Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing, amending, interpreting and enforcing Chapel policies in accordance with the by-laws. The Board also delegates responsibility, authority and accountability to the ministers and board committees, and monitors the Eliot Chapel budget. The Board is composed of seven members who are elected by the congregation for staggered three-year terms and a treasurer elected by the congregation for a one-year term. The Lead Minister is an ex officio, non-voting member of the board.
The Board meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. Meetings are open to anyone in the Eliot community.
Contact the Board of Trustees
2012-2013 Members
Marc Fried, Chair
Email Marc
Marc joined Eliot in the late 90s along with his wife, Camille, who teaches regularly in the RE, and his three children. He has been a member of the Chamber Choir and Eliot Chorale off and on for over nine years, and currently serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Outside of Eliot, he has served as legal counsel to Boards of Directors for numerous governmental agencies and recently completed training to serve as a mediator for civil litigation cases. He currently serves on the board of the Kirkwood Lions Club and on the City of Kirkwood Parks Master Plan Implementation Committee. He was a member of the Leadership St. Louis Class of 2005-06 and currently co-chair a Bridges over Racial Polarization forum through FOCUS St. Louis.
William Lemon, Chair-elect
William has been a member at Eliot Chapel since 2003 with his wife, Ann, and now their daughter Eva. He currently serves on the Eliot Board of Trustees which is working diligently to help the Chapel complete the transition to Policy Governance and to support the Search Committee in finding a new minister. In the past, William has been active in Eliot Chapel as a Canvasser one year, and as a Religious Educator of 4th and 5th graders for two years. The family did laundry for Room-at-the-Inn for about three years. He has participated in work parties, Madrigal and Men's Advance. William works as Director of Scientific and Computing Services at IT Enterprises, a business incubator owned by UMSL located near Lambert airport.
Gary Gray, Treasurer
Gary Gray and his wife, Patricia, have been members of Eliot Chapel for over 30 years. He has served as Treasurer, on the Board of Trustees and as Board Chair. He has been involved in many pledge campaigns at Eliot and has served as Canvass Chair twice. Gary has taught RE several times, including the last three semesters. Their three children were all involved in RE at Eliot. Over the years he has served on many committees and participated in social action events. Gary retired after 40+ years in various management positions in the chemical manufacturing industry. While now retired, he does consult on FDA compliance issue with manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Louise Bradshaw, Secretary
Louise and her family have been members of Eliot for six years, occasional participants in services and activities for 12 years and neighbors on East Argonne for 15 years. Her son Ben was an active participant in the Senior High Youth Program until he moved to Kansas City for art school. Louise has served as an occasional greeter, Madrigal volunteer, and driver to and from Youth Cons. She is the Director of Education at Saint Louis Zoo. She has served on multiple boards and advisory committees for independent schools, environmental organizations and education and advocacy organizations.
Lea Ann Baker
Lea Ann is married to Jan Pierre Pallares and they have an 11-year-old son, Ian Pallares. They have attended Eliot Chapel approximately eight years and have been members since March 2007. During her time at Eliot she has taught RE, worked at the book sale, assisted with the Chalice Choir, and participated in the Seder dinner, the Chili Cook-off, the New U program and Newcomer dinners. Outside Eliot, she tutors reading with the Oasis Program, serves as trustee for her subdivision, and enjoys various interests. They have resided in Creve Coeur since their relocation to Missouri in 2002.
Sheryl Foster
Sheryl brings a newcomer’s perspective to the Board, having been an Eliot member since 2010. Her daughter Lauren, age 9, attends the RE program at Eliot Chapel and sings in the Chalice Choir. Sheryl serves as a substitute Sunday school teacher in the RE program, is involved on the Social Justice committee, is on the Nurses for Newborns committee and has cooked for the Winter Outreach program. Outside of Eliot, she is a consultant who improves nonprofit effectiveness by developing strategies that focus resources to further the organization’s mission. She is also chair of the Government Relations committee for the St. Louis chapter of the Association of Fundraising professionals. Sheryl is also an adjunct professor, teaching public policy courses at the School of Social Work at Washington University.
Steve Mennerick
Steve has attended Eliot with his family for nearly 10 years. His kids Eli (7th grade) and Grace (5th grade) are active in Eliot Religious Education, and his wife Tammy Hershey is a co-coordinator for the 4th and 5th grade RE program. Steve has been involved in fair trade coffee sales, has cooked for RATI, sings in the Eliot choirs, and has served on the Stewardship Team. Steve and Tammy both teach at Washington University. In their spare time they enjoy running, biking, and hiking with their kids.
Linda Senn
Since joining Eliot Chapel 16 years ago, Linda has served on the Program Council, the Fun Committee, chairing several Chili Suppers, the publicity committee and kitchen crew for the Madrigal dinner. She also worked on the recent Appreciative Inquiry writing team, participated in writing some of the mystery dinner, and helped start the joyful Life Enrichment Group (LEGS) in 1995. The original Eliot Entrepreneurs Directory was her project, and through the years, she has taken great joy in the “extended family” fellowship at Eliot. Linda is a nonfiction author, book coach, adjunct instructor at UMSL, and loving mom and grandmother who often visits the busy, sometimes chatty squirrels in Kirkwood Park.
