Our Governance

Diane Gibbons first joined BUUF's Board of Trustees in July, 2019. Diane is retired with four adult children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She first attended a UU church when she lived in Illinois. "I enjoyed the people and spiritual freedom I found with the UU faith." A few years after moving to Southwest Michigan, Diane discovered and joined BUUF. She is a member of BUUF's Green Sanctuary Team and enjoys volunteering in the Children's Garden and at the Soup Kitchen. Her passion for Ethical Eating is a way to encourage people to live many of BUUF's values. Diane travels frequently and loves to collect seeds and rocks wherever she goes for use in her home garden and at BUUF.

Joan has been a UU for many years but this is her first time on such a board. With 50 years of family ancestry in the State of Michigan, Joan also hails from Illinois, Minnesota and Washington DC. She retired from federal civil service in 2016, having worked for the large land and resource management agencies such as National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Major projects included the reintroduction of migrating whooping cranes into the eastern U.S. (and other endangered species), seeking to manage the over-population of free-roaming horses and burros on western rangelands, de-listing the American Bald Eagle and diving for WWII barrels in Lake Superior! She led movement, breath and spiritual-practice workshops and retreats through her Gorgeous Spirit NGO for ten years; and spends her free time kayaking, hiking, reading, many dance traditions and political activism.

Boat builder, paddler, mechanical engineer, retired HVAC technician, and son of BUUF founders, Marv and Kate Fuller. Jim previously served BUUF as Endowment Chair and Bookkeeper. His goal for Treasurer is to create efficient, sustainable systems for managing and communicating BUUF's financial status.

Roger Brewin became a UU minister in 1977 and is currently retired from active ministry, after serving nine UU congregations. He is Minister Emeritus of First Unitarian Church of Hobart, IN. Roger is a long-time board member of HUUmanists and is editor of their journal, "Religious Humanism".

Nico has been a member of BUUF since 2016. He has previously served on BUUF’s Nominating Committee. He has also assisted with technology during Sunday services and other events and is one of BUUF’s OWL trainers. Nico is a video editor at Big Foot Media of Chicago. He lives in Bridgman with his wife Katharine Lion and their son Oliver, who participates in our RE program. Nico originally hails from Bogota, Colombia and attended Universidad de Los Andes.

Joanne has been a devoted member of BUUF since 2001.  She has served as a volunteer Religious Education teacher, Interim Director of Religious Education, and worked as BUUF's Office Administrator from 2016-2022.

Liz is a long time UU and became a member of BUUF in 2021.  She lives in St. Joseph with her husband Mike.  Together they were active in the Evanston, IL, UU congregation for many years.

Harvey has been a member of BUUF since 2001.  He lives in St. Joseph and works as an Industrial Hygiene consultant with Michigan OSHA.  He is married and has three lovely and brilliant daughters and one grandson.  He co-leads the Green Sanctuary team to make BUUF good stewards of the earth.

Joanne has been a devoted member of BUUF since 2001.  She has served as a volunteer Religious Education teacher, Interim Director of Religious Education, and worked as BUUF's Office Administrator from 2016-2022.

Gloria has been a member of BUUF for more than 30 years.  She achieved centenarian status March 2, 2022.  Gloria has served BUUF in many capacities over the years and remains a very active member of the congregation.