Humanism can be said to pre-date all religions because it is simply the attitudes and ethos that arise in all of us, naturally. We humanists do not need the supernatural or any deity to add meaning to our lives. Our task is as the ancient … read more.
Spotlight on our Speakers
Our Resident Minister, Rev. Diane Diachishin graduated and was ordained by All Faiths Seminary in NYC in 2022 . She taught music for 30+ years in private and public school systems. She has been an active member of the UUCRT for 25 years, wearing many hats. Diane has been Chair of Pastoral Care, served as VP and Secretary to the Board, and Chair of Sunday Service Ministry. Shen facilitated the study and practice of Compassionate Communication for several years, and currently facilitates the monthly Soul Matters group. Diane considers herself a life- long Unitarian. From the age of four, summer vacations were spent with her family and her Star Island community, at an ongoing retreat for UU’s of all ages, which still continues to be a source of renewal and inspiration for her. Diane is passionate about her family, playing music, hiking, and travel.
Nora Gallardo “Colado,” is the granddaughter of Cubans. A retired nursing vocational ed. teacher, she began writing articles to complain. Writing articles, letters, and opinion pieces in newspapers led to her taking journalism, photojournalism, and creative writing classes.
Colado’s writing or photos have appeared in: The Caribbean Writer (Volume 34), Poughkeepsie Journal, Bard College La Voz, Brooklyn “Caribbean Life,” and the Beacon Sloop Club “Broadside”, where she wrote a monthly column on environmental related issues affecting the Hudson Valley. She has published one novel “Marti and Anna: Out of Cuba.” Her second novel entitled, “Writing the Metro North,” was completed in 2023.She lives with her husband, and cat in the Hudson Valley.
Rose O’Neill has been a member since 2019 and is active in the Sunday Services Ministry. She also helps with the hiking group and always attends zoom happy hour on Fridays at 5 pm.
Bill Domanico is a past President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees. He has been a member of our congregation since 2008. He assisted in our food program and is on the Sunday Services Ministry. He occasionally enjoys giving a more lighthearted service on a Sunday.
Mike Landrum. For those newcomers who may not know me – I am a Missouri Boy who disobeyed his father’s orders and ran off to join the circus. Shakespeare in Repertory, called back from Canada to fight in Vietnam, came to NYC, acted on Stage and TV, finally became a father at 51, became a corporate trainer, speechwriter, Adjunct Professor. Joined this congregation in 1994, been trying to help since then. Partnered with Etty Decker in 2017.
Dr. Charles S. Isaacs has been a schoolteacher, a college professor, a community organizer, a Congressional consultant, a social activist, a gambler and an occasional journalist. He has written opinion columns and feature stories for numerous newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times Magazine. During
recent decades, he has been a consultant to dozens of non-profit organizations operating in the social justice arena. His recently published work includes
fiction, poetry and award-winning non-fiction.
Marcia Westra is a fairly new UU member. She comes from the Protestant tradition of the (Dutch) Reformed Church in America. She came out East after college and has remained here ever since, preferring the diversity of the East vs the homogeneity of where she grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a clinical social worker in private practice.
Bill Glass is a retired businessman/scientist, who traveled the world on business,
lived overseas, and developed three patentable products for which he received royalties. Bill was a captain and squadron cmdr. in the USAF and also served in the Army, where he was a sergeant in the artillery, actually on a 155mm Howitzer. The same weapon we have sent to Ukraine. He briefly taught physics and advanced science at a high school in MS. Bill competed in his last triathlon when he was 60.
Rev. Beth Dana, Minister of Faith Development at First Unitarian Church, Dallas TX is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, raised in Albany, NY. She received a B.A. in Religious Studies and Metropolitan Studies from New York University in 2008. She studied abroad in Ghana, and took two years off from undergrad to serve the
Unitarian Universalist Association. She earned her Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York in 2012. She now lives in east Dallas with her wife Erin and their twins Ellery and MD.
