Annette Harmon, administrative assistant and financial secretary of Salem United Methodist Church in Covington attended the 28th Annual Conference of the Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries which was held in Orlando, April 15 – 18. More than 215 professionals representing United Methodist offices on various levels, both nationally and internationally, were in attendance.

Let Your Light Shine was the theme for this conference which focused on a variety of church-related topics that also included a touch of motivational inspiration. Beanie Rankin, assistant director of records and statistics at GCFA presented an educational seminar, "Every Member Counts and We Count Every Member," detailing guidelines for permanent record keeping within the church. Ms. Rankin also provided a workshop on "Effective Cyber Communication." During another segment, Vicki Wallace, director of The United Methodist Church’s Info Serve, explained how churches can reach out to those outside their doors.

Educator, speaker, and author, Barbara Bruce provided the conference’s motivation through her seminar entitled "Keeping Your Mind, Body, and Soul Healthy in the Workplace."

Each year, the PAUMCS Annual Conference is sponsored by one of the local chapters of PAUMCS. Annually, these conferences provide continuing education and a supportive professional network. The organization, established in 1982 under the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church, fosters individual growth, professional development and spiritual enrichment for members from the United States, Russia and Africa.

Annette Harmon received recognition for renewing her professional certification. She is a member of the Class of 2006 from the PAUMCS Institute and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Georgia Chapter of PAUMCS will hold their Annual Conference at Salem United Methodist Church in Covington, August 26 – 29.