North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) delegates, meeting in Portland on Sunday, Oct. 1, re-elected officers Jere Patzer, president, Bryce Pascoe, secretary, and Norman Klam, treasurer, for the 2006 through 2011 term. All three were elected by more than 90 percent of the nearly 300 voting delegates.
Delegates also dealt with several recommended changes in the constitution, including approval for an official change of address for the NPUC office once it moves into new Ridgefield, Wash., headquarters and a change of title for the Hispanic and regional affairs directors: from assistant to the president to vice president.
Many of the delegates came to Portland for the entire weekend in order to attend the final couple of days of the Northwest Adventist Leadership Convention. The convention theme of "Share the Light" carried over to the constituency session as well. Discussion grew intense and lengthy at times, yet remained consistently respectful and thoughtful.
While North American Division president Don Schneider gave the devotional and presided over the election of the officers, NPUC president, Jere Patzer, remarkably fit following his most recent chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma, stood at the podium most of the day as chair of the session. He returned to the hospital just two days later to begin the final two treatments which are projected to be finished by the first of December.
NPUC departmental directors are scheduled to be elected by the Executive Committee at its November meeting.
The NPUC officers re-elected during the constituency session on Oct. 1, from left: treasurer Norman Klam and his wife Marlene, president Jere Patzer and his wife Sue, Genia and Bryce Pascoe, executive secretary.
Vern Pritchard of Vale, Ore., chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, touches the key pad on a wireless voting instrument to cast his vote on an issue. This voting system allowed for virtually instantaneous tally of the various votes taken during the session.
Juan Prestol, NAD treasurer (right), presents Jere Patzer, NPUC president (left), with a check for $196,000 to be used for evangelism in the Northwest. Don Schneider, NAD president (center), and Roscoe Howard executive secretary (rear), participated in this gift.
Don Livesay, Oregon Conference president, presides during the noon caucus selection of members to serve on the NPUC Executive Committee for the next five years.
Jere Patzer, NPUC president and chairman of the Walla Walla College board, presides during the discussion and voting for the change of name from Walla Walla College to Walla Walla University.
John Wilkins, an appointed delegate from Spokane, addresses the chair with a question during the session.
