Meet the UUC Board
2009–2010

Officers of the Board

President Darla Bray has attended the UUC for about five years. At the UUC, she’s served as RE teacher and committee member, and belongs to Womenspirit, which deepens her connection and sense of responsibility to the earth and the web of life.  Retiring in 2001 from her position as a manager in sales and marketing in Indianapolis, IN, she arrived in the NRV with husband Richard in 2001.  An activist for reproductive rights, pay equity, environmental concerns and social justice, she also enjoys time with family, hiking, canoeing, sailing, traveling, reading, and crafts. 

Past Co-Presidents Carol and Jim Kern have been members of our congregation for ten years. They have a ten-year-old, Sarah, and a seven-year-old, Jason, in the R.E. program. Carol teaches Religious Education to 1st and 2nd graders this year. Jim sells SCRIP (our gift cards) and plays music occasionally. In their free time, they love to camp and spend time with family.

President-Elect Stephanie Gilmore retired (after 30 years in public health program and policy development in CA and MO) to be near her son and his family. She enjoys volunteer work with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; learning her way into this congregation; knitting socks and sweaters; and living in her co-housing community, Shadowlake Village.

Treasurer Di Ross is a life-long Unitarian who grew up in Virginia, spent most of her working life in San Antonio, returning during that time to get her doctorate at Virginia Tech.   Di teaches accounting at Concord University in Athens, WV. She’s delighted to once again live in Blacksburg.

Board members at large

Crosby Houston, a member of the congregation since 1993, was RE Coordinator and Co-President, each for three years. He retired from the Air Force, with all tours being in education and training.  He has also taught at NRCC.  Crosby has visited/lived in a number of different countries.

Dick Kates became a member of UUC in 2007.  He’s co-leader of a small UUC group discussing A Course in Miracles.  This upcoming school year will be his second as a middle school RE teacher.  Dick is retired. His main outside activity is volunteering in the community, including as coordinator for the NRV Agency on Aging's Residential Repair & Renovation Program.  

Scott Myers is a Class A  General Contractor , building 20+ schools, office buildings and car dealerships in Northern VA. He was the Owner's Rep. for the UUC's building expansion project.  Living in Newport on a 150 acre farm, he enjoys "escaping" to the big city to help with the various issues of maintaining the UUC's new building. He says he’s “a rare Conservative in a sea of liberal thoughts!”

Wayne Neu has been a member of this congregation for about 15 years.  He is an Associate Professor of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, concentrating in flow around ocean vehicles.  He and his wife, Susan, have one daughter, Adriane, who is an architecture student at Tech.

Ex Officio Board Members

Our Minister, Rev. Christine Brownlie, grew up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. She graduated from the New School for Social Research and worked as a medical social worker. In N.Y.C., she worked in a group that founded The Door, a multi-service agency for adolescents. From 1984-1997, she was Director of Religious Education for children and youth at First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Forth Worth, TX. In 1994, she entered Brite Divinity School (at TCU), where she received her M. Div. Degree in 1997. She interned in Tuscaloosa, AL and served as interim minister in nearby Montgomery, AL. Ten years ago, Chris became our beloved minister. Wherever she goes she works in a broad range of community activities and peace and social justice organizations. Chris has two adult sons, one in TX and another in CA.

Our Administrator, Lisa Evanylo, served as President of the Congregation in the early 90's and has been our Administrator since December 1994.  She has a BS in Medical Technology from UConn and an MS in Microbiology from UGA.  She and her husband, Greg, have lived in Blacksburg for 20 years and have two sons. When not working, she enjoys working out, reading, playing in a steel drum band, and being with friends.

Our Director of Religious Education, Kristine Ried: Originally from Minnesota, Kristine moved to Lancaster County, PA with her family when she was three. Following high school she spent a year as an exchange student, living on a farm in Denmark, and then came to Blacksburg to attend Virginia Tech. She graduated with honors from Tech's College of Human Resources in Management, Housing, & Family Development. Kristine worked in social services and as office manager for Reid Custom Builders, Inc., her husband's custom home building business. She is married to Richard Reid, a self-employed contractor and bicycling, and turtle enthusiast. They have a college age daughter, Erika, who is an active young adult in our congregation and can often be found in the UUC's nursery caring for the children. As a family, the Reids enjoy hosting international students through Virginia Tech's Cranwell International Center. They also maintain close ties with family and friends in Scandinavia.

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