We are delighted to announce that we have two new members on the Global Steering Committee! Please join us in welcoming Sheilah O’Connor and Stephanie Leasure!
Serving as an executive and consistency committee, the Global Steering Committee (GSC) is responsible for maintaining the high standards and reputation of CSTS, and is a repository of CSTS knowledge for the Global Team and Local Event Organisers. We also support the Global Event Coordinator (GEC), can step in if the GEC is unable to continue in that capacity or needs additional help, and provide a recourse for Local Event Organisers if they have issues that need additional support beyond the Global Team. The GSC is made up of past Global Team members with lots of experience with CSTS at a global and local level, and who are passionate about CSTS.
Sheilah O’Connor (Canada) has been involved in CSTS since our first year back in 2006. She’s been a Local Event Organiser (5 years: CSTS Toronto), Global Team member (5 years: Shepherd, Communications Director, Registrar, Donations Administrator and 2015 Global Event Coordinator), so she has a wide range of experience and knowledge to bring to the team.
Stephanie Leasure (United States) joined the CSTS community in 2007 as a local event volunteer. She has since served as a Local Event Organiser (2 years: CSTS Arlington) and Global Team Member (3 years: Webmaster). Her extensive technical experience also makes her a perfect fit for the role of Global Systems Administrator.
As we welcome two new members, we also prepare to say a fond farewell to Jen Cummings and Marg Grady, who will be retiring from the GSC at the end of March 2016. Jen and Marg have both served on the GSC for 5 years, since 2010.
Jen Cummings (Australia) started out as a co-Local Event Organiser of CSTS Vancouver in 2006, before returning to Australia in 2007 as a local team member for CSTS Melbourne and as a Regional Coordinator for CSTS Australia/New Zealand in 2008. She joined the Global Team in 2009 as Communications Director and stepped in as acting GEC at the end of that season, as well as being Local Event Coordinator for CSTS Melbourne. In 2010, Jen became the Asia Pacific Representative on the GSC, and has been Chair since that time. In addition to her responsibilities on the GSC and with CSTS Melbourne, Jen is the President of New Melbourne Browncoats Inc., and is very active in the Australian Browncoat community.
Marg Grady (United States) joined CSTS Phoenix as a team member in 2007 and was the Local Event Organiser in 2008. In 2009, she joined the Global Team as Donations Administrator, and was Treasurer for both CSTS Phoenix and CSTS Tucson. Marg became the North America Representative on the GSC in 2010. On top of her GSC commitments and work with local CSTS events, Marg helped to incorporate the Arizona Browncoats, was integral to Phoenix’s Browncoat Ball in 2013, and has been involved in running numerous sci-fi conventions for over 30 years.
We would like to thank both Jen and Marg for their tireless efforts with CSTS and wish them both great success as they move on to other endeavours.
Congrats to the new team and many thanks to the outgoing team. You’ve done a lot of good these past 10 years.
It’s hard to imagine the steering committee without Jen and Marg. You deserve a standing ovation, a toast or two and hearty ‘Hear! Hear!’ for the sheer number of hours you’ve put in over so many years. Thank you. Thank you so very much for everything you’ve done locally and globally. I can’t thank you enough.
And a hearty congratulations to the new steering team members. You’re going to do a fantastic job and I wish you well in the months and years to come.
As the organiser for CSTS Vancouver for 10 years, I know how much work goes in to local events and have a good idea of how much time and effort is involved in being on the Global Committee. I am grateful to Sheilah for her past and continued involvement with CSTS, for Stephanie stepping up to be the Global Systems Administrator, for Marg for all her help in the past and for Jen for all her years of dedication to the cause. I have a special relationship with Jen because, without her by my side, co-organising, encouraging and giving advice that first year, there probably wouldn’t have been a CSTS Vancouver. I would also like to give a special shoutout to Sheilah for encouraging me to do that first event and for advice and being a sounding board for the five years she was a local organiser and encouragement and support over the past five years as she has been on the CSTS Global Committee. I am proud to have Sheilah and Jen among my good friends. Browncoats are mighty!