Dec.
5
G e or g e F ox U n i v e r s i t y
Colleague
Next Issue: Jan. 9
Volume 12
No. 20
E m p l oy e e N e w s l e t t e r
Send news items to spatterson@georgefox.edu
P r e s i d e n t ’s P r o l o g u e
It’s Tassel Time
Christmas comes – and goes – once each year.
Something routine, even annually, sometimes
can lead to boredom. But it’s also true that we
don’t keep repeating events that are not
important to us.We never seem to get tired of
wearing red, white, and blue or having cookouts
on July 4. Similarly, I never get tired of
celebrating December 25 and the coming of
Jesus into the world.
Robert Pamplin Jr. will address some 250
graduates and receive an honorary
doctorate during the university’s midyear
commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. on
Saturday, Dec. 17, in Miller Gymnasium.
Pamplin is a businessman, philanthropist,
farmer, minister, and author of 13 books.
He has degrees in business, economics,
accounting, education, and theology and is
president and CEO of the R.B. Pamplin
Corp., a family-owned company with
annual sales approaching $700 million.
Prior to the graduation ceremony, there
will be an 11:30 a.m. luncheon for
graduates and their guests in the Klages
Dining Room.
The challenge, of course, in keeping Christmas
alive and fresh is not the regularity of the event
but rather the quality of the celebration. Our
culture has come to expect every celebration
to be bigger and better than the previous one.
Technology has enabled us to enhance most
experiences that appeal to our senses. The
fireworks on July 4 must be louder, brighter, and
longer each year than the year before or they’re
not successful. At Christmas time, this principle
seems to apply to decorations, gifts, and food more is better. Sometimes it seems even our
churches are required to have more
decorations, splashier music, and more
Christmas Eve services than last year.
Yule Get a Break
Students begin a three-week Christmas
break on Saturday, Dec. 17, and staff will
get off the week of Dec. 26-30.
Undergraduate classes resume on Monday,
Jan. 9, while some graduate programs,
including MAT at Night and MAT, MBA,
and MAOL programs in Boise, resume
classes the week of Jan. 2-6.The
university’s bookstores, libraries, and
offices, with the exception of Security
Services, will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
I ponder whether I need to address the quality
of my personal celebration. Is it possible to
become countercultural and simplify the
celebration rather than make it “bigger and
better” than last year? For example, I like the
relative simplicity – and the routine – of the
university’s annual lighting ceremony on the
quad: the lights are white and they go on shortly
after 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday of December.
Jesus came to bring light into the world. That’s
what this event and Christmas are all about. It
doesn’t need to be grander each year.
Christmas also has been commercialized for a
long time, but recently our culture seems to
have taken Christ’s name away from December
25. We now have a holiday season rather than
Christmas. One can celebrate whatever one
wants on December 25. I resent having this holy
day evolve into a generic holiday that serves
everyone in our culture somewhat equally. I
don’t have a solution for my resentment except
to state it out loud.
And, we can take some steps to assure the true
meaning of Christmas is retained. One way is by
making sure our cards are Christmas cards and
not happy holiday cards. The Christmas card
Melva and I are sending this year focuses on the
theme of light. Perhaps this is a holdover from
my optical physics days, but it works for me –
and the theme emphasizes this is Christmas.
in Kershner Lecture Hall.The keynote
speaker will be Mark Yaconelli, co-founder
and director of the Youth Ministry and
Spirituality Project at San Francisco
Theological Seminary.To register or get
fee information, go to kaleo.georgefox.edu.
Christmas Concert
The George Fox University Concert
Choir,Women’s Chorale, Symphonic
Band, and Strings will present a Christmas
concert, “Glory to the Newborn King,” at
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10,
in Bauman Auditorium.The George Fox
Bell Choir and Brass Ensemble will
perform at 7:10 p.m. prior to both
performances. Each concert costs $10 for
general admission, $8 for alumni and
seniors, and $6 for students and children.
Tickets are available by calling the box
office at ext. 3844 or visiting
music.georgefox.edu.
Hail Wassail
The George Fox community is invited to
the library’s annual wassail party from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, in the
Murdock Learning Resource Center’s
multi-purpose room.Wassail, cookies, and
coffee will be served.
Winter Weather
Happy 100th
Wondering if school has been closed
because of poor weather? To find out,
listen to local radio or television stations
for closure updates. Students and
employees may also check their e-mail,
call the university’s Newsline (503-554EVNT) or switchboard (503-538-8383),
or visit the websites of Portland-area
media outlets. If possible, decisions to
cancel classes or close the Oregon
campuses are made by 6 a.m. for
daytime classes and 2 p.m. for evening
classes.The Boise Center makes closure
decisions independently.
A 100th birthday party open house for
Beryl Woodward – the university’s
volunteer of the year in 2000 – is
scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday,
Dec. 23, at the Friendsview Retirement
Community.The George Fox community
is invited to attend.The family requests no
gifts for the occasion.
Presidential Invite
George Fox employees and their spouse or
guest are invited to a Christmas open
house at the home of David and Melva
Brandt from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.
11.The Brandts live in the historic
Edwards House at 402 S. College Street.
This year, and always, the good news is the
Christmas story from Isaiah 9:2 and 6, “For a
child has been born – for us! The gift of a son
– for us! He’ll take over the running of the
world.” What a great hope for us all!
Colleague
Deadline for Copy: Jan. 3
Kaleo Returns
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Catherine Sanchez, the associate
director of financial aid at George Fox
from 1996 to 1998, will return to the
university as associate director of Student
Financial Services. A profile on Catherine
will appear after she begins employment
on Jan. 5.
Daniel Underwood’s (Education) final
day at George Fox was Nov. 15.
Marie Craven (IT) has left the
university. Her final day was Nov. 18.
Church and ministry teams from all over
the region will be on the Newberg
campus for the second annual Kaleo
conference on Saturday, Jan. 21.The
event, designed for those called to youth
ministry, meets from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
•
Newberg | Portland | Boise | Salem
•
Dec. 5, 2005
MOVERS & QUAKERS
Also during the trip, Paul delivered a paper in
the Psychology and Biblical Studies Section of
the Society of Biblical Literature on “The
Origin and Development of the Johannine
Ego- Eimi Sayings in Cognitive-Critical
Perspective,” and he chaired the invited papers
session of the society’s John, Jesus, and
History Group. He also organized a pedagogyand-film plenary session, “Jesus at the Movies –
What Works in the Classroom and What
Doesn’t.” He presented on the topic “From
the Temptation to the Passion of Jesus – Film
Clips and Interpretive Suggestions” and
directed a pedagogy show-and-tell session
in which other scholars shared what works
for them.
Karen Henry (MAT) will take over Carlos
Marin’s (Education) position after his final
day at George Fox on Jan. 2.
ABOUT OUR PEOPLE
Alan Kluge (Management) presented at the
National Quality Education Conference of the
American Society for Quality in Miami on
Nov. 12. His presentation, “A Project-based
Approach for Learning the Six Sigma DMAIC
Method of Process Improvement,” focused on
adopting this methodology, used successfully
by major corporations, for use by institutions
of higher education.
Karen Buchanan and Mary Johnson
(Teacher Education) were selected to present
at the National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC) national
conference Dec. 6-9 in Washington, D.C.
They will share their current research in a
session entitled “Assessment of
Candidate Competence through the
Teacher Work Sample: An Evolving Early
Childhood Perspective.”
Dec. 26
Dec. 28
Dec. 29
Dec. 30
Dec. 31
Jan. 1
Jan. 3
IN THE NEWS
Willamette Week featured a story on George Fox
alumna Daniela Iancu after she was awarded
the Skidmore Prize for her community
service work with the Cat Adoption Team, a
nonprofit organization in Sherwood. Daniela,
daughter of Martha Iancu (Communication
Arts), was honored for her work as an
adoption counselor. Established in 2004, the
Skidmore Prize recognizes outstanding
community service to local nonprofits in the
fields of community, youth, health, and
animals.This year, four cash grants of $3,000
were given to award recipients.
Gale Roid (Assessment) helped develop a
questionnaire on biblical character traits for a
forthcoming book, Satisfaction Guaranteed:
Developing Biblical Character, by pastor Bill
Ritchie of Crossroads Church in Vancouver,
Wash.The book covers 12 traits such as faith,
joy, humility, and self-control, and has a brief
questionnaire for each chapter. Multnomah
Press will publish the book in the spring.
IN THE FAMILY
Condolences go out to the family and friends
of Paul Emerson (Engineering), whose wife
Mikeila died in Portland on Nov. 28 following
a stroke and complications with renal failure.
She would have been 46 on Dec. 2.
Michael Tomlin (Boise Center SOM)
presented at the Association of County
Engineers and Road Superintendent’s annual
conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.The title of his
presentation was “Understanding the Modern
Workforce and Laws That Govern It.” His talk
focused on the multi-generational workforce
and resultant diversity of workplace values.
Walter Lee, a member of the university’s
board of trustees from 1944 to 1979, died at
the age of 101 on Nov. 25.Walter had been a
resident of the SunBridge Retirement Center
in Nampa, Idaho, the past 23 years.
Condolences go to the family and friends of
Dana Miller (Marketing and Advancement),
whose mother, Leona, died at the age of 77
on Nov. 15.
Ginny Birky (MAT) was the fall conference
speaker and facilitator for the Oregon/
Southwest Chapter of the Council for
Educational Facility Planners International
meeting at Sunriver Resort on Nov. 5-6.The
council is an organization for professional
architects who design school buildings.The
topic for the weekend was “Teaching and
Learning: Implications for School Architects,”
and gave participants a chance to examine
current successful and innovative practices at
the secondary school level.
BIRTHDAYS
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
Dec. 11
Dec. 13
Dec. 14
On Nov. 18, Howard Macy and Paul
Anderson (Religious Studies) each chaired
sessions hosted by the Quaker Theological
Discussion Group in Philadelphia – a book
review session and a session on Quaker
contributions to American democracy.The
day before, Paul delivered the annual lecture
for the Bible Association of Friends in
America at Arch Street Friends Meeting on
the topic “Inspired Readings of the
Inspired Text.”
Colleague
Dec. 23
Dec. 24
Dec. 25
Dec. 15
Dec. 17
Dec. 19
Dec. 20
Dec. 22
•
Kerry Irish
Carlisle Chambers
Rich Bass
Marvin Clarkson
Steve Grant
Dana Miller
Gennie Harris
Danny Hernandez
Janelle Townsend
Paul Corbett-Furgal
Kim Harmon
Rick Muthiah
Cliff Rosenbohm
Raymond Anderson
Becky Ankeny
Gary Buhler
Viki Defferding
Phil Smith
Howard Macy
Jenny Getsinger
Michele Wayte
Jan. 4
Jan. 5
Jan. 6
Rodger Bufford
Jeong Ahn
Sandie Hayes
Danya Ochsner
Debby O’Kelley
Carol Roos
Carol Namburi
Colin Miller
Robert Simpson
Cara Copeland
Lori Dekruyf
Sherrie Frost
Eric Funasaki
Melody Velez
Tim Hoffman
David Hansen
Bob Harder
Amber Russell
Jack Harris
Julie Green
Sarah Marvin
Chris Koch
Dan Vanderwater
Melva Lloyd
Joy Reimann
Merrill Johnson
CALENDAR
Monday, Dec. 5
Newberg Chapel
Advent Service, 10:40 a.m.
Staff Lunch, Noon
Provost’s Council & Committee Chairs Meeting
Wood-Mar Conference Room, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Faculty Lunch, Noon
Men’s Basketball vs. Corban
Wheeler Sports Center, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Newberg Chapel
University Choir, Orchestra, Band, 10:40 a.m.
Portland Center Community Lunch, Noon
Thursday, Dec. 8
Women’s Basketball vs. Cascade College
Wheeler Sports Center, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9
Christmas Praise and Worship
Bauman Auditorium, 10:40 a.m.
Women’s Basketball vs.Western Oregon
Wheeler Sports Center, 6 p.m
Christmas Concert
Bauman Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Wheeler Sports Center, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 10
Christmas Concert
Bauman Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 12
Faculty Business Meeting
Hoover 104, 9 a.m.-Noon
Tuesday, Dec. 13
All-Employee Lunch, Noon
Saturday, Dec. 17
Midyear Commencement
Miller Gymnasium, 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 26-Friday, Dec. 30
Christmas Break
Newberg | Portland | Boise | Salem • Dec. 5, 2005