Board Members

Celeste has been active with SWUUW since 2015. She has been the President of SWUUW; Convener of the Virtual Conference in 2020, Virtually Unstoppable; SWUUW Secretary and SWUUW Board Member-at-Large.  She was also the President of NTUUC (North Texas UU Congregations) from 2012-2014 and served as the Chair of the NTUUC Education Committee for Conference Planning and Training Events; and the NTUUC Awards Committee.  She is a graduate of DBLE (Dwight Brown Leadership Experience). She has served on Event Planning committees for SWUUSI (now The Point) and has attended several GA’s (General Assemblies).  She has served on various committees involving Adult Religious Education and Membership at Community UU Church of Plano.  She has been a member of Community UU during her UU life in Texas.  

In her “other life” Celeste loves research psychology  – especially on cognitive and perceptual styles.  She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and has been a teacher, corporate trainer, instructional designer, program developer, project manager and writer for telecom industries.   She focused on Organizational Development when taking graduate coursework in a Management degree program.  She has offered workshops on values clarification; on self-actualization on How to Design Instruction, as well as on How to Train Trainers.  She has published articles on working with Subject-Matter-Experts on computer training programs and on How to Design Instruction.  These articles appeared in professional journals for performance improvement (ASTD and NSPI).  She has held positions on national committees for these organizations.  She has been an Administrator for health care industries.  She and her husband also ran a Communication Consultation business.  The small business offered promotional programs and training programs on communication, as well as brochures and other marketing publications.  We followed the axiom:  a good process produces good results. Celeste also is a Theatre Person, has acted in local theatres and attends whenever possible.  Connecting people to their interests, developing opportunities for people, and providing clarity in communications has been one of her main focuses throughout her career(s).

Vicki Verinder joined SWUUW board in 2016 and is now serving as Secretary. She has been a member of Community UU Church, Plano, since 2012 and was part of the Harvest the Power leadership class. Vicki is currently a member of Women’s Alliance, the Stewardship Committee, and serves as a Greeter. She is also on the Board of Trustees, being elected Personnel Chair at Community in 2020. Vicki and her husband Gene have lived in Plano since 1972 where they raised their two sons who, along with their families, live out of state. She is now self-employed as a freelance Notary Public and Signing Agent.

Donna has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1994 and is a current member of Horizon UU Church.  She attended her first SWUUW event in 2022 and joined the SWUUW board.

She previously attended the UU Church of Pensacola, FL for 20 years.  During this time, she chaired several committees, including Adult Religious Education, Social Action, and Fun & Fellowship, and served as a Board Member at Large.  She taught or co-lead many ARE classes and presented the sermon at several Sunday Srevices.  She also taught high school RE classes and attended Youth CONs with them.  Donna was a voting church representative and banner carrier at the 2003 UUA conference in Boston.  She attended UU Leadership School at The Mountain UU Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands, NC.

She was also very active with UU Womenspirit events held at The Mountain UU Retreat for 10 years.  She taught workshops and served on 3 event Planning Committees, including Event Coordinator (Leader) for 1 event.  She served on the Womenspirit Coordinating Council (Board) for 3 years and functioned as permanent Registrar for the events for 5 years.

Her work experience includes computer programming, strategic planning, data analysis, Internet research, marketing, volunteer services, hospital administration, reccuitment, and library services. She retired from IBM in 2020.

Donna lives in Flower Mound, TX with her husband and one very spoiled 12-year-old Yorkie (Lady).  She has 1 daughter who lives in NYC and 2 stepdaughters who live in the DFW area. She currently volunteers on the Endowment Committee for the North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations (NTUUC) and as Volunteer Coordinator and Board Member for the Friends of the Flower Mound Public Library.

More info coming soon.