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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    Celebrating the retirement of three phenomenal staff members

    December 7, 2021 / By Shannon Hoson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    With combined service of close to 50 years, Upper New York celebrates the Dec. 31, 2021 retirement of Karen Campolieto (Media Resource Center Coordinator and Archives Assistant), Pat Toukatly (Property Specialist), and Alma Mailkow (Accounts Payable/Payroll Specialist).

    Karen has been with the Conference for 26 years between the former North Central NY (CNY) Conference and the Upper New York (UNY) Conference (15 years CNY and 11 years at UNY).

    Karen plans to spend retirement by traveling a bit with her husband. She is going to visit San Antonio for a few days in January and has a cruise from Los Angeles, California to the Mexican Rivera planned in April.

    As an active fitness enthusiast, Karen plans to be more active at the Northwest YMCA; she is eager to participate in more classes that she has been unable to attend in the past because they are only offered during the day.

    Karen will still be around some of the time because she has committed to continue publishing the Journal for the Conference.

    Karen may become a snowbird in the future, but that is yet to be determined.

    Pat came to work for the North Central Conference nearly 17 years ago, in March of 2006. When she retires, she plans to spend more time with my four children and 12 grandchildren. She would also like to purchase a camper to travel cross-country again.

    Pat said, “I am blessed to have been a part of this ministry for so many years. I am so grateful for the amazing love and support I have been surrounded with, especially in the past few years. I will miss everyone and will continue to think of everyone as a special part of my family.”

    Alma started working on Feb. 1, 2015 and has enjoyed every minute of the work I have done.

    She said, “It has been a satisfying pleasure to serve God in the Finance department. My plans are to relocate to Lakeland Florida where my daughter lives with her family.  The next phase of my life is to be a grandmother where I will fulfill my desire to live out Deuteronomy 6:4-7”

    ‘Hear , O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

    Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

    These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

     Impress them on your children (grandchildren). 

    Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up’ (NIV).

    So, I will be teaching my grand girls about the Lord as we walk to the pool!”

    Help us celebrate Karen, Pat, and Alma and their years of joyful dedication to the UNY Conference.


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."