Board Meetings
The River of Grass Board will be meeting on the 3rd Sunday at 3:00 every month through December. In October this will be October 16th via Zoom. The day and time will change beginning in January when our Sunday services begin at the Old Davie School in the afternoons.
Our meetings are open to members and friends. If you would like to attend our meeting as a visitor, contact Kathy Jens-Rochow at president@riverofgrassuu.org.
Our meetings are open to members and friends. If you would like to attend our meeting as a visitor, contact Kathy Jens-Rochow at president@riverofgrassuu.org.
River of Grass Board of Trustees
2022-2023
Kathy Jens-Rochow, President
Kathy has been a UU for over 25 years. She first discovered UU as a teenager, when her mother joined the Unitarian church in Hobart, IN. When she returned to the faith as an adult and parent, she realized that Unitarian Universalism was the way she thought the world should be. She was happy to find a religious home where she didn’t have to recite things she didn’t believe in in order to belong.
After moving to Florida, she joined the UU Church of Ft. Lauderdale (where she met and married her husband, Steve) and then ultimately moved to the River, finding not just a religious home, but an extended family of caring people who actively live the covenant of our faith.
Kathy has served in many roles at the River, as Treasurer, Worship Chair, Membership Co-chair, Annual Prosperity Drive/Capital Campaign Co-chair, member of SSJGT (Service and Social Justice Green Team) and the Welcoming Congregation Renewal Team. She has been a member of the Capital Foundation Board. She also participates in the choir, bUUkies and a covenant group. Oh, and she is also active in our SE Florida UU Cluster.
Kathy and Steve have been members of River of Grass over 17 years. She has two adult children and 5 grandchildren. Kathy has been retired for 6 years. Before retiring she was a Family Mediator at the Broward County Courthouse. She has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, both from Nova Southeastern.
Kathy can be reached at: president@riverofgrassuu.org
Kathy has been a UU for over 25 years. She first discovered UU as a teenager, when her mother joined the Unitarian church in Hobart, IN. When she returned to the faith as an adult and parent, she realized that Unitarian Universalism was the way she thought the world should be. She was happy to find a religious home where she didn’t have to recite things she didn’t believe in in order to belong.
After moving to Florida, she joined the UU Church of Ft. Lauderdale (where she met and married her husband, Steve) and then ultimately moved to the River, finding not just a religious home, but an extended family of caring people who actively live the covenant of our faith.
Kathy has served in many roles at the River, as Treasurer, Worship Chair, Membership Co-chair, Annual Prosperity Drive/Capital Campaign Co-chair, member of SSJGT (Service and Social Justice Green Team) and the Welcoming Congregation Renewal Team. She has been a member of the Capital Foundation Board. She also participates in the choir, bUUkies and a covenant group. Oh, and she is also active in our SE Florida UU Cluster.
Kathy and Steve have been members of River of Grass over 17 years. She has two adult children and 5 grandchildren. Kathy has been retired for 6 years. Before retiring she was a Family Mediator at the Broward County Courthouse. She has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, both from Nova Southeastern.
Kathy can be reached at: president@riverofgrassuu.org
Maureen Lundell, Vice President
The search for a liberal, progressive church with great children's religious education led Maureen to River of Grass 17 years ago. Maureen, her husband, Brit and their four children have enjoyed many, many great classes, events and services at River of Grass - both in real life and online at this point.
Maureen has co-chaired Membership, Caring and Worship Committees and has volunteered on Facilities, Capital Campaign, Auction, New Home Team, Annual Budget Drive, Reflections newsletter, internal financial review, and anything related to a/v, decorating or food preparation.
A Registered Dietitian, Maureen has worked in food service and clinical dietetics for hospitals and long term care facilities, as well as for the Broward School District in the Health Education Department. As a UU, Maureen believes that River of Grass provides nourishment for minds and souls with all that the congregation offers.
Contact Maureen at vicepresident@riverofgrassuu.org
The search for a liberal, progressive church with great children's religious education led Maureen to River of Grass 17 years ago. Maureen, her husband, Brit and their four children have enjoyed many, many great classes, events and services at River of Grass - both in real life and online at this point.
Maureen has co-chaired Membership, Caring and Worship Committees and has volunteered on Facilities, Capital Campaign, Auction, New Home Team, Annual Budget Drive, Reflections newsletter, internal financial review, and anything related to a/v, decorating or food preparation.
A Registered Dietitian, Maureen has worked in food service and clinical dietetics for hospitals and long term care facilities, as well as for the Broward School District in the Health Education Department. As a UU, Maureen believes that River of Grass provides nourishment for minds and souls with all that the congregation offers.
Contact Maureen at vicepresident@riverofgrassuu.org
Rob Giblin-Davis, Treasurer
Rob, his wife, Deb and their three children have been associated with the various manifestations of River of Grass from close to its start. They both hail from California where they met, fell in love, and were married before moving east to become Floridians 36 years ago.
Rob, as the oldest of seven started his religious journey with a baptism into the Catholic church which has led him to a more humanist bent. He and Deb, who is a progressive Christian are reasonably yoked together under the principles of Unitarian Universalism.
He has chaired the Finance Committee, served as President of the Capital Fund board, as well as taught faith development classes and led several rounds of empty bowls ceramics trainings to support Life Net for Families over the years. His favorite Faith Development curriculum was the “Gospel According to the Simpsons.”
Rob is found at treasurer@riverofgrassuu.org
Rob, his wife, Deb and their three children have been associated with the various manifestations of River of Grass from close to its start. They both hail from California where they met, fell in love, and were married before moving east to become Floridians 36 years ago.
Rob, as the oldest of seven started his religious journey with a baptism into the Catholic church which has led him to a more humanist bent. He and Deb, who is a progressive Christian are reasonably yoked together under the principles of Unitarian Universalism.
He has chaired the Finance Committee, served as President of the Capital Fund board, as well as taught faith development classes and led several rounds of empty bowls ceramics trainings to support Life Net for Families over the years. His favorite Faith Development curriculum was the “Gospel According to the Simpsons.”
Rob is found at treasurer@riverofgrassuu.org
Bruce Ngo, Secretary
Bruce and his wife Tanya have been UUs for over 10 years after searching for a welcoming place for spiritual fulfillment and a sense of community. Along with their children, they have found a spiritual home at River of Grass.
Bruce considers himself a jack of all trades, but master of none. He has a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and a Master's degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M. He is currently working for a bicycle distribution company. Bruce enjoys spending time with his family and riding his bike.
Bruce is reached at secretary@riverofgrassuu.org
Bruce and his wife Tanya have been UUs for over 10 years after searching for a welcoming place for spiritual fulfillment and a sense of community. Along with their children, they have found a spiritual home at River of Grass.
Bruce considers himself a jack of all trades, but master of none. He has a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and a Master's degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M. He is currently working for a bicycle distribution company. Bruce enjoys spending time with his family and riding his bike.
Bruce is reached at secretary@riverofgrassuu.org
Bev Kaufman, Trustee
"Over half century ago, my mind threw off the shackles of the fundamentalist religion I was born into, and the rest of me followed as soon as I could move out of my father's home. Twenty years ago, the planes flew into the towers and I was shocked into the realization that I still needed something.
"So I put on a dress--which was what church always expected of me--and walked into the River of Grass U.U. Congregation. At the last minute, I pulled back. "I don't belong here," I said, and how could I when I didn't even know if God exists? But someone answered, "Of course you do," and she turned out to be right. River of Grass and our Unitarian Universalist following is a place where they don't care what you believe but how you behave. We have principals, not creeds.
"Besides being a dedicated UU, I am a writer, with two published books under my belt, an avid cyclist, and the neighborhood cat lady. I am semi-retired, working from home part-time for my old boss, as well as doing free-lance editing and script-writing. I also do voter registration three or four times a month. And now I'm on the Board of Trustees. I keep busy.
"Since I no longer need to drive to work, I've been able to reduce my carbon footprint by living without a car. My tricycle is my station wagon, my bicycle is my sports coupe, and of course, there's always the bus. It's occasionally inconvenient, but mostly a good way to live."
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org
"Over half century ago, my mind threw off the shackles of the fundamentalist religion I was born into, and the rest of me followed as soon as I could move out of my father's home. Twenty years ago, the planes flew into the towers and I was shocked into the realization that I still needed something.
"So I put on a dress--which was what church always expected of me--and walked into the River of Grass U.U. Congregation. At the last minute, I pulled back. "I don't belong here," I said, and how could I when I didn't even know if God exists? But someone answered, "Of course you do," and she turned out to be right. River of Grass and our Unitarian Universalist following is a place where they don't care what you believe but how you behave. We have principals, not creeds.
"Besides being a dedicated UU, I am a writer, with two published books under my belt, an avid cyclist, and the neighborhood cat lady. I am semi-retired, working from home part-time for my old boss, as well as doing free-lance editing and script-writing. I also do voter registration three or four times a month. And now I'm on the Board of Trustees. I keep busy.
"Since I no longer need to drive to work, I've been able to reduce my carbon footprint by living without a car. My tricycle is my station wagon, my bicycle is my sports coupe, and of course, there's always the bus. It's occasionally inconvenient, but mostly a good way to live."
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org
Mallory McLaren, Trustee
Mallory returned to humanist congregational life in 2016 through an Ethical Culture (a sister “denomination” of UU) congregation in Washington, D.C. Though she is a proud member of our Unitarian Universalist congregation, Mallory also enthusiastically remains an Ethical Culture adherent, as well as a Transhumanist.
Upon her relocating to South Florida in 2019, Mallory started attending River of Grass within her very first week of being in Broward County, and was called to join as a member within a month. In addition to her service as a Trustee, Mallory has served River of Grass as a Faith Development educator, is one of our Inquirers program facilitators, and is involved in the River Of Grass YUUng ministry.
Mallory is passionate about the ethical and moral duties we owe all sentient creatures and is a long-time abstainer from meat and animal hide products. She is a graduate of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington; earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law; has served in the past as a U.S. State Department fellow; has taught at Cal State Monterey Bay and Nova Southeastern University as an undergraduate Biomedical Ethics lecturer; and has been a rowing coach to middle and high school competitive rowers in the local area and in Sarasota. Mallory works as an attorney in the local area and is an avid Pickleball player.
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org
Mallory returned to humanist congregational life in 2016 through an Ethical Culture (a sister “denomination” of UU) congregation in Washington, D.C. Though she is a proud member of our Unitarian Universalist congregation, Mallory also enthusiastically remains an Ethical Culture adherent, as well as a Transhumanist.
Upon her relocating to South Florida in 2019, Mallory started attending River of Grass within her very first week of being in Broward County, and was called to join as a member within a month. In addition to her service as a Trustee, Mallory has served River of Grass as a Faith Development educator, is one of our Inquirers program facilitators, and is involved in the River Of Grass YUUng ministry.
Mallory is passionate about the ethical and moral duties we owe all sentient creatures and is a long-time abstainer from meat and animal hide products. She is a graduate of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington; earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law; has served in the past as a U.S. State Department fellow; has taught at Cal State Monterey Bay and Nova Southeastern University as an undergraduate Biomedical Ethics lecturer; and has been a rowing coach to middle and high school competitive rowers in the local area and in Sarasota. Mallory works as an attorney in the local area and is an avid Pickleball player.
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org
Kechi Mourer, Trustee
When Kechi Mourer was 17 years old, she found “A Course in Miracles” and that would set off a journey toward spiritual growth that continues today. She believes that we do not find “a faith”, rather we grow in faith and today she is growing and flowing with the River.
Though deeply spiritual, Kechi never felt “at home” with a church community. She learned about many faiths, and attended various churches, but did not feel the sense of radical acceptance that she was looking for until she found River of Grass. Kechi feels a deep and abiding connection to the River of Grass community. She found a home with eclectic members who embraced the interconnectedness of all people. She feels blessed to be a part of a community that puts into action a radical and unconditional acceptance of all people, regardless of faith, race, color, class, or orientation.
She lives with her two teenage children, Zach and Isabella, and her dog, Romeo in Davie Florida. Kechi is a college professor and the Director of Online Learning for a local College. She enjoys intellectual pursuits, writing, physical fitness, and spiritual growth.
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org
When Kechi Mourer was 17 years old, she found “A Course in Miracles” and that would set off a journey toward spiritual growth that continues today. She believes that we do not find “a faith”, rather we grow in faith and today she is growing and flowing with the River.
Though deeply spiritual, Kechi never felt “at home” with a church community. She learned about many faiths, and attended various churches, but did not feel the sense of radical acceptance that she was looking for until she found River of Grass. Kechi feels a deep and abiding connection to the River of Grass community. She found a home with eclectic members who embraced the interconnectedness of all people. She feels blessed to be a part of a community that puts into action a radical and unconditional acceptance of all people, regardless of faith, race, color, class, or orientation.
She lives with her two teenage children, Zach and Isabella, and her dog, Romeo in Davie Florida. Kechi is a college professor and the Director of Online Learning for a local College. She enjoys intellectual pursuits, writing, physical fitness, and spiritual growth.
Contact: board@riverofgrassuu.org