May 13, 1997-- YGTT. Young, Gifted, Talented Teens.
That’s the name that the first District Unit of Teen United Methodist Women chose for their unit at the organizational meeting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee last month. The District Unit represents the first of its kind in the United States.
The teen unit, along with the Reverend John Young of Key/Emery United Methodist Church and local advisor Dorethene Woods, met to organize, further define their purpose, select their name, and nominate their officers. On June 14, the celebration of the new unit will begin as the district holds an installation service for the new officers at Key Memorial United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro.
As a district unit, this teen group represents a new way of organizing United Methodist Women. District units form when there are women from different churches who choose to organize outside the local church. It is ideal for teenage units, like the new Murfreesboro District Unit; college or university units; workplace units; or retirement center units.
Rachel Givens, Coordinator of Membership, Nurture, and Outreach for the Murfreesboro District United Methodist Women, is the district sponsor and mentor of the new unit. The young officers include Heather Strode and Jaretha Whittaker, co-presidents; DiJi Jackson, vice president; April Sawyers, secretary; Mary Awokoya, treasurer; Kim Woods, communication coordinator; and Jada Whitlock, secretary of program resources.