[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          VOLUNTEER SUMMIT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House 
tonight to inform my colleagues of a very exciting opportunity taking 
place in my district, the 13th District of Pennsylvania. We are going 
to be hosting the Montgomery County Promise, which is an extension of 
the President's summit.
  As my colleagues may know, the President's summit took place in 
April, and here in my district we are going to be having a followup 
summit September 19 and 20 at the Forth Washington Expo Center at Fort 
Washington, PA.
  This should be an exciting opportunity for all civic, governmental, 
educators, clergy, everyone from all walks of life to participate in by 
gathering the top public and private sector volunteer activists to 
focus our already exciting and active volunteer base in Montgomery 
County, to focus in on the most important issues facing us for the next 
decade.
  I joined today in announcing this with some very important people 
from Montgomery County who will be at the forefront in making sure the 
plans for this event take place in a very professional way and, most 
important, involve our youth in making a lasting difference in their 
lives.
  Dr. Norah Peters of Beaver College, of Pennsylvania, in Glenside, who 
is an expert in the field of voluntarism and has conducted extensive 
research on the subject for the past 15 years. She joins Betty Landman, 
the President of the university, in working with us on this important 
event.
  We also have Louise Elkins, from the Volunteer Center from southeast 
Pennsylvania, and Mary Mackie, the director of community services for 
the United Way of southeastern Pennsylvania.
  We were also joined by Clarence Rader, who has been very active as 
the leading light in the Business/Industry School and Partnership 
program, and has been very active in the business circles of Montgomery 
County in Pennsylvania.
  Richard Byler from the Community Action Development Commission, Major 
Carl Carvill of the Salvation Army, Joanna Smith of the Association of 
Retarded Citizens of Montgomery County, Linda Millison of the Retired 
Senior Volunteer program, Bertha Johnson and Cathie Randall from Head 
Start.
  All these individuals have worked together for our mission to promote 
improved collaboration among community-based organizations, schools, 
corporations, the media, communities of faith, and government to make 
Montgomery County a better place for our youth.
  The enthusiasm we have in moving forward these goals cannot be 
emphasized enough. The goal is by the end of the year 2000 that 
thousands of more young people will have access to all five fundamental 
resources that will maximize their success: First, an ongoing 
relationship with a caring adult; safe places and structured 
activities; a healthy start; marketable skills; and opportunities to 
give back to the community.
  Among the cosponsors already committed to this important function are 
the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Lutheran Brotherhood, 
the Indian Creek Foundation, the Foster Grandparent program and 
numerous hospitals. Those interested in serving can contact us through 
the Montgomery County Promise, P.O. Box 26, Norristown, PA, 19404, or 
contact the office at 610-275-4460.
  I should point out that our major goal is not only to have more 
people volunteer but to have more of our youth take an active voice in 
congressional activities, governmental activities and community 
activities, and to establish permanent mentoring programs in the 
various professions and businesses throughout our State.

                              {time}  1815

  And also develop for the first time under one roof where all the 
volunteer groups, over 600 volunteer groups and 800 nonprofits, can 
meet for the first time in an opportunity to exchange ideas, to have 
forums, to have our keynote speakers, and to have demonstration 
programs where we will show within the community just how much spirit 
and enthusiasm we have to make sure our youth have the chance to become 
the leaders they want to be to achieve vocationally, educationally and 
in every way possible the kind of life where they can be all they can 
be.
  We look forward to an exciting event, and we hope that other Members 
of the House will do similar in the sense that they will have their own 
follow-through summits based on the President's summit we had in 
Philadelphia.

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