Rev. Betsy Tabor, Minister
In May 2016, the UUFES congregation called Rev. Betsy Tabor to serve as our settled minister. A New Englander, Betsy grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts and has lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire over 30 years. After college, where she majored in Russian Studies, she worked in development at Harvard University’s Russian Research Center and then received an MBA from Columbia University. She lived and worked in NYC another ten years until moving with her husband John to Portsmouth where they raised a daughter and son, both back-country skiers and engineers out west.
Well into her forties, Betsy found herself swept up by the poetry of Unitarian Universalist worship. Eventually she embarked on the path to ministry. She graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 2014, winning the school preaching prize. She interned for two years at the UU Church of Reading, Massachusetts, and also completed three units of chaplaincy training in Portland, Maine – one at Mercy Hospital and two at Maine Medical Center.
Rev. Betsy was ordained in June 2016 at South Church in Portsmouth, NH. She serves UUFES as a 3/4-time minister and leads worship two to three times a month throughout the year. She is also available for weddings, memorial services and other ministerial services.
Shana Aisenberg, Director of Music
Shana is an acoustic musician, composer, singer, songwriter and writer. She has metamorphosed many times throughout her career, artistically and personally. On any given Sunday, you’ll hear Shana play piano, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, ukulele or percussion.
She incorporates diverse music styles, including Appalachian, Celtic, Klezmer, blues, gospel and jazz. Shana has performed nationally, recorded numerous albums and written music instruction books. She’s taught at workshops and festivals nationwide and teaches private students and classes locally at The Community School in Tamworth and at Mountain Top Music Center in Conway.
Marion Posner, Children & Youth Program
Marion Posner grew up in Scotland, England, and Wales before returning to her birthplace, Tamworth, with her family in the 1990’s. Her working life has encompassed international Human Rights, teaching and hands-on educational research, writing, acting and storytelling. Since living here, she and her husband, Richard, have established a small school, Tamworth Learning Circles, and a children’s theatre company, Snapdragon. They have designed and run ‘Walking Through History’ trips in Europe.
Paul Priestman, Administrator
Paul brings a rich mix of life experience to UUFES. For many years, in Oregon and California, he administered not-for-profit health and social services agencies.
A good writer with a good eye, he’s created a website and waits tables at Flatbread Company in North Conway. Paul lives right down the street from UUFES. He is in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.