Candidates for LWML National Offices

CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

Vivian Ernst, Ida Grove, IA (Iowa District West) is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant and serves on the Program Helps Coordinator Task Force; was past Iowa District West President and member of LWML Board of Directors, Christian Resources Editors Chairman and Christian Resources Editor Committee member; served as Lutheran Woman's Quarterly Christian Living Editor; was district News Editor, Parliamentarian, Public Relations Chairman; was zone Secretary, Treasurer, Mission Service Chairman and Reception Committee Co-Chairman; is serving as member-at-large of Iowa West District-LCMS Board of Directors; was a Sunday School teacher, LYF counselor, choir member, VBS crafts/teacher/co-superintendent, Orphan Grain Train sorting/loading assistant, auxiliary member of the Morningside Rehab and Care Center and past Member and Corresponding Secretary of Horn Memorial Hospital. Vivian graduated from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, is a R.N. in staff development and volunteers with Orphan Grain Train.

Faith Richardson, Steeleville, IL (Southern Illinois District) serves on the Nominating Committee; was Southern Illinois District President and member of LWML Board of Directors, HOPE and Convention Site Committee member; was district Chairman of Public Relations, Structure and Travel Committees; was zone President, Vice President, and Chairman of Public Relations and Structure Committees; has written feature articles and Bible Studies for the Lutheran Woman's Quarterly; serves on the Southern Illinois District Task Force ­ Partnership with Southern Africa, a contemporary worship team; was a Sunday School teacher, VBS director, Youth Group director, organist/pianist, church council member and Assimilation Committee chairman; is local Thrivent Board of Directors Treasurer, was Community Chorus drama group performer and Randolph County Council member. Faith is active as a 4-H leader, host in the foreign exchange program and is executive secretary to a local Lutheran high school.

CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATION

Sandra Hardies, Canadian Lakes, MI (Michigan District) is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant, past Michigan District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; served as Leader Development Chairman, Transportation Task Force Chairman and on LWML Assessment/Evaluation Task Force; was district First Vice President, Convention Co-Chairman, Meeting Manager; was zone Mission Service Chairman, Christian Growth Chairman and President; is active in International Student Ministries; participated in MOST Ministries teams to India and Panama and served as team captain for two district LWML teams to Nicaragua; serves on Board of Regents for Concordia University, Ann Arbor; is a retreat and Bible study leader, sings in the choir and serves on church council, Visioning Committee, Public Relations Committee. Sandy has a B.S. degree from Concordia University, Seward and is a professional volunteer.

Julia Riess, Vancouver, WA (Oregon District) is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant, Parliamentarian, member of the Structure Committee, past Oregon District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; was district Vice President Mission Education, Public Relations Director, Convention Chairman; was zone Christian Growth Chairman and ESP facilitator; is Tri-District 2006 Convention Chairman; was on the National Community Relations Committee of Valparaiso University Guild and serves as Chapter President; has served on the church council, Nominating Committee and Board for Community Relations; worked with the Northwest LCMS on "Tracking the Spirit"; participated in a mission team to Guatemala and in Portland's "Race for the Cure." Julia has a B.A. degree from Valparaiso University, is currently employed by and has been chief purser and flight attendant for two major airlines.

CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF GOSPEL OUTREACH

Janis McDaniels, Greensboro, NC (Carolinas District) is the Chairman of the Nominating Committee, a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant, past Carolinas District President and member of LWML Board of Directors as Gospel Outreach Chairman, Mission Projects Committee, Bridging Cultures and Assembly of Leaders Task Forces; was district Vice President for Mission Inspiration and Christian Growth Chairman; was zone President, Vice President Mission Inspiration and Archivist; has served on Southeastern District Youth Ministry Council, Atlantic District Board of Directors and as Community Life Builder at the National Youth Gathering; has served several congregations as Secretary, Treasurer, Campus Ministry Board Chairman, Board of Social Concern, Worship Board, VBS music teacher, Sunday school teacher, choir director and organist; was Lutheran school teacher/assistant and fine jewelry specialist. Janis is a University of Nebraska­Omaha graduate, a homemaker and active in community service.

Melody Rosenwinkel, Idaho Falls, ID (Utah-Idaho District) is Chairman of the Mission Advocacy and Grants Committee and member of the LWML Board of Directors; has served on Mission Advocacy and Grants and Mission Projects Committees; is district Women's Conference Chairman and was Vice President for Mission Projects and Retreat Chairman; has served as zone President, Christian Growth Chairman and Retreat Chairman; has written for the Lutheran Woman's Quarterly; has served her congregation as member of Fellowship, Call and Day School Committees, youth worker, women's Bible study leader, and choir member; has served as Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator, BSF International Leadership and Retreat Chairman; has remodeled rooms for the Homeless Shelter and Pregnancy Crisis Center, and organized Birthright Ingatherings. Melody attended Eastern Idaho Vocational College and is office manager for her husband's cabinet shop.

CANDIDATES FOR RECORDING SECRETARY

Kay Kreklau, Drayton, ND (North Dakota District) is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant and member of Leader Development Committee, past North Dakota District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; was district Vice President and Mission Grants Chairman, Recording Secretary, Member Development Chairman and Rally Chairman; was zone Recording Secretary, ESP facilitator, Chairman for Christian Growth, Member Development, Bylaws and Nominating Committees; was Sunday school and VBS superintendent, Sunday school teacher and youth group leader, and member of Board of Education. Kay has a diploma from Aacker's Business College and North Dakota School of Banking and is currently Vice President of the Bank of Minto.

Kathi Romsa, Reseda, CA (Pacific Southwest District) is past Pacific Southwest District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; is district Planner and was Vice President for Mission Education and Convention Altar Chairman; is zone Vice President Mission Education/Event Coordinator and was zone President, Vice President Education and Secretary; member of the Board of Regents Concordia, Irvine; is organist and choir director, and was church secretary, VBS Co-Director/music, Sunday School teacher, Day Care Director, banner maker and event coordinator for a community concert; served meals at the Salvation Army. Kathi has a B.A. degree from Concordia, Seward, and teaches at a Lutheran elementary school.

CANDIDATES FOR PASTORAL COUNSELOR

The Reverend Carl Gnewuch, Birmingham, MI (Michigan District) is Associate Pastor of Our Shepherd, Birmingham, MI and a 1991 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; has served as district counselor for three years and zone counselor for three years; organized worship for the 2002 concurrent LWML/LLL district conventions in South Carolina; was Dean at the Carolinas district retreat; has served on the Mission Society Board that started People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO) and produced initial publications of The Minaret, POBLO's newsletter; served as an off-site instructor of church doctrine for Concordia Seminary and on the Michigan District Youth Board; led several youth volunteer trips for Handicamp at Walcamp; was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hand, Mobile Meals and Community Kitchen.

The Reverend Dennis Krueger, Mahwah, NJ (New Jersey District) is Pastor of Holy Cross, Mahwah, NJ and a 1986 graduate of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada and attended Pastoral Leadership Institute; has served as district counselor for six years in two different districts and zone counselor for two years; has served the New Jersey LCMS District as Congregational Council Chairman, Second Vice President and Editor; served as Ramapo College Protestant Chaplain, Atlantic District LLL Pastoral Advisor, and Community Life Builder and Servant Event Leader at the New Orleans Youth Gathering; was "Special Camp" Dean at Camp Pioneer (Eastern District) and went on mission service trip with college students to the Dominican Republic; served as school board chairman; is a volunteer fireman/EMT and chaplain.

CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Karen Avenson, Austin, TX (Texas District) is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant and has served on the Caring Ministry Committee; was district Vice President of Human Care and Chairman of Ad Hoc Committee on Planning; was zone and local President. She is a special education substitute teacher and volunteer bowling coach.

Betty Dietrich, Morton, IL (Central Illinois District) is past Central Illinois District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; has been district Vice President of Christian Life, Nominating Chairman, Retreat Chairman and Historian; was zone Vice President and local President. She is a community volunteer and part-time office manager at a pharmacy.

Donna Gruel, Westfield, MA (New England District) is past New England District President and member of LWML Board of Directors and has served on the Human Care Committee; was district Treasurer and Christian Growth Chairman; is society Book Review Coordinator. She has been Co-Chairman of LCMS-New England District conventions. She has taught in Lutheran and public schools and organizes family events at church.

Bonnie Hazen, Churubusco, IN (Indiana District) is past Indiana District President and member of LWML Board of Directors and has served on the Mission Service Committee; was district Vice President, Financial Secretary, Parliamentarian, Bylaws Chairman, Mission Service Chairman; was zone Vice President and local officer. She is a homemaker and past President of Concordia Theological Seminary Guild, Fort Wayne.

Leah Lehman, Tigerton, WI (North Wisconsin District) is past North Wisconsin District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; is a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant; was district Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Meeting Manager and Retreat Chairman; was zone and local President. She lives on a farm and writes a weekly column for a local newspaper.

Janell McKinstry, Piedmont, SD (South Dakota District) is past South Dakota District President and member of LWML Board of Directors and has served on Christian Outreach Committee; has been zone President, Vice President of Mission Service, Christian Leadership Trainer and local President in three different congregations. She is a homemaker and serves as banner chairman at church.

Ladell McWhirter, Kingsport, TN (Mid-South District) is past Mid-South District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; has been district Third Vice President, Christian Growth Chairman and convention Co-Chairman; was zone President, Christian Growth Chairman and local President. She is a retired teacher and financial officer of a Thrivent chapter.

Barbara Virus, Orange, CA (Pacific Southwest District) is past Pacific Southwest District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; is a member of the Mission Advocacy and Grants Committee; was district Corresponding Secretary, Planner and Member Development Chairman; was zone and local President. She is a property insurance underwriter and sings in the chancel choir.

Jo Young, Plentywood, MT (Montana District) is past Montana District President and member of LWML Board of Directors; was district Nominations/ Elections Chairman; was zone President and Vice President of two different zones, and local President. She has been a teacher's aide for remedial students and is a substitute organist.