Each year the conference is planned and organized by a leadership team consisting of the Conference Committee, the Youth Director, and the Registrar-Treasurer.

The Conference Committee is the governing board of the International Affairs Conference at Star Island, a nonprofit corporation (bylaws). Committee members serve for five years: three as members, one as Chair, and one as Chair Emeritus. At the end of each conference, a new member rotates on and the Chair Emeritus rotates off.

The Chair selects the theme and recruits speakers and the minister of the week. Each Committee member has a portfolio of responsibilities, including finding and recruiting program leaders and other volunteers, coordinating with Island staff to ensure a smooth week, and generally being available to attend to the needs of the conference.

Anthony Silva, Chair

Anthony first came to Star Island during IA week for an overnight in 2014 with his wife JoAnn to honor the memory of their close friend George Brandenburg. They’ve returned annually since that first visit.  Anthony retired from CBS in 2015 after a 37 year career at WBZ Radio and TV in Boston where he was the afternoon radio news anchor and New England Business Editor. He created a quarterly breakfast meeting series that attracted a wide range of business and technology experts including Richard Branson and Jack Welch. He also founded the Me&Thee Music series at the UU Church in Marblehead that is now in its 53rd season. Anthony has been a dedicated UU for 55 years and has held a variety of leadership positions in two congregations. Anthony and JoAnn live in Marblehead, MA.

Deb Nelson, Chair Emeritus

Deb began going to IA week with her mom, brother, and sister when she was six years old. It was her favorite week of the year. She took a break from Star after moving to California, started coming back with her sons seven years ago, and feels very grateful to be part of the IA community. On the mainland, Deb is executive director of the Just Economy Institute, a community of practice and leadership development program for financial activists. She’s been supporting, educating and connecting social entrepreneurs, impact investors and nonprofit leaders for two decades. Deb and her sons Sam and Will live in Berkeley, CA.

 

Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel, Committee Member

Rev. CTC (a UU parish minister currently serving in Arlington, VA) simply loves STAR. She’s been coming to the island for several years. Her first on-the-rock experience was in 2015 as a newly ordained UU Minister. “The week was magical. I felt the layers of stress and the weariness of spirit that often comes at the end of a church year just peel away the closer I got to STAR.”  Her journey from the Washington DC area to IAC includes several modes of transportation: Uber, Plane, Bus, and Uber to the Dock, all before finally boarding the Thomas Laighton. CTC enjoyed a few different SI conferences and then settled into our community in 2022. “IA is my place. Y’all are my people.” 

Off island, her ministry work focuses on Social Justice and Community engagement. She loves contemporary poetry, PBS mysteries, and Craft Beer. Her collection of NW Coastal Peoples Art continues to grow. What else? ” I couldn’t live without travel” (Paris, Prague, Normandy and NOLA in 2023). CTC has two adult children, a doodle pup named Preacher, and steals kisses from her two grandsons as often as possible.

Matt Goggin, Committee Member

Matt first came to Star Island for a single overnight in 2001 to visit his then girlfriend, Lauri Yanis. Lauri and her family had been attending the IA conference since the late 60s. Little did Matt know, but that night in 2001 was a trial run; fortunately he fell in love with the island and the people and has gladly returned to IA every year since.

Matt has retired from a few careers, including chemistry, biological research and teaching middle school science. He now enjoys retirement and focuses on his time on caring for his home and yard, volunteering at a local food bank and – most importantly – playing with his grandson, Castin.

Matt lives in the Berkshires with his wife Lauri and their two beloved felines.

Elizabeth Oshel, Committee Member

Elizabeth first came to Star as an infant, attending All Star 1 until she started working as a Pelican and met her husband their first year together as waitrae. As Pelicans, Elizabeth and Mike always felt IA was the best conference and were excited to start bringing their family in 2018. She has a long family connection to the island; her grandparents first came out in the 1940s. On the island, Elizabeth loves swimming (at least twice a day – Polar bear and in the afternoons!), walking the rocks, and knitting on the porch listening to the morning speakers, and never misses a sunset. Elizabeth lives in Bend, Oregon, where she works as a lawyer for the city.

Joy Greeley, Registrar and Treasurer

As Registrar/Treasurer, Joy handles many things that make IA run smoothly, including room assignments and travel arrangements for conferees and overnight guests. A longtime Shoaler (including five summers as a Pelican), she began attending IA in 2008 with her husband Bobby Williams and son Calvin.

Joy and Bobby live in Keene NH, and Calvin is now in college after his second summer as a Pelican.

For questions regarding registration, Joy may be reached at jdgreeley@yahoo.com

Katie Bender, Youth Program Coordinator

Our Youth Program is directed by Katie Bender, who has been an early childhood educator for nearly two decades. She is a life-long IA conferee and former Pel. Katie lives in Medfield, Massachusetts, with her husband Marc, their three children (Abby, Brooke, and Lilla), three cats, and their dog Bailey. In her spare time Katie loves to take walks in the woods with Bailey and relishes the rare opportunity to curl up with a cup of tea and a new book.