[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E420-E422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S 15TH ANNUAL AWARDS 
                                BANQUET

                                 ______


                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 23, 1995
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the Santa Clara 
County Board of Supervisors, I rise, today, to acknowledge and extend 
my heartfelt congratulations to the human relations commission and the 
friends of the human relations commission of Santa Clara County on the 
occasion of their 15th Annual Human Relations Awards Banquet being held 
on February 23, 1995.
  This event pays tribute to all members and friends of the commission 
who have given of themselves to serve others. Their dedication to the 
citizens of Santa Clara Country has enabled hundreds of individuals to 
realize their full human and civil rights.
  [[Page E421]] In looking through this year's award recipients, 53 in 
all, I see such a diversity of backgrounds--business people, teachers, 
administrators, retired individuals, mothers, grandmothers, fathers. 
This diversity of individuals, individuals who have shown true 
dedication and commitment to building a community of unity and 
equality, has made the human relations commission and the friends of 
the human relations commission truly successful in Santa Clara County.
  It is with great honor that I commend the following individuals 
receiving special recognition for their dedication and service:
  Mr. Glenn Liptak, recipient of the Robert H. Gonzales Memorial Award. 
For his commitment that all people will join together for a better 
community, through work, school, and home.
  Ms. Sherri R. Sager, recipient of the Betty Ann Sellers Memorial 
Award. For her unselfish service for the causes of youth, ethnic and 
religious communities, and the disabled.
  Mr. Raymond B. Orozco, recipient of the Edna M. McGhee Memorial Award 
for his countless hours devoted to both the young and old through his 
community to various organizations.
  Ms. Samantha Marks, recipient of the Friends of H.R.C. Special 
Recognition Award for her service on many local boards that serve the 
needs of the homeless.
  Mr. Joe Coto, recipient of the Special Recognition Award Human 
Relations Commission for his work as an educational and civic leader 
for the betterment of youth in our community.
  The following individuals are recipients of the Friends of Human 
Relations Special Merit Awards:
  Mr. Mark Bonine, for his service and dedication in the gay community 
and his efforts on behalf of HIV/AIDS prevention and services.
  Ms. Sandi Douglas-Michel, for her volunteer service to the senior 
community.
  Ms. Gilda Carlsen, for her tireless service to the Edenvale Community 
Center.
  Mr. Juvenal Castro, for his time given to serve youths as a mentor.
  Mr. William John Dusel, for his volunteered time, as a retired 
educator, to the seniors at the Live Oak Adult Day Care Center.
  Mr. Jose Rafael Espiritu, for his active involvement in the Filipino 
Community and devotion of countless hours volunteering his services.
  Mr. Todd Evans, for bringing together neighbors who now work toward 
the betterment of their community through his work with the Edenvale 
Community Association.
  Mr. George Garcia, for his volunteered time and work at St. Maria 
Goretti's meal site, loaves and fishes.
  Mr. Gilbert A. Garcia, for his commitment to the welfare and rights 
of working people and seniors in the community at large.
  Ms. Leslee Hamilton, for his hundreds of hours volunteering on 
environmental, governmental and gay and lesbian issues.
  Mr. Ian I. Hinckson, for his volunteering at the ``Touch of Love'' 
Prison Ministry and his community service of visiting and helping a 
disabled man.
  Ms. Carole Holmes, for her service to and gift of her time to the 
Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen. This she has done for 7 years.
  Mr. Domingo N. Hurtado, for his devoted 8 years in working with the 
homeless through the Emergency Housing Consortium.
  Dr. Guity S. Jam, for her dedication of time to the children in her 
community by volunteering in a speech club and in Baha'is children's 
classes.
  Mr. Gary Jones, for his work, as president of the Edenvale Community 
Association, in assisting the businessmen of the Edenvale area to bring 
them together for the purpose of improving the community.
  Ms. Jacqueline Kessel, for her work with the Dispute Resolution 
Program of the Human Relations office and doing a much-valued job of 
bringing peace and harmony to the community.
  Ms. Mary L. Lang, for her volunteered time of more than 5,000 hours 
over 2 years serving a variety of organizations, such as the Braille 
Transcription Project and Sixth District PTA, to name only a couple.
  Ms. Martha M. O'Connell, for her work to protect individuals' rights 
in whatever she is doing. She has helped coordinate the Gay and Lesbian 
Awareness Week at San Jose State and in 1994 cochaired the Names 
Project Memorial Quilt.
  Ms. Rena Modell, for her volunteered time of many hours advocating 
for midlife and older women by teaching them to advocate for 
themselves, and also her tireless commitment to working with the 
Children and Family Collaborative, as well as various Jewish 
organizations.
  Ms. Laura L. Murray, for her gift of time to serve children youth of 
the Eastside Union High School district, the Evergreen school district, 
and the Antioch Baptist Church.
  Mr. Larry Paschoal, for his volunteer time and talent serving the 
needs of epileptics in the community, through his involvement with the 
Epilepsy Society.
  Mr. Carl Ray, for his strong commitment to young people. He, along 
with Vera and Isaac Shaw, have developed Black College Tours making it 
possible for 250 students to participate over a 7-year period.
  Ms. Arlene Rusche, for her gift of time to the gay and lesbian 
community. She is active in BAYMEC and has worked on equal rights 
legislation.
  Vera and Issac Shaw, for working tirelessly on Black College Tours 
for high school students from San Jose. Over 200 students have been 
able to participate through their work.
  Mr. Scott Simon, for operating his own vocational rehabilitation 
program and still having time to volunteer on the Dispute Resolution 
Program as mediator and program developer.
  Ms. Pilar Tanga, for her giving over 18 years of service on the 
Dispute Resolution Program as a mediator.
  Mr. Manuel Velasquez, for volunteering as a mediator with the Dispute 
Resolution Program and also working with El Comite, an association of 
Hispanic county social workers.
  Ms. Anne Wilkensen, for serving the most needy of the community and 
being instrumental in creating a Feed the Homeless Program sponsored by 
St. Christopher's Parish Ladies Guild.
  Ms. Idalia Willbanks, for volunteering with the Dispute Resolution 
Program and giving of her time as a bilingual case developer and 
mediator.
  Mr. Roosevelt Yates, for being an inspiration to all by visiting and 
caring for an older disabled individual on a weekly basis, taking him 
out into the community.
  Mr. William Zaner, for his volunteering in different homeless 
programs, as a member of the Emergency Housing Consortium board of 
directors programs.
  The following are the individuals receiving Human Relations 
Commission special merit awards:
  Mr. Anthony W. Alexander, for continuously working on issues 
concerning youth and the community, as president of the local NAACP and 
always striving to fight racism and promoting unity.
  Mr. Manuel R. Austin, for being very active in East San Jose's growth 
and development by demanding changes for the good of the community.
  Ms. Donna M. Bartelink, for her volunteering of many years of service 
to the community and above all bringing together people to better serve 
the students of Shoreline High School.
  Ms. Gloria J. Baxter, for devoting her life to the betterment of 
youth and families in the community, and working tirelessly building 
understanding and cooperation in our multiethnic community.
  Ms. Yolanda Bentancourt, for spending many hours volunteering and 
sharing her expertise with at-risk youth in the community.
  Mr. Elias Chamorro, for his work and dedication, as the principal at 
Overfelt High School, in making the school with its high ethnic 
minority enrollment a model of how to serve the needs of a diversified 
community.
  Mr. Jim Cruze, for his volunteered time of continuing to serve the 
youth of the Fremont Union High School district and willingness to help 
students at home if necessary.
  Ms. Rolayne Edwards, for bringing her expertise to the Dispute 
Resolution Program of the Office of Human Relations, as a San Jose 
Attorney.
  Ms. Lydia Castillo Fontan, Ph.D., for her giving of herself to the 
service of the Filipino American Community by focussing on education.
  Dr. Ronald La Mar, for his devotion, as a former educator in the 
Cupertino School District, of his time to the Pacific Autism Center for 
Education.
  Ms. Michele McKay-McCoy, for devoting her time to educating people of 
various communities on all topics related to child abuse.
  Mr. William F. Neves, for his work with FISH, an Eastside Emergency 
Food Program for the needy and currently serving on the advisory board 
of the Second Harvest Food Bank.
  Mr. Thomas Quilty, for his taking the time to teach others how the 
law can be enforced in a fair and compassionate manner and adding a new 
facet to the Human Relations Commission Observer Program at the Santa 
Clara County Fair through his peace officer background.
  Mr. Gabe Reyes, for his involvement and commitment to seeing full 
participation of Latino students in educational program.
  Ms. Minnie Rodriguez, for working tirelessly as a volunteer in the 
Overfelt High School community to seeing that all youth have the same 
opportunities.
  Armand Sanchez, Ph.D., for his deep commitment to his students and 
community, particularly the mental health community, as professor of 
social sciences at San Jose State University.
  [[Page E422]] Ms. Phyllis Seidman, for overcoming many obstacles in 
her life and becoming an inspiration to many others, in spite of having 
a progressive disability caused by multiple sclerosis.
  Mr. Russell J. Tershy, for his commitment to providing individuals 
with the necessary training to find meaningful and well-paying 
employment, as the cofounder of the Center for Employment Training 
[CET] and its executive director.
  Ms. Norma Williams, for finding the time to tutor Vietnamese and 
Chinese speaking people in English and instructing ESL classes, by 
using her background as a teacher.
  Ms. Erica R. Yew, for devoting her time to providing emotional 
support, educational help, and fun outings for three young girls, as a 
child advocate for the past 3 years.
  To all of these individuals who have given of themselves for the 
service of others, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending 
heartfelt congratulations.


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