Meet Our Board of Trustees

What does the UUSM Board of Trustees do?

Dan Hotchkiss, a UU minister an expert on governance, describes the governance of a congregation as consisting of:

A Board that articulates mission and vision, evaluates results, and ensures responsible stewardship of resources.
Ministry leaders, paid and unpaid, who create effective programs with the support of a structure that delegates authority and requires accountability.
Members and others who enjoy many opportunities to learn and grow and serve in an atmosphere of trust and creativity where structure, goals, and purposes are clear.

Why are the Board photos out of date and poorly lit?

If you think herding cats is difficult, try UUSM board members. Thankfully we're better at governing than posing for pics.

Would you like to join us for the next board term? Reach out to any board member. You will learn a lot, build relationships, develop your leadership skills and get to know your congregation from the inside out. It's a rewarding--and challenging--job. We welcome newcomers to the congregation and those whose faces we know well but who haven't served before. You bring diversity of thought and new energy to the longer-serving, experienced Board members.

Board meetings are typically the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. Check your Friday bulletin or click here for details. Meetings are by Zoom and open to all friends and members; however, only Board members may vote.

David Kramer, President

David Kramer has been a member of UUSM since 2019. He served on the board last as a Trustee for two years prior to becoming President. He has been a key leader on the Exploring Campus Options and Phase 1 Construction Task Forces, and the COVID Task Force, and as a mentor for Coming of Age. David recently launched UUSM's Open-Mic Night to much acclaim. Having retired recently from a career as a construction executive, David remains a Planning Commissioner for the city of Belmont. David is married and has two sons. For fun, he plays bass in a garage band, and podcasts light-hearted advice with his college roommate.

Portrait Betsy Blosser portrait_edited.jpg

Betsy Blosser, Vice President

Betsy Blosser has been a member of UUSM since 1989, and her sons, Ben and Brendan, grew up in the congregation. Betsy recently retired from San Francisco State University, where she was a professor in the Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts Department. What she misses about work are the annual international service trips with students to the Global South to make videos for NGOs. In retirement, she continues to travel and to pursue her fiber arts hobbies. It’s been 20 years since she last served on the board. She is looking forward to this opportunity to serve.

Joe DeFelice, Treasurer

Joe DeFelice has been a member of UUSM since 2004. He currently serves on the finance committee, and in the past has also helped with religious education at times. His daughter, Dominique, lives in Salt Lake City and he’s grateful that she had the opportunity to grow up with UUSM as a strong influence. He currently works as the controller for a Bay Area transportation company and lives in San Mateo.

Shaun Collins, Secretary

Shaun Collins is a Bay Area native who was brought up in the Catholic tradition and has been affiliated with the UU church for over 25 years. He is married with two children, Mikey and Matthew, and sings in the UUSM Choir along with his wife, Karyn. He is a musician who plays both trumpet and guitar. He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, jogging, and biking. Shaun retired from a long career in project management at HP and then at PG&E. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds an MBA from SFSU. He also holds a single subjects teaching credential in Social Studies and Business, and has also taught courses at the Junior College level. He looks forward to serving on the Board again and being an active part of the life of this community.

Conrad Carlen, Trustee

Conrad started his church life at a Unitarian church in Southwestern VA. Though it was the early 70s, there was no mention of UU. News of unification comes slowly to some parts of the South. After his parents separated, his mother brought the kids to an Episcopal church. He graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in Sculpture. He met his wife Hildur in NYC in the 90s. Eventually, they found themselves in the Bay Area, and began attending UUSM with their daughters, Tekla and Astrid. Conrad and Hildur became members in 2010.

John Farrow, Trustee

John has been a member for ten years or so and has been more active in the past couple of years. In his other life, he practices environmental and land use law, representing citizens' groups advocating affordable housing, preservation of agricultural land and open space land, and sustainable groundwater management. Although he still regrets it, his family is grateful that he abandoned the saxophone in the eighth grade.

Kelly Fayaud, Trustee

Kelly has been coming to UUSM since 2022 and became a member in 2023. While relatively new to the UU community, she has found it to be a rewarding experience. She has been on the Connections team and is a member of the book club. Her daughter Sedona attends R/E and she has been involved with that program as well. Kelly has worked in the insurance industry for over 35 years. She has served on the board and audit committee of Hospitality House in San Francisco. She has a degree in economics from Fordham University and a master’s in psychology from Golden Gate University. She hopes someday to transition into therapeutic work. Kelly enjoys cooking, especially for friends, and traveling.

Becky Howland, President Ex-Officio

Becky Howland serves as President Ex-Officio on this year’s board, after having completed two one-year terms as POBOT. Over her 17 years at UUSM, she has been a choir member, chair of a music director search committee, newsletter editor, and co-founder of the All Together Now auction with Tricia Dell. She currently serves on the Benefits and Compensation Committee, the Exploring Campus Options and Phase 2 Construction Task Forces, and the Transition Team. Becky has recently retired from a career in Silicon Valley, where she worked in product management, corporate marketing, patent analysis, international mergers and acquisitions, and technical communications. She looks forward to helping the new leadership team find as much reward in serving the UUSM community as she did.

Gabby Hartman, Trustee

Gabby became a member of UUSM in 2023 and is on the Connections team. She has been working as a school psychologist in Redwood City for 5 years. She enjoys going on walks to her favorite bakery with her dog, Oliver, spending time with her family and friends in San Diego and Portland, reading for her book club, and traveling to new places.

Colaine L.A. Roepke, Trustee

Colaine L.A. Roepke, Trustee, has been attending UU San Mateo with her family since 2004. Her daughters had their inner spirit nurtured while attending RE regularly during their childhood. During that time, Colaine found a lot of joy in the religious exploration program, teaching a variety of ages over the years and actively participating in the RE Council. During the pandemic, she was part of a caring team that helped navigate the transition from fully-Zoom worship services to our current hybrid services. Colaine served on the UUSM board during 2021‒2023.