual home for our family. When I discovered Unitarian Universalism, I felt at home immediately, and jumped right in to the life of the congregation. Our two children grew up at UUMAN, attending RE and OWL classes, and are now young adults.

I have served in many roles at UUMAN, including chairing and participating in a variety of committees, serving on the board, teaching RE, singing in the choir, and directing the family choir.

Ours is a faith community that calls us to live our principles, and I am thankful to have found my spiritual home at UUMAN, where I am challenged, supported, and surrounded by this beloved community as I strive to grow and to live my faith.

Special Projects: Margriet van de Steeg

We became members of UUMAN in 2009 after moving from Canada. We are still very happy we found UUMAN to be able to connect with a liberal faith community. We loved seeing our four kids (Duco, Maud, Lara, and Troy) go through the UUMAN Religious Education and OWL programs. The UUMAN community and the programs have supported us in raising our kids to be (more) confident in who they are and what they stand for.

I have served on the Personnel Committee and Nomination Committee and look forward to being actively involved in the UUMAN Community and serving on the Board. Since leaving the corporate world in 2019, where I worked as CFO and HR Manager, I went “back to school,” graduated with an MSc in Financial Planning from UGA last August, and became an Accredited Financial Counselor. I am providing Financial Coaching and Counseling through my new company, Financial Clarity, and through non-profits.

If you are wondering where my accent comes from, I was born and raised in the Netherlands. With being Dutch comes directness, conscientiousness, and (some) stubbornness.