About First English
Our Mission
What We Offer
Meet the Pastors
Meet the Council
Directions
Contact Staff
Business Directory
FAQs

Learn
Youth Programs
Adult Education
Devotions
Sermons

Get Involved
Volunteers
Announcements
Newsletter
Calendar

FELC Youth Ministries

Council meeting minutes | Executive Team meeting minutes

The Congregational Council of First English Lutheran Church is comprised of 15 elected members. These dedicated members are the governing body of the church.

First English Lutheran Church Congregational Council members – 2008

Front row (from left): Mark Des Rochers; Amy Henderson; Dana Olson; and Jeff Picken.
Middle row (from left): Jeff Diehl, treasurer; John Zweig, president; Kirsten Owens; and Karen Dorn.
Back row (from left): Bruce Catterton (resigned April 2008); Steve Uslabar;
Peter Peregrine, vice president; and Dan Baumbach.
Not pictured: Nancy Hershfield, secretary; Mike Lokensgard; and Wayne Luck.

Meetings: The Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month, with the exception of July. The meetings in January through June are held in Room 110 at the Downtown Site. Meetings in August through December are in the Sanctuary at the North Site. Within a week of each meeting, a summary of the minutes is posted on this page.

  – Photo by Bob Damon

How to contact your Council members  
  
Dan Baumbach       baumbach@new.rr.com       
Mark Des Rochers  desro@new.rr.com
Jeff Diehl,   
Treasurer                 jpd@advisorygrp.com
Karen Dorn,             kdorn@alternativeresolutions.biz
Amy Henderson     daytonamy77@new.rr.com
Nancy Hershfield,  nancy.hershfield@snc.edu
Secretary                  
Mike Lokensgard    mlokensgard@gklaw.com
Wayne Luck             wayne.luck@thrivent.com
Dana Olson            danaolson@new.rr.com
Kirsten Owens       kirstenaowens@yahoo.com
Peter Peregrine     
Vice president        peter.n.peregrine@lawrence.edu
Jeff Picken              jkpicken@sbcglobal.net
Steve Uslabar       suslabar@mcclone.com
John Zweig,           jzweig@new.rr.com
President

First English constitution & bylaws: Follow this link.

Annual meeting minutes: Follow this link.

2007 Annual Progress Report: Follow this link.

Council meeting minutes:
March 25, 2008 (SUMMARY)
Feb. 26, 2008
Jan. 22, 2008
Dec. 18, 2007
Nov. 27, 2007


Executive Team minutes:
February 2008
Jan. 2008 (SUMMARY)
December 2007 (SUMMARY)
November 2007 (SUMMARY)


Meet the 2008 Congregational Council

Dan Baumbach has been a member of six ELCA churches in four states since 1984. He and his wife, Linda, were members of FELC from 1991 until 1998, when they moved to Marinette, where he was as a Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran for three years. Dan also served on the church council from 2003-04, when they returned to Appleton and re-established their membership at First English. They have three children, Trent, Lane and Luke. He is chairman of the North Site Development Team, which is a subcommittee of the Growth Ministry Team. He was vice chairman of the River Cities Chamber of Commerce in Menominee, Mich., from 2003-04. Dan has worked at Kimberly-Clark for 23 years, most recently in the office of Strategic Development. Before moving back to Appleton in 2004, he managed a Kimberly-Clark mill.

Mark Des Rochers has been a member of First English for 15 years. During that time, he has served on several church committees, including baptism, grants and ECHOES. Mark also has taught Sunday School for several years, including the last two as an eighth-grade teacher. As an attorney, he’s had several opportunities to serve the church by offering advice on legal matters. He and his wife, Kathy, have three children: Megan, Tyler and Abbey. 

Jeff Diehl, who is treasurer of the Council, joined First English in 1985 and lives in Greenville with his wife, Traci, their sons, Ethan and Corey; their two Bearded Collies, Spock and Jordan; and their Persian cat, Ernie. In addition to serving on the Council, Jeff is an usher and a member of the Parish Choir. Jeff also is a member of the Manawa-Weyauwega Masonic Lodge No. 82, the Beja Shriners and has served as a member of the Divan. Jeff is a certified financial planner and is founder and president of The Advisory Group, Inc., a financial planning and employee benefit consulting firm. Jeff teaches leadership classes for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in Wisconsin , North Carolina and Michigan , where he serves on the National Membership Committee. During his membership in the NAIFA, he has served as state president, state legislation director and regional director. Jeff also serves on the NAIFA-WI Educational Foundation. Jeff received the Distinguished Service Award during his membership in the Fox River Valley Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, where he has served as past president. Jeff was recognized by “Corporate Report Wisconsin ” as one of 16 Future Leaders of Wisconsin for his accomplishments.

Karen Dorn joined First English in 1997 with her husband, Chuck. They have a daughter, Kimberly. This is Karen's second term on the Council. Professionally, Karen is a mediator and owns Alternative Resolutions, Inc. She is president of the Wisconsin Association of Mediators. Karen volunteers for a variety of community organizations, including United Way.

Amy Henderson (not pictured) has been a member of First English since 1990. Amy and her husband, Dayton, have two adult children: Laura and Kate. Amy was a staff member at FELC from 1990 through May 2006 and served as the staff liaison to the Support Ministry Team. Amy taught Sunday school at both sites; volunteered as a small-group confirmation leader; and served as a chaperone at a National Youth Gathering, a service trip to Slovakia as well as a mission trip to West Virginia. She is a volunteer for the worship ministry and at ECHOES and is a member of the Capital Appeal Committee, Time & Talent Team and counting committee.


Nancy Hershfield, who is the secretary of the Council, has been married to Dale Hershfield “for 10 wonderful years.”  They have two sons: Josef and Lukas Olynyk. Joe is a freshman at Luther College, majoring in music education and math. Luke is a student at Appleton North High School, majoring in socializing and searching for colleges. We have lived in the Appleton community for almost 17 years and consider it our home. She received a B.A. in anthropology from Luther College and participated in the M.A. program in organizational anthropology at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. Her 24-year professional background is a combination of human services (8 years) and fundraising (16 years). Nancy is the Director of Development at St. Norbert College and independently consult with area nonprofits. She has served on several boards and committees for organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Appleton Boychoir, Dudley Birder Chorale, Wisconsin Arts Board, Rotary, Appleton North High School Drama & Music Departments and Arts Peers. Since joining FELC, Nancy has served on several committees, including the Mission/Vision Campaign, Stewardship/Consecration Sunday and the Worship and Call committees. She also has participated in the music program and the New Member program. Her interests include world travel with her family and road biking.

Michael Lokensgard joined First English in 1997. He and his wife, Mary, have two children, Sigrid and Anders. Michael serves on the Support Ministry Team and the Finance Subcommittee. He volunteers as a reader and welcome host. Michael is an attorney at Godfrey & Kahn , S.C. , specializing in commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He is on the board of directors of the White Heron Chorale and is a member of the Appleton Education Foundation board, the Community Hospice Foundation and the Fox Valley Rowing Club.

Wayne Luck is Senior Litigation Counsel at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Wayne joined First English in 2004. He also serves on the Mission-Vision Team, the Habitat for Humanity team and the Worship Ministry Team. In addition to working behind the scenes at church picnics, cooking and cleaning, he is a new member sponsor and worship assistant, worship assistant coordinator and welcome host at the North Site. Wayne is involved in the community as a volunteer for Lifest, Habitat for Humanity and the Blood Center . He is on the Hortonville School District Strategic Planning Committee and works on fundraising efforts at the Fox Cities Emergency Shelter.

Dana Olson has been a member of First English since 1976. She has previously served two terms on the Council and most recently served on the Staffing Needs Task Force. Dana has taught Sunday school and was member of the former personnel subcommittee. She coordinates the annual geranium sale, which is a major youth fundraiser. Dana also volunteers regularly at ECHOES, serves as a greeter and is a member of the “Women’s Thursday Early Riser Study.” She is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. and worked at the former Aid Association for Lutherans for 13 years. Dana and her husband, Steve, have four children, Kelly, Erik, Jessica, Sonja, and three grandchildren.

Kirsten Owens joined First English in 1983 and lives in Appleton with her husband, Dave, and their son, Kieran. In addition to serving on the Council, Kirsten is the chairwoman of the Time & Talent Committee, assists during worship as a reader and communion server and hosts Coffee Hour. She is a former member of the Support Ministry Team.

Peter Peregrine is a professor of anthropology at Lawrence University . He and his wife, Anne, joined First English when they moved to Appleton in 1995. They have two daughters, Alison and Kate.

Jeff Picken and his wife, Kristi, joined First English in 2003 after moving to Appleton from the Twin Cities. They have a son, Lucas, and a daughter, Marisa. They worship at the North Site, where Jeff has been a worship assistant, communion server, reader and greeter. He recently served on the Staffing Needs Task Force during the recent transition period at First English. At their former church in the Twin Cities, Jeff served on the Executive Council, led usher teams and participated in a variety of volunteer activities. Jeff is a Continuous Improvement Consultant in the Information Technology division at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He also volunteers at Habitat for Humanity and enjoys woodworking, volleyball and bicycling.

Steve Uslabar and his wife, Kathy Jo, joined First English in 1999 after moving to Appleton from Minnesota. They have two children, Henry and Ethan. For the past 3 years, Steve has served on the Stewardship Committee. He also serves as communion assistant, welcome host and coffee hour host. Steve is a benefits consultant at McClone Insurance Group.

John Zweig, who is president of the Council, is a native of Illinois and moved to Appleton after he retired from the Army in 1998. John and his wife, Margaret, have been members at First English since 1999. They have three children: Jimmy is a band director and Robert and Christina are in college. In addition to being a member of the Council and chairman of the Support Ministry Team, John works in a variety of roles at First English, including serving as an usher and worship assistant. He chaired the Self-Study Task Force and served on the Call Committee during our recent transition. John is a dentist and is Clinic Director for Dental Associates, Ltd. in Green Bay. John’s volunteer activities have included Scout leader and soccer coach, along with band boosters and Odyssey of the Mind.