Bettie Young, Co-Chair
 Bettie Young first came to Paint Branch in the early 1970s, looking for a religious affiliation that would be comfortable for her as a Reform Jew, and for her then-husband as a lapsed Presbyterian, while giving her two young children a religious identification. She became a member around 1974. Over the years she has attended Sunday services regularly; was a member of the Religious Education Committee (including serving as Chair), has sung in the choir for over 30 years, participated in planning and funding the new building, was involved in various other task forces and projects, and more recently joined the Personnel Committee. She chaired the Selection Committee for the new full-time Church Administrator. Bettie recently retired from a career in non-profit Human Resources. She believes that the selection of a new minister is vitally important to the future of Paint Branch. She applied for the Search Committee as a way to use her energy and abilities in this important quest, and to “give back” to the congregation for the many years when she was just a “Sunday services” member. She is honored to be able to contribute to this effort.
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 Michael Léger, Co-Chair
Michael Léger has been a Unitarian Universalist for much of his adult life without realizing it. He joined Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in March of 2003. Michael has been a member of the PBUUC choir and an occasional soloist for Sunday Services and other events. He is also a member of the PBUUC Men’s Fellowship. Finishing his third year as an active Worship Associate, Michael has agreed to continue in the capacity of Co-Chair for the Worship Associate Leadership Team (W.A.L.T), the purpose of which is to facilitate Worship Associate collaboration with PBUUC’s interim ministers and with the new settled minister.
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 John Bartoli
John Bartoli was raised, schooled, and disillusioned as a Catholic. The turbulent '60s and the Vietnam War sent him on a wild ride that did not include established religion for many years. Finally, on the recommendation of a friend, he came to Paint Branch in 1993 and has been here ever since. Over the years, he has chaired the Board of Trustees, edited the Branches newsletter, served as a Worship Associate, and co-founded our Men’s Fellowship. He also provides us with light-hearted skits, thought-provoking sketches, and gentle roasts for special services and events, even kicking up a heel or two with our own Chalice Dancers.
For John, Paint Branch is "a main source of spiritual comfort, intellectual stimulation, and soulful interaction with like-minded (and sometimes not so like-minded!) individuals." He hopes to use the talents he has learned here to help find our next ministerial leader(s). John works for the Federal Government and lives in College Park with his wife Penny, and their two cats, Sophie and Tucker.
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 Beth Lyons
Beth Lyons is the newest member on the search committee, having arrived at Paint Branch in January, 2007. She has, however, tried to hit the ground running, and in that short time has participated in DARTT, Denominational Affairs, two Women's Retreats, Sprituality Circle, and Choir. She has also just completed a year serving as an RE teacher for the amazing PB 4th and 5th graders (now, 5th and 6th graders, of course.) Additionally she and Barbara found affinity and common interest resulting an ARE workshop followed by a Sunday Service exploring the power of Masks and Maskmaking. Beth lives in Takoma Park, with her partner Sam, their two dogs, Indiana and Sweetie, and two cats, Billy and Molly.
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 Rene McDonald
Rene McDonald arrived at Paint Branch in 1976, and stayed because it was and is a good fit. Born Catholic, she found at Paint Branch the breathing space to form her own theology. She and her husband Frank share six grown children and 11 grandchildren. She spent her professional life as a writer and editor in the non-profit, academic, and private domains. At Paint Branch, she has been vice chair of the Board of Trustees, on the Religious Education committee, an RE teacher, on the Social Action Committee (her passion), where she is the point person for Universal Health Care. She chaired the 2004 50th Anniversary celebration. She enjoys cooking for the Ethnic Dinners and has chaired the Alternative Gifts market in December. She has attended various JPD workshops. Always concerned about global justice, she is a member of the UU UN Office force. She is grateful and excited to have a voice in selecting our new minister.
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 Muriel Morisey
Paint Branch has been a part of Muriel Morisey's life since late 2001 when she attended for the first time. Raised a Quaker, Muriel eventually searched for a religious community in harmony with her values where music was an integral part of worship services. The first time she sang "Spirit of Life" Muriel knew she was in a place where her deepest beliefs and her love of music could find expression together. Singing in the Paint Branch choir is Muriel's primary path to both spirituality and connection with members of the congregation. She also participates in other activities, including anti-racism efforts, the auction, and ethnic dinners. In the early 1980s Muriel was a member of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C. She enjoys sharing every aspect of Paint Branch with her husband, Peter Wathen-Dunn, a third generation UU. Muriel is a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her previous professional experiences include congressional staff member and civil rights lobbyist. As a member of the Ministerial Search Committee, Muriel welcomes the opportunity to serve Paint Branch by drawing on her extensive experience in leadership positions with nonprofit organizations
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 Marge Owens
Marge Owens joined Paint Branch in 1958, when the congregation still met in three temporary buildings on the University of Maryland campus. She taught sixth graders for a year, joined the Fellowship for Social Justice, as it was called then, and became chair of the FSJ for a year and a half. She served as chair of the Religious Education Committee for a term, then was R.E. Director for two years. She helped plan the R.E. Building, just before the Owens family moved to Ithaca, N.Y. They returned permanently two years later. Her three daughters were in R.E. classes and then the Youth Group. Marge served a short term on the Board of Trustees, and was on the church's 50th Anniversary committee. She has been liaison with the UU United Nations Office, and as UU Service Committee representative. Marge just ended a two year stretch as Social Action Committee Chair. She is very happy to be serving on this Search Committee and hopes to be able to help keep Paint Branch a vibrant organization. |
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 Tricia Most
For personal reasons, Tricia resigned from the committee. The MSC is grateful for her participation and many contributions. Tricia was instrumental in many of the MSC's early successes including the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop which set a UUA record for congregational attendance for a church our size.
A member of Paint Branch since 1988, Tricia Most has long valued the spiritual and religious exploration encouraged at Paint Branch. Having been raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, she was initially attracted to a variety of adult RE activities that explored the body, mind, and spirit connection. With a background in the health care industry and in Marriage and Family Therapy, She served as a youth advisor, an RE teacher, on the Budget Leadership Team, on the Nominations Committee, and chaired the Board of Trustees, the Religious Exploration Committee, and the Diversity/Anti-Racism Transformation Team. Over the years, she led 3 All Church Retreats, chaperoned 2 Boston Coming of Age trips, led Spirituality Circles, mentored youth, helped out with the Canvass, Ethnic Dinners, Buildings and Grounds efforts, warm nights, and holiday dinners. She has been involved in denominational affairs through her attendance at numerous JPD workshops, 2 JPD conferences, a General Assembly, the JPD Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Team meetings and racial justice conference planning team, and as liaison to the Baltimore Washington Area Growth Committee. Interested in ascertaining the needs and desires of the congregation in relation to new settled ministry, she is honored to be part of the Search Team.
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