Annual meeting in Dallas
marks group’s 25 years

The Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries gathered for its annual conference in Dallas April 12-15.
The group celebrated its 25th anniversary with 278 local church, district and episcopal administrative secretaries attending from across the United States.
Well-known speaker Edwina Pat-terson offered the group advice and help to “Celebrate the Balanced Life,” juggling family, church and career responsibilities.
Larry Ray Hygh Jr., director of communications for the California-Pacific Conference, led a discussion on the thirst for authentic leadership, “Celebrate—Leadership.” He asked three questions: Who are you? Where are you going? What are you going to do when you get there?”
The group was entertained by Christian comedian Kenn Kington’s “Celebrate Laughter,” which featured his ability to use comedy for outreach and encouragement.
Attendees were invited to Celebrate United Methodism with the Rev. Daniel L. Garrett, who retired from the Virginia Conference. His presentation of the church’s Wesleyan heritage and The Book of Discipline made well-known sub-jects all the more enjoyable. 
The group was treated to a tour of the famous South Fork ranch, the residence featured on the old television show Dallas, along with a barbecue luncheon.
Friday evening, as group members were sitting down to dinner, they were instructed by hotel management to take the dinner plates and return to the conference room. A tornado had been spotted in the area, and the conference room was the designated “safe place” in the hotel.
The Southwest Texas Conference was well represented this year.
Those in attendance included Suzanne Delamain from Bishop Joel N. Martinez’s office; Cindy Myers of First UMC, New Braunfels; Jill Barre from the Austin District; Sheila Campbell from the Corpus Christi District; Melissa DePalermo of First UMC, Seguin; and Linda Jewell from the McAllen District.
Barre and DePalermo were honored this year for completing the certification course of study this past July at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.
The annual conference next year will be in Dayton, Ohio.
Please contact any of the attendees to learn more about the association and how you can become a member.