Lauren Interess Observatory
Remarks of Ross Turner, Executive Director of Guided Discoveries, Inc.
Twenty-five years ago, my wife Kristi and I sent out on an exciting adventure to create educational programs that would be so exciting, so captivating that every kid would want to attend, something that I would have wanted to do as a child. And since I've never really grown up, that was a fairly easy thing to do, and we pursued to start doing educational programs on Catalina and eventually expanding here to Astrocamp in the-mid 1980s, 1986, 1987.
 Lauren at far left with her white floppy hat |
One thing that was very apparent from the very beginning was that the success of the program was going to soon outgrow what Kristi and I could bring, and that it was going to rely on all the fine young instructors, administrators, maintenance staff, food service staff, office staff, all the people who came to work to help this new vision move along. We have indeed been blessed over the years to have hundreds of young people who have taken the vision, the vision that we're here to make a difference in the lives of children, and push that forward. And it's their enthusiasm, their eagerness, their knowledge that really makes everything work. Lauren was obviously an example, a fine example, of that enthusiasm, that eagerness, that desire to share what they had inside with kids.
When I look at all the staff that work for us, or talk with them, I always tell them, "You are standing of the shoulders of giants. All those instructors that have gone before you are the giants that have pushed this program along. Now it's your turn. It's your turn to take what we have, add to it, refine it, make it a little better, and in the future years, you will be the giants that the next generation of staff will stand upon." And Lauren obviously has become one of those giants.
So the task I have been given today, the honor, is to dedicate this building in the name of Lauren Interess. Well, from what Derik tells me, that has already been done. Lauren, in all of her wisdom, dedicated it long before we ever had a chance to dedicate it.
I think the name Lauren Interess Observatory is really appropriate, and when David told me that, I immediately responded, "I think that's a fine idea, but I think we need to have a formal dedication, because I really think we need a chance to get together." Our programs are families. Our staff become family, and now all of you are part of our family. We're an extended family here, and we operate that way. And we need to get together as this family and set aside this building, this Observatory in Lauren's name, and to make that official. That is my honor, my task today, to set aside this building for all time to be known as the Lauren Interess Observatory.
In the 25 years of this organization, this is the first time we have dedicated any of our facilities to an individual. So that's really quite an honor, bestowed by the staff of this organization, in Lauren's memory
In looking for symbolism in a way, I looked at these three young ladies as our shining stars...I found this poem by Esther Baldwin York that I thought would be appropriate, simply called
Stars have too long been symbols of the unattainable.
They should not be so.
For although our physical hands cannot reach them, we can touch them in other ways.
Let stars stand for those things which are ideal and radiant in life.
If we seek sincerely and strive hard enough, it is not impossible to reach them, even though the goals seem distant at the onset.
And how often do we touch stars?
When we find them close by in the shining light of great souls, the sparkling universe of humanity around us.
Lauren Interess is one of our shining stars.
[Mr. Turner went on to make an important announcement about the Guided Discoveries Memorial Fund. Click on the link to read his announcement and other details about the fund.]