[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF MRS. BEVERLY HOOVER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Tiahrt] is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 3 minutes.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Beverly Hoover of 
Wichita, KS.
  Nominated for the Governor's Arts Award, Beverly Hoover is an arts 
volunteer extraordinaire. Last year the Wichita Art Museum gave her 
just that title, volunteer extraordinaire in honor of her 17 years of 
service. She became volunteer to the Wichita Art Museum in 1980, 
serving as a docent which she still does today. Bev was instrumental in 
raising funds for the Hands On Gallery in 1982. She served as president 
of the volunteer council, chairman of bake sales, coordinator of 
holiday trees, and president of the annual art and book fair. She is 
currently on the board of directors of the Friends of the Wichita Art 
Museum, which helps support the museum endowment. She has been a member 
of the friends boards for 8 years.
  But Bev does not limit herself to just one arts group. She is capable 
of serving multiple organizations at one time and has served her 
community tirelessly in any number of capacities for 20 years, 
including school coordinator for sculpture in the Wichita Elementary 
School Art Project when her grown children were youngsters. Bev is the 
quintessential volunteer, a fast-fading commodity in most communities. 
She serves on committees, takes leadership roles on boards, gives 
generously of her time and resources and is an art collector and a 
patron of Wichita and Kansas art.
  Bev serves on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Ballet of 
Wichita and served as president of that organization from 1983 to 1986. 
In her 16 years on the board, she has sold advertising for the ballet 
programs, raised money for guest artists, entertained the board and 
guests in her home, spearheaded a fundraising drive for a new studio, 
helped paint and repair the studio, supervised painting and mailing of 
countless invitations and acted as usher to thousands of Wichita 
elementary school children who have come to enjoy and appreciate the 
ballet through Bev's efforts and those who volunteer like Bev.
  As if she were not busy enough, here is a sampling of the other 
activities for which Bev has volunteered over the years: the Music 
Theater of Wichita Association, 1987 to present; Wichita/Sedgwick 
Historical Museum, women's support group, from 1994 to present; 
American Diabetes Association of Kansas; Wichita Center for the Arts--
Designing Women's Support Group, from 1995 to present; the Women's 
Association of the Wichita Symphony from 1987 to present, where she has 
served in various capacities, including young people's concert chairman 
and in various leadership positions with the Decorators Showhouse.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me and my colleagues in Wichita Arts 
Enthusiasts by honoring Bev for all of her years of hard work and 
dedicated volunteerism.

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