WiseWomen are those who have served on the W&R Committee in past years.
(If you're a Wise Woman and your bio is not up here yet, please e-mail it to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !)

Leslie Peet 2006-2010
Past Chair 2009-2010
Chair 2008-9, Co-Chair 2007-8

Leslie is a Taoist Tai Chi instructor and can often be found giving Reiki treatments to women at our Summer WomanSpirit conferences. She shares her home with Siamese cats and is always welcoming committee members over for ice cream.

Leslie says: "I attended my first WomanSpirit retreat in August 1998. I was so happy to find a woman-friendly place that I have been at the Summer retreats every year since then and at many of the Winter retreats. I gained so much from these retreats that I soon realized that I wanted to give something back: I joined the SWS2000 retreat committee. I have been on several other retreat committees, serving as chair for Summer 2003, Winter 2006, and co-chair Winter 2007. I decided I wanted to do more to promote the WomanSpirit retreats and joined the Women and Religion Committee in 2006; I became co-chair in 2007 and chair in 2008. My work on WomanSpirit retreat committees and the Women and Religion committee has been rewarding both because I can help create retreats that nourish the women who attend and because of the friendships I have formed with other women on these committees. I hope every woman who attends these retreats finds what she is looking for. Please consider joining a retreat committee or the Woman and Religion committee. The rewards are enormous."

Karen Books

Sherry Dearborn 2005-2009
Co-Chair 2006-2008, Past Chair 2008-9
Ronora 2006 Liaison, Winter WS 2009 Chair and Liaison

My first contact with the Unitarian Church was in Cleveland, Ohio, about 25 years ago. I was excited and relieved to find a church home where I did not have to know the "correct" answers! Since moving to Peoria after my 1993 marriage to husband, Bob, I've attended almost all of the Winter WomanSpirit Conferences and two of the Summer WomanSpirit Conferences at Ronora Lodge. This gathering of women recharges me, and continues to lift my Spirits on this life journey.

In 2005, I served as the Ambiance Chair on the Winter Committee for the conference in Springfield, IL. That opportunity to try something I had never attempted before gave me the courage to contemplate becoming part of the Women and Religion Committee. As a member, and present co-chair of Women and Religion, I have experienced that women are amazingly strong, resilient, creative, collaborative and spiritual beings. We need to gather to support and nurture each other in a world that is often harsh and divisive and to teach and learn from each other. We need to spread our words of compassion and love, and to celebrate our Divinely Feminine abilities! I am extremely grateful to serve with this group of Women in this Life.


Pat Reed 2006-2009
Treasurer 2007-2009

I was introduced to Unitarian Universalism in College at UW - Oshkosh and was active in the fellowship there and in Student Religious Liberals. When I moved to the Chicago area I became active in the Unitarian Church of Evanston, teaching Sunday School, serving on the RE committee and the Board. After 17 years there I moved and became active at the NorthShore Unitarian church in Deerfield. I taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and served as chair of the RE board. I served on the committee for both Winter Womanspirits that were held at NSUC and have attended most of the winter Womanspirits and several of the summer ones. I served a term on the CAUUC board. I regularly attend the fall conference put on by the Women's Connection and Summer Assembly. The Goddess has called me in many ways since I began to learn about her at a workshop I took at Summer Assembly over 20 years ago. I hope that by serving on the W & R committee I can bring her into the lives of many more women so they can be opened to her abundance.

Karen Fisette 2006-2009
Secretary 2007-2009
Ronora 2007 Liaison

Karen is a member of the Elkhart UU Fellowship, and hangs out with the Serenity Sisters.

Renae Rebecchini 2005-2008

Scholarship Goddess 2008-
Past Chair (Grandmother) 2007-8
Co-Chair 2006-2007

Renae is currently Scholarship Goddess. While she was on W&R, she did a lot of work contacting and negotiating with our keynote speakers.

Barbara Carraway 2006-2007

Ronora Committee 2010
Silent Auction Chair

Karin Janowski 2004-2007

Treasurer 2005-2007
Ronora 1999 Registrar

Ronora 2000 Chair
WWS2008 Registrar

Karin spent many years working in international banking. She is currently working in a middle school as an aide, and spent many hours working on W&R budgets and passing along the Treasurer's job to Pat Reed. She was "Winged" as a WiseWoman at our Annual Meeting in May 2007. She lives in a Chicago suburb with her huband and two lovely cats. A member of Prairyearth and UUC Hinsdale, she works with many other community organizations.

Jean Pierce 2001-2005
Scholarship Chair
Past Chair 2003-2004
Sophia Magazine Liaison
WS2002 Liaison

My husband and I became UU's when our first son was born. This was an easy transition for me, since I had grown up in the Congregational church. We attend the UU Society of Geneva, IL. Since I am an educator, we taught every level of RE as our sons got older. One summer we chaperoned their YRUU group on a Habitat for Humanity trip to Morristown, Tennessee. My spirit is nourished by opportunities to interact with women of all ages on their life journeys.

Beth Ligouri 2003-2006
Secretary
Ronora 2004 Liaison

I became a member of Countryside Church in Palatine in 1990 and soon after got involved with the local women's group. In 1991, a friend and I founded a women's ritual circle based on the concept of shared leadership that lasted for about five years. In 2001, we started a new circle, which is going strong today. I attended my first WomanSpirit conference in Madison in 1993 and have missed very few winter and summer conferences in the intervening years. I was a workshop presenter at the second Ronora conference and was a Ronora committee member for the 3rd annual conference.

I joined the W&R committee in August of 1998 and helped to organize the January conference at my home church, Countryside. I regrettably stepped down from the committee shortly after the winter conference because I did not have the energy to commit my self to the responsibilities since I was in the midst of building a blended family and in career transition. Since then I am pleased to report I am happily married with two teenage stepchildren living in our home. Also, I have moved further along in my career transition by becoming a certified project manager in 2005.

I eagerly completed my commitment to the W&R committee once my life was more settled and now I proudly stand as a Grandmother/Wise Woman to this very meaningful work. I brought back to the committee not only more years of ritual leadership, but also the professional education and skills I have acquired in project management. And finally, this presented a unique opportunity for me to integrate my professional and personal life in service to the women in our district. Blessed Be!

"Butterfly" Peggy Stevens 2003-2007
Past Chair 2006-2007
Chair 2005-2006
W&R Treasurer
WS2001 local Treasurer

The First Unitarian Church of Chicago in Hyde Park was my church for more than fifty years. I met my husband Bill at the Unitarian Sunday School class in about fifth grade. We were married in 1960 while we both attended the University of Chicago. Bill went on to law school while I raised our two boys.
When the kids were grown, I finished my degree in Anthropology at the University of Chicago. After graduating in 1980 I took up photography full time. I produced and presented slide shows on a variety of subjects, printed both color and black and white photographs, and exhibited my work. I taught Spring Wildflowers and Energy, Population Growth and the Earth: Sustaining a Livable World at DePaul, and Darkroom Photography at the Hyde Park Art Center for many years.

Bill and I moved to Lakeside, Michigan in 1997. We live in the woods close to Lake Michigan. We joined the First Unitarian Church in South Bend, Indiana where I soon became involved with the Women's Spirituality Group. I was treasurer on the Local Committee of WomanSpirit 2001 which we hosted in South Bend. I was also very involved with making the CD As the River We Flow. I enjoy planning and leading rituals with this wonderful group of women.
Currently I work from my home and studio, writing poetry, family history, ecology and women's ritual, as well as my art which includes photography, collage art, jewelry and mixed media. I have had my art exhibited in various shops in the area. My other interests include astronomy, archeology, ecology, drumming and women's issues.

Patti Ussery 2003-2006
Sophia Magazine Editor 2002-2006

Claudia Dancing

... is often found at our retreats, happily mentoring and interacting with the women there. She enjoys doing photography for W&R and many of her photos are posted on our photo site.

Susan Zuern
Lending Library Goddess 2002-2004
Wise Woman (1999-2002)
Past Secretary

My first role with the W&R committee was as co-chair for Womanspirit 98 at my church, Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield Wisconsin. After that I worked on the Ronora committee for "Weaving the Women's Web". (I forget what year that was) I was asked to join the W&R committee in 1999, and finished my three year term in 2002. While on the committee, I served as secretary, librarian, and liason to the Ronora committee in 2001. Since my "retirement" I've kept track of the W&R library, and have worked to organize women's retreats in my area. I also am an occasional vendor, selling painted chairs, brooms, hammers, and fabric and herb products.

Dr. Misty Sheehan
Wise Woman (2001-2004)
Continental W&R Liaison 2003-
Secretary 2002-2004
WS2002 Site and Food

I was glad to be back in W&R. I was a member of one of the original teams in Michigan from 1978-1984, then went abroad to discover how other religions and cultures supported women and their religious needs. I have retired from teaching philosophy and humanities at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn -- except for a couple of online classes. To me, the forest is my connection with the earthmother; kayaking down a stream on a summer's day is my idea of heaven. In November 2008 I finally finished my doctorate and am still teaching online courses at College of DuPage and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. I have served as co-convener of the re-formed Continental Women and Religion team and am working on establishing a Heartland District W&R Committee from my new home in Northern Michigan.

Carol Hosmer
Roadshow Goddess 2002-2004
Wise Woman (1998-2002)
Treasurer 1999-2000
Chair 2000-2001

I have been a member of a Unitarian Universalist church since 1973 when I was searching for a religious experience that would satisfy both my needs as an inquiring human being and the religious education of my young sons. My husband is a life long UU, growing up as the son of a Universalist minister. Having grown up in the Presbyterian Church, it took me awhile to embrace the freedom of thought encouraged by the UUs.

I have found that earth-centered spirituality speaks the most clearly to me, thus since 1993 I have been participating in women's rituals, conferences and retreats. I took on my first leadership role in 1996 when I chaired the Camp Ronora Committee. I continued as chair in 1997 and in 1998 was asked to join the Women & Religion Committee. I served as liaison to the local planning committee in Palatine for the 1999 "Tending the Fire" WomanSpirit. In 2000, I was liaison to the local planning committee in Milwaukee. I chaired the W & R Committee from 2000-2001.

I served two years as the Roadshow Goddess, a designation given to me by the committee. In my professional life, I was the District Office Manager for the Central Midwest District, UUA for over 8 years and had the great joy of being able to communicate with and serve many of the more than 12,000 UUs in 70+ congregations in our five state district.

Now "retired," I live in a beautiful area of Pennsylvania and look forward to spending more time with family, including some terrific grandchildren.

Gretchen Ohmann

Wise Woman (2001-2004)
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Roadshow Goddess 2004-2010
Webweaver 2001-
Treasurer 2001-2002
Ronora 2003 Liaison, WWS2008 Chair

I grew up the eldest of three girls in NW Michigan, learning Unity metaphysical teachings at home along with occasional protestant church attendance. I’ve been a UU since 1984, participating in my local Fellowship in Southwest Michigan in several ways — music, RE, board, newsletter. My partner Patrick and I raised our daughter in the UU church, hoping she’d find her own spiritual way in the world. She did. Now in her thirties, she’s devoted to her Christian church and has done lots of volunteer work with inner-city kids.

Things I enjoy are: music, guitar, DRUMMING!, circles of women, and learning about diverse spiritual paths. I've worked as a screen printer and computer geek in the small t-shirt shop my partner and I owned for 25 years. We retired the shop at the end of 2004!

Now I'm office manager for W&R. I maintain the web site, paperwork, photos, archives, and the data and software tools we need to put on successful conferences. I'm also communications coordinator for the Central Midwest District, and I design web sites (ladyweave.com).

I also volunteer with the Continental UU Women and Religion core group, as their storekeeper, and was elected in 2008 to serve as co-convener with Rev. Shirley Ranck.

Elly Wynia
Wise Woman (1999-2003)
Past Chair 2002-2003
WS2001 Liaison
Past Secretary
Scholarship Chair 2003-2004

Sally Gonzalez
Wise Woman (1999-2003)
Past Chair 2001-2002
Past Treasurer 2000-2001
WS2003 Liaison

I was born in 1954, the first of three children. We lived in Indiana in the mists of the steel mills until we each went our separate ways after high school. My siblings and I were very distant up until a few years ago — when we spoke to each other as adults. I am thrilled that we are close now and truly enjoy each other’s company. In 1996, a dear friend told me about a Women's Conference she had attended. She glowed as she related the details of that event and I knew then that I needed and wanted that same experience. I went to Ronora that year and have been involved ever since. I am a past chair for Women and Religion and was the liaison for the 2003 WomanSpirit Conference in Rockford. Professionally, I was a Chicago Police Officer for 17 years. For several years I managed the Ronora Lodge and Retreat Center where W&R has held so many of our wonderful summer conferences. I’m a single parent of a handsome son, Nicholas, now in his thirties. I am a member of the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

Julie Ann Schleifer
Wise Woman (1997-2000)
Ronora 2004 Chair

Julie Ann has always loved to hug trees. She became involved in the women's spirituality in the early 1990's while attending Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, WI. She started a Women's Spirituality Group at UU-West that continued for over 5 years. The group, which Julie Ann lovingly refers to as her "church ladies," still meets 8 times a year, but now at various homes. Julie Ann is a Women & Religion "wise woman," becoming a member of the Women & Religion Committee in 1997. Along with Susan Zuern, she co-chaired the 1998 WomanSpirit Conference in Brookfield, then went on to serve as liaison to Ronora and to WomanSpirit 2000, and was "book keeper" of the W&R lending library. She served as Ritual Chair at Ronora 2003 and is chair of Ronora 2004. Julie Ann lives in the Bay View area of Milwaukee, WI in a 116-year old house she shares with her diva dog, Gracie. She works as an office coordinator for the Milwaukee Fire Department (she likes things hot!) and enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, the arts (both visual and performing) and walking Gracie. She is looking forward to eventually moving where she never has to see snow again and hugging lots of palm trees.

Mickey Callahan 2001-2005
Past Chair 2004-2005
Past Scholarship Chair
Ronora 2002 Liaison
WS2004 Liaison

I could tell you some facts about myself. I could tell you that, in 1954, I was born the third child in what grew to be a very large Irish Catholic liberal family, and was raised in the far south suburbs of Chicago. I could tell you that I've been married to my best friend for 30 years, and we have four children and one grand-daughter. I could tell you I've been an active member of my UU church for over ten years, and my husband and I owned and manage an Ace Hardware store that his ancestors founded in 1901. These days I enjoy working in a bookstore. But those facts wouldn't tell you that I feel most at peace in the forest, or that my favorite color is blue. The facts don't reveal that Bob and I feel our spiritual life was opened for us during the years of birthing our four children at home, then finding our church, and how our marriage is both joyful and mysterious. Finally, I am humbly grateful and always inspired by the women I meet through W&R.

Janet Nortrom 1997-2000