Live Streaming: NAFWB worship services | NYC services
Saying Goodbye to Dari Goodfellow, Convention Registration Coordinator
For 14 years, Dari Goodfellow quietly made a tremendous impact on the national convention. You probably know her best as the smiling face behind the registration desk, the registration coordinator who juggles thousands of pre-registration forms, keeps lines short onsite, and answers hundreds of “where, when, who, and how much” questions from convention registrants.
Dari’s convention responsibilities started long before the 2000 convention in Anaheim, California, when she began her role as registration coordinator. In 1982, she joined the convention staff when she and her husband Sandy recorded the convention services. She went to work for the Executive Office in 1991 and worked in the Exhibit Hall for several years, managing the Executive Office booth and selling subscriptions to Contact magazine. “Since the beginning,” Dari says, “I have loved, loved, loved seeing and connecting with Free Will Baptist friends. It is always a highlight of my year.”
Dari has not been alone in these convention adventures. Her husband Sandy has worked many years as computer support technician, while friends Mike and Sherry Anderson have long been instrumental in recording, registration, and computer networking. “We are a package deal,” Dari chuckles.
Sadly, their efficient convention “package” will reach its destination this year in Tampa. Dari plans to retire October 31, relinquishing the registration coordinator position to Debbie Burden, who has worked as Executive Office receptionist since 2004 and convention exhibit manager since 2008. Mike, Sherry, and Sandy will join her in “retiring” from the convention staff as well.
As Dari looks back over her tenure as registration coordinator, she points to improvements in the registration process as her greatest accomplishment. “Through the years the registration process has been streamlined considerably and is now almost painless.” She quickly follows that observation, however, with two pieces of advice for future convention-goers: “Always pre-register,” she urges, “and do it online. Then, once you get onsite, remember the most important part of any good registration process…patience!”
As Dari takes her final bow, she shares some words of gratitude. “I want to thank Melvin Worthington, former executive secretary, who hired me and gave me the opportunity to serve; thanks to Jack Williams, Contact magazine editor, mentor, and friend; the wonderful group of registration volunteers who made my job easy each year; and, the best for last, the Executive Office staff—you are an awesome group to work with!”
Same to you, Dari! You will be missed.
About the Tuesday Speakers
Larry Clyatt, pastor of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Lake Butler, FL, has been ordained for 44 years. He served as the moderator of Tennessee from 1983-1986, moderator of Illinois from 1989-2002, and as board member for Randall House Publications Board, Illinois Missions Board and currently serves on Florida’s Missions Board. Clyatt attended York College in York, Nebraska, and graduated from Welch College in 1969. Larry Clyatt says that he is “blessed with eight grandchildren.”
Preaching Conference
Oral McAffee is the pastor of Bristol Free Will Baptist Church in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was ordained in 2000, and in the past has served as pastor of Lansdowne Free Will Baptist Church and Plaster Rock Free Will Baptist Church. He obtained a degree in Telecommunications from New Brunswick Institute of Technology, and in 1992 earned his Graduate of Theology Degree from Bethany Bible College and Theological Seminary. Oral McAffee is currently the moderator of the Atlantic Canada Association, and has served in that role a total of nine years.
Tim Stout, pastor of Heritage Free Will Baptist Church, was ordained in 1980, and has pastored at White Oak Hill, Canaan Land, Mt. Olive, and Thomas Memorial churches. He serves on the Home Missions Board, the Ohio Free Will Baptist Mission Board, the Board of Directors for Dr. Freddy Dutton Evangelistic Ministries. Stout attended Welch College and in 2011 received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Bethany Divinity College and Seminary.