NEWS: Five Join the United Way Board

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. - At their 2009 Annual meeting on Tuesday, September 22nd, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Windham County elected 5 new Board members: Denise Sensor, Lucy Decatur, Bahman Mahdavi, Shannon Weatherup and Barbara Ternes.

Denise Sensor has been a Brattleboro resident for 28 years, currently living with her husband Ed in West Dummerston. She has 25 years of experience in Human Resources, and is currently the Senior Director of Human Resources at World Learning.

When Sensor first moved to the Brattleboro area, she had a job with Hotline for Help. This included working with many United Way funded agencies and led her to be a committed United Way supporter. Denise promised herself that once her daughter was happily ensconced in college she’d finally have the time to volunteer. With her daughter Emily attending college in Boston, now is the time.

Lucy Decatur, a Fitzwilliam resident and Collection Specialist at River Valley Credit Union, has been an active member of the Gap Mountain Lions Club, Chairperson of the statewide Diabetes Awareness program, the River Valley Kid’s Fair and most recently a member of the Campaign Committee for United Way of Windham County.

Decatur’s expertise in event planning and fund raising will make her a strong addition to the Board.

Living in Newfane since 1988, Bahman Mahdavi is a software developer and programmer specializing in online applications. He worked for 7 years with SRI World Group, Inc. as director of web development while maintaining his independent web development and consulting business Webwerk. Mahdavi has served on the Board of Directors of The In-Sight Photography Project and has contributed or volunteered to help with several area towns and school districts, Help Empower Youth, and a number of other area non-profits, including United Way, with their internet presence.

While he and his wife Johanna Gardner and their 3 children currently live in Newfane, Mahdavi’s education and business experience has taken him from Tehran to France, Egypt, Germany and San Francisco. UWWC is glad he decided to settle in Vermont!

Shannon Weatherup, a 2008 BUHS graduate, has spent several years volunteering in many ways in the community. She worked in the United Way office for 3 years and for Youth Services for 1½ years while in high School. She has volunteered with Help Empower Youth, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Youth Horticulture Project, the weekly free youth dinner at the Boys and Girls Club and tutors middle school students in Holyoke.

Weatherup lives in Vernon and attends Greenfield Community College with plans to become a teacher. Representing the youth in our community, Weatherup set a wonderful example of how to Live United.

Joining the Board as a Partner Representative is Barbara Ternes, the Executive Director of Park Place Community Resource Center. Parks Place, a United Way Agency, is a collaborative effort of SEVCA, the Rockingham schools and the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust localizing services by providing a host of support programs. Ternes has worked in a New York City housing project and as a play therapist in a children’s ward of a Brooklyn hospital. Her most unique job was as executive assistant to anthropologist Margaret Mead.

For 50 years, United Way of Windham County has been fostering sustained, positive change by effectively mobilizing community members and other local resources throughout Windham County. United Way of Windham County works with more than two dozen partner agencies and community impact initiatives.

Anyone interested in becoming involved, making a donation or volunteering time, talent or resources is encouraged to contact United Way at 802-257-4011 ext. 110, or visit www.unitedwaywindham.org.