Lay

Leslie K. Blakemore (St. Andrew’s, Cleveland)
I am a life long member of St. Andrew's Cleveland. I am a retired investigative probation officer for Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court after serving 34 years. I also worked 14 years part time at Cuyahoga Hills Boys School. I am presently completing my second tour on the vestry at my parish and am presently serving as the junior warden. I am also the chairman of our Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the chairperson of our Church Foundation. Previously I was the treasurer of the Foundation for 6 years. I have served on the Budget and Finance Committee for the past six years and was recently appointed to the ECS Development Council.

I am interested in serving on the ECS Development Council. I feel that my background of helping others as well as my talents involving budget would be helpful in this position. The ECS Development Council evaluates applications for programs that "serve those in critical need through Episcopal parish programming, parishioners, and collaborative community services". It is through these funding decisions and program evaluations that the money collected in the Bishop's Annual Appeal is dispersed. With my experiences in budgeting I would be well positioned to evaluate programs and help expand our outreach in this area.

Anne Schwan (Our Saviour, Akron)
I taught special education and art for 14 years and still maintain an interest in education issues. From 2000-2006, I served as Projects Chair for the Highland Foundation for Educational Excellence where my responsibilities included gathering, reviewing and facilitating grants made to our local school district. I am actively involved in the Children’s Christian Education program, and I currently serve as the co-chair of the Outreach Committee at Church at Our Saviour.

I have served on the ECS Development Council for the last three years. It has been a fulfilling experience for me; I have been inspired to see all of the many wonderful projects that are being done across the diocese. It has been a joy to serve on this committee, and I would be honored to serve a second term.

George Siss (Redeemer, Lorain)
For 8 years, from 2001 to 2009, I served as the Director of Adult Religious Education at Church of the Redeemer. Since 2008, I have worked as Director of the Community Hot-Meals Program, main duties are writing grants, seeking funds to sustain the program, and delivering donated food and fresh produce to other food pantries and meal sites in the surrounding Lorain area. At the diocesan level, I am completing my third year on the ECS Committee; served on the Commission on Peace and Justice, the Commission on Mission and Ministry, and as a parish representative for ERD. Prior to coming to the Diocese of Ohio, I worked in the Diocese of Spokane, serving at St. Luke’s Church, Wenatchee for a year as their DRE and Director of the community “soup kitchen” that served migrant workers. For 6 years in the Diocese of Quincy, served as the DRE at St. Andrew in Peoria, as diocesan Curriculum Specialist and Vice-Chairperson of the Commission on Education; and as a representative for Province V Education and Youth Task Forces for the diocese, and as a regional coordinator for the Food Share Program. I was an adjunct instructor for 6 years, teaching Social Ethics at Illinois Central College, a branch of Illinois State University, in East Peoria.

I bring to the ECS Council a variety of experiences and a strong passion for the needs of the poor. In addition to my parish and educational experiences, I have been involved in mission projects covering the Appalachian region of southern Kentucky, the Oklahoma Indian reservations, and Habitat for Humanity in central Illinois. While in seminary in Boston, specializing in Social Ethics/Urban Missions, I interned as an outreach worker at Old West United Methodist Community Mission Center and Shelter; as a legislative research aide for Senator George McGovern in Washington, D.C.; and as a teaching assistant at Northeastern University, teaching Contemporary Moral Problems. I have a strong insight for the poor and understand the realities of what poverty can do to people. If elected again, I will bring my passion for the poor to the forefront, hoping, praying and supporting those agencies that can provide the needs that the poor deserve in order to live healthy and productive lives.

Roger Smith (St. Peter’s, Ashtabula)
Because of my experience as a Guidance Counselor for 30+ years, I have an insight into the needs of people. As the Senior Warden of my church and as an active parishioner, I recognize the need for collaboration among our church and the community.

I have served for 3 years on ECS and feel that I have contributed to the work of the Diocese. In my own community I am involved in the types of outreach ministries supported and encouraged by ECS.

Richard Wilkison (St. Matthew’s, Brecksville)
I am a member of St. Matthew’s, Brecksville, where I am currently serving on the Vestry and am a Stephens Ministry Leader. I am also serving my third year as a member of the ECS Development Council serving on the Health and Homeless subcommittee. I have had much experience working in the outreach programs supported by the ECS program such as working at “food bank” programs, Habitat for Humanity, and a mission trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to work with those suffering from the horrible damage caused by tornadoes in April of this year. I am confident that with the experience gained in auditing “grant requests” and my hands-on experiences with programs for homeless and health issues I can continue to make a positive contribution to the ECS Council.

One reason that I appreciate serving on ECS Council is that I have seen the sadness and stress that our current economy has upon a wide range of our local population and knowing how helpful the various organizations, endorsed by our parishes, are in serving the needs in their areas. The sad part is that we don’t have the funding to meet nearly all of the financial requests and we have to carefully allocate (in a good Christian manner) the funds that are available in order to be an effective community outreach of the parishes and the Diocese.

Clergy