We are pleased to announce that Laura McNaughton has been selected as Director of Regional Services – West.

Laura has been a member of Unitarian congregations for the past thirteen years, and has been a professional Director of Religious Education (DRE) for nearly six years, first as the Director of Religious Education for the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon and currently she is serving as the DRE for the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church in Edmonds, Washington.

Laura says, “I believe that Unitarian Universalism is a transformative faith and that our communities are the best vehicles for that transformation. Within UU communities, individuals have space and time to search and grow. Within our congregations, people learn to live in right relations with one another. Within our communities, members have opportunities to reach out to the larger world to deliver healing and hope.”

The search committee comprising myself as Executive Director, Keith Wilkinson as a BC Regional Network Group member and Karen Mills for the Western Regional Network Group, were impressed with Laura’s thoughtfulness, clarity and commitment—as well as evidence of a healthy sense of humour. Laura’s references were exemplary: mentioning in particular, her professionalism; thoroughness and respect for people of all ages and stages.

The two other CUC directors, Linda Thomson and Sylvia Bass West and myself held an extensive interview with Laura and included Financial Administrator, Philip Strapp, for a half-hour. We all concluded that Laura will fit well into the CUC staff team and culture.

Laura will begin work full-time August 1, 2007, working from Saskatoon, where she will be moving to at the end of June.