[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THANK YOU, GERRIE WOLVERTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 1996

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman who 
has been a leader not only in the field of health care but to other 
women and her community as well. On Wednesday, September 25, Gerrie 
Wolverton will be honored by the board of directors of Bay Health 
Systems. After 17 impressive years of service to Bay Health Systems and 
serving as corporate secretary to five Bay Health System boards, she 
will be retiring on September 30, 1996.
  Gerrie Wolverton graduated from Central Michigan University with a 
degree in business administration. Through the years she has risen 
steadily through the company from secretary to vice president of 
corporate services in Bay Health Systems.
  Gerrie presently directs the activities of the marketing department, 
which she initiated in 1985. She developed the corporate publication, 
Newsline, which is read by over 43,000 households and has received 
numerous awards in the field of health care publications. In 1993, 
Gerrie received the Apollo Award for achievement in community 
publications from the Michigan Hospital Public Relations Association. 
Always one to take the initiative, Gerrie has been instrumental in the 
formation of the patient representative program, which handles patient 
satisfaction and the senior class program, providing support and 
educational programs for seniors.
  Gerrie has always championed the cause of women in business. In 1994, 
she won the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Gerrie was 
nominated for the award for her involvement with the Bay County YWCA as 
well as her establishment of the marketing intern program with Saginaw 
Valley. The majority of the interns are women and true to form, Gerrie 
has acted as a mentor to several and model for all.
  Over the years, Gerrie has been involved with numerous charitable 
associations including fundraising for the Annual Cancer Foundation, 
the United Way, and the Professional Women's Association. She also 
established partnerships for education, a program in which medical 
professionals visit students in their classrooms.
  As if all of these accomplishments weren't enough, Gerrie also found 
time to marry H. James Wolverton and raise five children, and now she 
has a total of seven grandchildren. Her accomplishments and activities 
in business, charity, and family life could fill three lifetimes. She 
is a leader and trailblazer not only for women but for all of us. 
Gerrie Wolverton's involvement in Bay Health Systems and her community 
has touched and improved us all.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Gerrie Wolverton as she celebrates her well-deserved 
retirement from Bay Health Services and best wishes for the new 
challenges ahead.

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