Desert Southwest communicator appointed interim UMAC treasurer

Stephen J. Hustedt, Director of Communications for the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, has been appointed interim treasurer for the United Methodist Association of Communicators.

 

Hustedt was appointed by the seven-member Executive Board of Directors to serve until the Oct. 19 through 22, 2010, Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco, Calif.

 

Earlier, the board received the resignation of the Rev. Andy James, who was elected treasurer by the association at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

 

James, a sales representative for United Methodist Reporter (UMR), informed the board that after prayerfully considering the issue, he felt the increased demands and changing responsibilities of his work with UMR made it difficult for him to fulfill his role as treasurer.

 

“Andy has always been thoughtful and committed to helping United Methodist Association of Communicators be the best it can be,” said Sandra Brands, president. “Though we’re sorry that he is leaving the board, we’re excited about the challenges and opportunities that are unfolding for him at UMR and hope he will continue to be actively engaged in UMAC.”

 

Hustedt, who holds an MBA, worked for the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference before being named the Director of Communications in the Desert Southwest Conference. He currently serves as the Western Jurisdictional Representative and chairs the newly-formed Advocacy Committee, which is developing strategies for increasing understanding of the work and value of professional communicators in The United Methodist Church.

 

“It was an honor for the Executive Board to think of me to take on this role,” Huestedt said. “I look forward having the opportunity to help this important organization continue to grow. Communications ministry is crucial to the ministry of The United Methodist Church and the connection we all have through UMAC makes our ministry that much stronger. From where I stand our future looks very bright!”

 

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference, has agreed to take Huestedt’s place as the Western Jurisdictional Representative. Jurisdictional Representatives help organize an annual jurisdictional meeting and dinner, usually held during the UMAC Annual Meeting, serve as a member of the Nominating Committee, and sit on the Event Planning Team when the Annual Meeting is being held in their jurisdiction.

 

Other jurisdictional representatives are Kathryn Witte, South Central Jurisdiction; Suzy Keenan, Northeastern Jurisdiction; Neill Caldwell, Southeastern Jurisdiction; and Paul Black, North Central Jurisdiction.

 

UMAC Members will elect a treasurer to fulfill the remainder of the treasurer’s two-year term at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Oct. 19 through 22.