Eliot Chapel thrives on volunteers who work in the “limelight” and those who prefer working behind the scenes. Sue Bell is one such person. She has served as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for the past 3 years and is now going off the Board to join the Nominating Committee. Sue started attending Eliot Chapel in 2018 and became a member just before serving on the Board.

Sue came on as Treasurer during the unprecedented time of Covid-19, and into the challenging transition time between Ministers. When the reduction of staff took place, Sue took the financial reins as Board Treasurer on the Transition Team. She handled the payment of bills and payroll in addition to the Treasurer’s role of managing the budget. As part of this role, she has worked on the Canvas Team for several years. The tasks of making public announcements from the pulpit and reminder phone calls to members for the pledge drive stretched her limits – especially wearing a candle costume in front of the whole congregation! Other things Sue is involved in at Eliot have been serving as an occasional greeter and leading the Finance Committee.

In her own words, Sue describes why she thinks volunteering is important: “I view volunteering at Eliot as a necessary duty because it takes a village for Eliot to operate at the high level that we have come to expect. There are so many talented folks at Eliot who make it a better place. Volunteering, such as greeting or making coffee, is a great way to meet members and friends that you might not normally meet. Starting out as a greeter as a newer member was a great way for me to meet everyone who comes through the doors. Volunteering is a great way to serve and provides a topic to discuss with others during coffee hour for an introvert such as myself! My time as Treasurer or as a number cruncher was stressful at times but we are in such an amazing place with our finances that it was worth some extra stress! Serving on the board has been fun, enjoyable, rewarding, interesting, gratifying, educational, challenging, surprising, heart opening, heart-breaking and centered in love as the board tends to create its own covenant group.   I have to give credit to the partnership I have experienced with Brian Franklin, our Director of Business Administration. Brian is such an amazing addition to the staff!”