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Remembering Melvin D. George (1936-2016)
To put faith into action in the secular world and to explore the natural habitat of 17 species of penguins – Mel George persistently pursued these activities much to the admiration of his colleagues and friends. Mel was a mentor to many students throughout his academic career and found joy in the music of Mozart. Mel was active on the Vesper Society board of directors since 1999 and served as a corporate member since 2004. His keen intellect and ability to speak on a broad range of topics from a place of thoughtful observation was valued by all. Born on February 13, 1936, in Washington, D.C., Mel became active in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as an undergraduate at Northwestern University. There, he and his wife Meta, were first introduced to the Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler, the man who would become his mentor and friend and whose life in ministry the couple worked tirelessly to archive for future generations. It was Sittler’s teachings that Mel turned to for inspiration during his long career as a university administrator, as president of St. Olaf College, a private Lutheran college in Minnesota, and twice as interim president of the University of Missouri. Mel took to heart Sittler’s teaching on the role of Christians in protecting the environment, something the theologian believed was a mandate from God. Mel’s fondness for penguins, a modern-day ‘canary in the mines’ for climate change, led to Mel and Meta’s travels around the world studying the mostly endangered species. Mel died on April 25, 2016, at his Columbia, Missouri home. His long-time friend Bill Bondeson said it was appropriate that Mel died on World Penguin Day. Mel was laid to rest at Holden Lutheran Church in Kenyon,... Read More
Interfaith Celebration
From the very beginning, Vesper Society saw vocation as a way to exercise one’s power in the world, putting faith into action competently and effectively for the common good. To honor that legacy, Vesper Society held an interfaith celebration at California Lutheran University as its capstone event in its 50th anniversary year. Rooted in the Lutheran tradition, Vesper Society understands we have our own faith and spiritual traditions that call us to serve. In the 21st century we need to add another layer – that of interfaith understanding and interfaith literacy – for in order to serve well in a global and local context, we must understand the traditions and values of others. At the March 12 Saturday banquet, long-time Vesper friends sat alongside recent California Lutheran University graduates to share stories about their own interfaith journeys. California Lutheran University educates leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Program speakers included Pastor Bill Harman, Professor Colleen Windham-Hughes, Interfaith Allies alumna Rebecca Cardone, and Professor Rahuldeep Gill. After viewing historic photos of the Parliament of World Religions over the years, we learned how Interfaith Allies continues to blossom. Sunday opened with an interactive interfaith prayer service “Gather Us In” organized by Pastor Melissa Maxwell-Doherty. Participants sang, read verses from different traditions, and wrote words of hope on smooth rocks that will be placed throughout the California Lutheran University campus. A procession from the prayer service led to a communal lunch hosted by Vesper Society. During a vegetarian meal, participants learned about the Sikh tradition of Langar from Professor Rahuldeep Gill. Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness, and oneness of humankind. We were delighted that the Interfaith Youth Core national conference attendees... Read More
Remembering George Spindt (1920-2016)
To make a contribution in the world: This was George Spindt’s desire across his almost 70 years of ministry. In Vesper Society, where he served as an executive and board member, he found kindred spirits who shared his ambition. Born on June 21, 1920, George grew up in Pasadena and attended Trinity Lutheran Church where he assisted the pastor with worship alongside Vesper Society cofounder Bob Cummings. In 1949, George went to Germany as director of a refugee resettlement for the Lutheran World Federation where he was immersed in the challenges of post-war Europe and the role of the church in building a new society. George returned to the U.S. in 1951 and led churches in Tucson, Arizona, and Van Nuys, California. A tragic 1957 midday plane crash on a junior high school playing field in the Southern California community of Pacoima highlighted the need for a local hospital. A group of congregations mobilized to launch Pacoima Memorial Lutheran Hospital and George served on the hospital’s board. It was this connection that led to the eventual sale of San Leandro Memorial Lutheran Hospital to Vesper Society. In 1963, George became pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Redwood City, California. After Pacoima Memorial purchased San Leandro Memorial, George became a point of contact for the troubled venture in Northern California. George had stayed in contact with Bob Cummings who was now in real estate development and was providing management consulting services with a mutual friend, Gene Heckathorn. After Gene and Bob founded Vesper Society in 1965, George connected them with San Leandro Memorial’s banker, and in 1966 Vesper Society took over formal management of San Leandro Memorial Hospital. Gene and Bob regarded the hospital as a laboratory for lay leaders to work out their vocation in the world. And George... Read More
Welcome Imperial Valley 4-H
At Vesper Society, we are dedicated to long-term solutions that help communities help themselves. One example of this is the University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) 4-H youth development program in Imperial County. Around the world, 4-H encourages young people and adults to volunteer. Through service learning—a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection—members learn civic responsibility and strengthen their communities. 4-H youth who excel in leadership and community service are selected to serve the 4-H Youth Development Program as a 4-H All Star—a leader among the organization. And Imperial Valley 4-H’s five-day Team Camp Council program helps youth foster awareness and behavior change in areas related to environmental sustainability. Learn more about Imperial Valley 4-H here. Miyoko Oshima,... Read More
Introducing IVROP Project RISE
Bordering on Mexico, Imperial Valley youth work towards a better future. In a county with a 21% unemployment rate, and where agriculture accounts for 49 percent of all employment, the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) is a public education service that introduces students to new career opportunities and teaches them technical and life skills. It was formed by seven unified school districts in collaboration with the Imperial County Office of Education. One of IVROP’s projects, Project RISE (Relationships Inspire Success and Excellence), aims to create an asset building culture that contributes to the educational developmental of young people. They do this by engaging schools, social services, health care organizations, and businesses in Imperial County. In January 2015, with support from Vesper Society, Project RISE surveyed over 1,100 Imperial County high school freshmen attending Brawley Union, Central Union, and Southwest. The survey, the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), was developed by Search Institute and has been administered to more than 5 million diverse children and youth to date. It identifies a set of skills, experiences, relationships, and behaviors that enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults. As a result of Project RISE’s survey in Imperial County, a group of freshman students created the Brawley High School Asset Ambassadors “Wild Cats in Action” after attending a three-week Leadership Asset Training course. Their projects included attending the Brawley Parks and Recreation Summer Camp in 2016, where they were each assigned a group of young people to mentor and were able to apply their leadership skills in group activities. Vesper Society believes that the future well-being of our communities lies in the hands of our youth. Tomorrow’s leaders need support and encouragement to make maximum impact on our communities. With support from Vesper Society, IVROP’s Project RISE has established long-term... Read More
Welcome Women’s Community Clinic
At Vesper Society, we seek out overlooked communities and help them devise ways to create a healthy future. One of the ways we do this is by supporting the Women’s Community Clinic (the Clinic) in San Francisco. Though San Francisco is known as a thriving and prosperous city, many of its residents—especially low-income, homeless, and marginalized women—have limited or no access to preventative healthcare. The Women’s Community Clinic, founded in 1999 by a group of volunteer graduates from the UCSF School of Nursing, believes that preventive, educational care is essential to lifelong health and that all women deserve excellent healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay. The Clinic works hard to ensure that each client feels comfortable and safe in a warm and welcoming environment. Their treatments are culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and tailored to each client’s needs and circumstances. Learn more about the Clinic here. Miyoko Oshima,... Read More