Rotary President Robert Diaz introduced Rotary's newest member, Mother Christine Petersen-Snyder who is the first female rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. She hails from the Scandinavian Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge. Her husband Daniel is a clinical social worker. Mother Christine has two daughters.

Her eldest daughter is a middle school teacher in Queens and her youngest daughter is a college student studying in Edinburgh, Scotland. Though raised Catholic, her father and grandfather were Protestant. She always felt drawn to the Protestant church and ultimately that was her calling. Prior to becoming a member of the clergy, she worked in the Financial District of New York City. After leaving Wall Street, she worked in an adult treatment center as the recreational therapist coordinator. She learned that she liked helping people as well as leading them in Christian prayers. After graduating from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, she served for two years as associate rector and chaplain of St. Peter's Church in Bay Shore. She is excited to be now leading the congregation of St. Thomas in Farmingdale. Nancy White responded for the Rotary. Nancy was the first female Farmingdale Rotarian and its first female president. Nancy knows that Mother Christine Petersen-Snyder will be a big asset for the Rotary.