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UNY Trustees elect new officers

October 15, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

At its most recent meeting on Oct. 6, 2014, the Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees elected new officers, including a new board president, Pastor John A. Jackson. He replaces Deborah Byers, who chose not to seek another term.

Jackson is semi-retired, maintaining a limited solo law and dispute-resolution practice. He is also a local licensed pastor who serves quarter time at the North Harmony United Methodist Church.

Jackson began his second term as a Trustee this year, and has served as vice president for the past two years. He has been active at the local church, Cornerstone District, and Conference levels for many years.

"Although this is an interesting and demanding time (to step into the role), I am honored," said Jackson, who said he gave the nomination "much prayerful thought."

"I feel it's a privilege," he said.Jackson

Conference Treasurer Kevin Domanico, who serves as liaison to the Trustees, said: "I am pleased to offer my congratulations to John as our newly elected Trustee president. I have had the pleasure of working with John on various Trustee projects and watching him in action. We are blessed to have John’s talents and gifts at the helm."

Also elected Oct. 6 were the Rev. Dr. Wendy Deichmann as vice president and Essie Harding as secretary. Domanico serves as board treasurer.

The new officers take over just 12 days before Annual Conference members are set to vote on a recommendation by the board regarding the purchase of a new Conference Center. A special session of Annual Conference will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, to consider the recommendation. (Read more about the special session).

"The event on Saturday is very important, and we are well prepared for it," Jackson said. "The work done by the (Headquarters) Task Force, which includes Trustees and others, those procedures and processes are very well done; they have been done with skill, commitment and care."

"As a result, what we're presenting on Saturday is a well-developed recommendation," he said. "I feel very good about this."

Jackson's concern, he said, is that too few Annual Conference members will participate in the special session. Jackson urged all voting members to attend, saying if only a few vote, the decision "may not represent the will of the Conference" as a whole.

"It's important. In my opinion, it's important to the mission of the Conference," Jackson said. "For the Conference to be at its best, to perform its role at its best, it needs to have facilities that enable it to do that."

Jackson admits the timing of his election presents a challenge, but not one as daunting as those faced by his predecessors, speaking of the Rev. Tom Clemow, who was president during the merger of the four former conferences – "that's my idea of being handed a really tough job;" and Byers, who became president in July 2011, who, he said, handled the role "in an exemplary way."

"I am really standing on their shoulders," he said. "As much as there is on my plate and on the board’s at this time, this is now a far more mature organization; a lot of work has been done; it's much more orderly and more manageable."

In thanking Byers for her service, Domanico echoed those thoughts, saying: "Deb has taught me what it means to be a servant leader. I am grateful for her wisdom and her calm and thoughtful guidance of the Trustees through the very difficult years of our young Conference. Deb’s continued work on the board will be invaluable to her colleagues, the staff and the Conference."

An Air Force veteran, Jackson’s first career was as an engineer and manager with a major technology-based company. After taking early retirement, he obtained his Juris Doctorate and was admitted to the bar. He practiced with two major law firms before spending nine years on the legal staff of a university.

Asked what he feels he brings to the role of Trustee president, Jackson said, "The most important thing is: I know where to go for help. I very much believe in prayer. If we're doing what God wants us to do, we'll get whatever help we need to do it. I also bring a very strong commitment to give my best efforts to coordinating the work of the board."

Jackson said his life and work experience will serve him well.

"I bring a certain amount of maturity; life does teach us a lot of lessons," he said. "Mediation is one of my real passions, and it prepares one with some of the most powerful and effective tools for any interpersonal relationship."

On his goals for the Trustees:

"I want to continue the trajectory of streamlining our operation in terms of how we manage and coordinate it to make it more efficient and able to do more with the resources we have available," Jackson said. "I also want to continue the process of establishing and maintaining optimal relationships with the Conference organizations, including the other volunteer agencies and organizations."

Jackson serves on a number of boards and committees in addition to the Trustees. He is a commercial pilot and an aviation enthusiast who enjoys do-it-yourself projects on his home and cars.

He and his wife, Juanita, live on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution. They have a daughter and a son, four grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

"God has been good to me; I believe He has a purpose for me," Jackson said. "I feel grateful for the opportunities I have had to serve. I do enjoy it. One advantage of getting to retirement is that one may work hard and face challenges, but whatever one does is by choice and offers personal satisfaction."