Donor Spotlight: Ava Nebeker
The Institute’s staff loves to hear our members’ stories—who you are and the specific ways you feel supported and connected to the work of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Circle member Ava Nebeker of Sandy, Utah deepened her commitment to IONS by joining the Wisdom Circle / Patrons Plus Circle at the International Conference in August. In response to IONS getting to know her better, she recently sent us a note sharing her connectedness with the noetic community:
My expectations of IONS are like those of a student’s. I know in my core being that great social evolution is taking place. I want to learn and evolve along with you as new concepts, ideas, and paths of direction present themselves to us. One of my degrees is in mathematics, another in music, and although as an adult I do not practice, I was raised in Christian Science. The meld of scientific exploration, creativity, and spiritual thought has always been of interest to me. I delight in the wonder of the unanswered, and yet unasked, questions thereof. I’m just out here sponge-soakin’ every little drop IONS sends my way! I want to be amongst people who like asking questions, knowing full well that the answers might go beyond what society is willing to accept at the moment, or possibly even go beyond our present capability of understanding—YET, that is . . . But give us another few decades! Right?
I love hangin’ out with the IONS community. It makes me feel like an “insider” in the realm of evolving new thought and possibility. Not at all in an elitist sense, but more like as an equal member of a noble and worthy history-making, ground-breaking movement. It’s just plain exciting to know I am a part of IONS! Like when I receive my “One Minute Shift” email. I feel like an interplanetary traveler, on some distant path in outer space, finally receiving a long-awaited message from my people!
I am not unlike millions of others in my demographic, except for maybe the fact that I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. That’s why at the IONS conference I decided to step up my contribution to the day-to-day work you all do to keep this great community alive, and to keep me in the loop in the rapidly evolving world of noetics. I believe in Deepak Chopra’s Second Spiritual Law of Success, that the “universe operates through dynamic exchange … giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.”
I am in awe, and highly respect IONS’ level of knowledge and expertise as professionals in the noetic sciences. You keep me on my toes! No complacency for this girl as long as I’m humbly traveling the path at your side!
—Ava Nebeker, Circle Member
Ava Nebeker sees herself as a basic U.S./Earth citizen, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom, a math teacher turned junior high principal turned entrepreneur, a small business owner, a homeowner, and a pet owner. She was born and raised in the in San Francisco Bay Area, went to UC Berkeley in the early 70s, and has supported the work of the Institute for many years. The Institute of Noetic Sciences could not exist without the energy, enthusiasm, loyalty, and abundant financial contributions of members like Ava. Thank you!
