Title: ELCA YOUTH GATHERING STAFF ASSEMBLED ELCA NEWS SERVICE September 12, 1997 YOUTH GATHERING STAFF ASSEMBLED The Rev. William H. Kees has been named overall director for the triennial Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He served as the gathering's program director since August 1995. Kees graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1965 and earned a master of divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1970. He served as pastor of College Lutheran Church in San Diego from 1978 to 1984 and Hope Lutheran Church in Santa Clara, Calif., from 1984 to 1991. From 1992 to 1995 Kees served as interim pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Castro Valley, Calif.; Los Altos Lutheran Church, Los Altos, Calif., and for the ELCA's Sierra Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif. Donna Wiegel, Chicago, will be registrar for the Youth Gathering. She succeeds Janet Thompson, Eagan, Minn., who resigned in July. Thompson is now director for alumni and parent relation at St. Olaf College -- one of 28 college and universities associated with the ELCA. Wiegel served as administrative assistant for Women of the ELCA from 1992 to 1995 and as editorial specialist from 1995 to 1997. Wiegel began her new responsibilities Aug. 18. Heidi Hagstrom, St. Cloud, Minn., has been named associate director for communication and operation for the Youth Gathering. She succeeds Ann Luther, Minneapolis, who will retire Sept. 30. Hagstrom will begin Oct. 1. The Youth Gathering office has been located in Minneapolis since the beginning of the ELCA in 1987. In 1995 the decision was made to move the gathering office to the ELCA offices in Chicago. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html