Statements of Vestry Members
These statements were written in the years these members were elected to the Vestry.
Statements of Vestry Members elected in 2008.
Charles Annan
I have been a member of SsAM for 21 years and served on the Vestries of both St. Matthew’s Church and Sts. Andrew and Matthew Church. In 1997, I relocated to the Chicago area, where I joined St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and became a Eucharistic Lay Minister, Lector, Communion Assistant and also served on the Vestry for four years. I relocated back to Delaware in 2004 and transferred my membership back to SsAM which I consider my church home and where I receive many blessings and spiritual fulfillment. I am married, have two children (who were both baptized in St. Matthew’s Church), and have been active in the Youth Ministry. I am looking forward to rejoining the Vestry, making a contribution doing God’s work.
Tracy Lea-Dorsey
I was a lifetime member of Saint Matthew’s and have been a member of SsAM since the consolidation in 1996. I am married to Shawn and we have three fabulous children. As a member of Saint Matthew’s and of SsAM, I have participated in or am involved in the following: Front door ministry (usher and greeter), X-group, a women’s spiritual support group, Sunday Breakfast Mission, Supper Club, Sunday School teacher and participated in organizing the Sunday School program, Lighting the Way Campaign (organized and managed financial contributions), highly involved organizer of Wilmington Garden Day (Episcopal sponsored annual charity event), lay reader, Search Committee member for recommendation of Canon Casson, and a participant in helping the two churches consolidate during its inception. I am a strong believer in the power of prayer and as I prayed for guidance on accepting the Vestry nomination, I will ask in prayer, if elected to the Vestry, to be an instrument for God to work through me to help with the betterment of SsAM’s future. It is a very exciting and challenging time at SsAM right now and I am honored to be considered to play a vital role in helping to transition SsAM into this new and upcoming spiritual journey. Thank you for the nomination.
Geoff Sawyer
My wife Alice and I joined St. Andrew’s Church just prior to the consolidation and I was on the first two terms of the joint SsAM Vestry, one year as Senior Warden. Currently, I coordinate the Sunday Breakfast Teams and am involved in the Chapel Sunday service, the 4th Sunday service at Regal Heights Healthcare & Rehab Center, a reader and Chalice bearer, and teach Sunday School once a month. I am also on the board of the Shipley Village Community Development Corp. If elected, I look forward to serving SsAM at this important time when we will be transitioning to new clerical leadership as well as affirming our mission and vision both in the community and in God’s love and growing in numbers, financial stability and outreach activities.
Carol Scott
I have 25 years professional experience administering and facilitating youth and parenting programming in a variety of community, school, and faith-based settings. As a non-profit administrator, my primary focus is developing innovative programs to serve children and families in at-risk, urban communities. My work includes facilitating parenting workshops in a statewide family service agency, YWCA racial justice programming, and inter-generational mentoring at Debnam House Community Center. Currently I am working at the University of Delaware, leading after-school learning center programs in elementary and middle schools throughout the county. A member of SsAM for four years, I have served on the Membership and Advocacy committees, as a counselor for summer Peace Camp, and is a choir member.
Statements of Vestry Members elected in 2007.
Walt Cheatham
Currently serving on the Adult Education, Finance, and Property Committees. I am a Former Jr. and Sr. Warden of SsAM and a former member and Vice President of the Diocesan Council. I retired from DuPont as an Engineering Manager after more than 27 years. I am interested in providing leadership during this time of transition time to a new Rector and in developing the next steps for the parish.
Dot Dorsey
I have been married fifty years, and have two daughters, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. I'm a retired banker and now am quite active in Parish activities. I was an active member of St. Matthew's from the age of 14 and now a very active, ten year member of SsAM. My activities include Altar Guild, Lector, Usher, chair of Lenten Luncheons, active member and past treasurer of ECW. I have for several years chaired their Christmas Luncheons and some other activities (one year Prayer Breakfast). I am currently involved in banquet and program preparations for Canon Casson's retirement. I have served on Vestries at St. Matthews and on SsAM's first Vestry. I love our Lord, and His Church, and feel in some small way I might have a positive input in its growth and transition, as a Vestry person.
Chip MacKelcan
I started attending St. Andrew's in 1950 and was confirmed here in the 1960s. Upon returning to Wilmington as Head of Sanford School in 1998, I rejoined SsAM and found a touchstone for my reentry into this community. I love the church and the people and know that my life has been enriched immeasurably by the strengthening of my faith through this congregation. I donated a kidney last fall to the husband of my wife's cousin, and I feel certain that my recuperation was accelerated by the many people here who kept me in their prayers. Currently I am serving as a Lector and previously served a term on the Vestry and on several church committees and was asked to deliver two Lenten Luncheon speeches. With the upcoming retirement of Lloyd Casson, SsAM will be experiencing a profound transition. I stand ready to help in any way to sustain the momentum SsAM has generated over the last decade.
Martha Wallin
I have only been a member of SsAM for two years but have found it to be a very welcoming congregation. It has been a great pleasure to meet with such an interesting mixture of people and clergy, which has led me to promptly take part in several church ministries. I currently am a member of the Liturgy, Pastoral Care, and Membership Committees and serve as the Vestry's Recording Secretary. My driving passion at SsAM is to find, and help develop, ways to encourage others, who are now outside our family, to visit, to become excited about this congregation and to become members. My family consists of two children and four grandchildren.
Statements of Vestry Members elected in 2006.
CAROLYN HAON - I have been a member of SsAM for seven years, and am currently serving as the Chairperson of Pastoral Care. I also coordinate the kitchen for PeaceKids camp, and for the Evensong Pot-Luck dinners. I attend the 8:00 service, and serve as a lector, communion assistant, and Eucharistic visitor. I hope I can be your next American Idol.
HERBERT HARVEY, JR., better known as “Harvey”, has been a member of St. Andrews and subsequently Saint Andrews and Matthews for approximately eighteen years. He has been married for twenty years and has two children. He is owner and CEO of Harvey’s Heating and A/C. He has been in business since 1980. He has been an adult education instructor, and has taught plumbing in a state apprenticeship program at night school for the past 10 years. He has developed strong leadership skills and has the ability to work in groups. He was an alternate delegate for the state convention this year. He has worked on numerous events at the church over the years.
MICHELLE HASTIE - Upon returning to Delaware from Atlanta, my family and I joined SsAM in early 2005. We felt very drawn to SsAM because Gerald and I were married here (formerly St. Andrews) in 1989 and because of the spirit and warmth we felt when we visited. I serve as a member of the Finance and Pastoral Care committees and I am a Lay Eucharistic Visitor. I also volunteer weekly in the office, have worked on the parish census, coordinated the committees for the Diocesan Convention and worked on our new parish banner. My children, Jordan and Tyler, were confirmed here last year and are active members of the Youth Group.
B
OB RICHMOND is a founding member of SsAM. He sings in the Choir, is a Lector, Eucharistic Visitor, Lenten Lunch and Sweat Equity volunteer. For our 10th anniversary celebration, he is on the steering committee and photography team. As a member of the 2006 Diocesan Convention subcommittee, he got SsAM started in recycling materials, to fulfill a resolution which our Vestry presented to the Convention. For a number of years, Bob has been a member of the Pilot Congregation, an inter parish group which meets and worships monthly to combat racism in the Diocese of Delaware. During his spare time Bob leads hikes, sings in two choruses and guides school groups at Winterthur Museum.
Vestry Members are elected at our Annual Meeting, held in June: In addition to voting on Vestry nominees, the annual meeting includes reports from the Vestry and and others, plus a general discussion by all around the issues presented and critical concerns. The meeting usually begins with the Celebration of the Eucharist. The meeting is open to all members and friends of the parish. However, those eligible to vote in the elections and on action before the meeting are those who meet the requirements set forth in Article 6 of the Parish By-Laws: qualified voters are persons who are baptized, at least 16 years of age, and have been an active and contributing member for at least the six months prior to the meeting.