[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 38 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E511-E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S FAIRFAX COUNTY 1997 CITIZEN OF 
                    THE YEAR AND MERIT AWARD WINNERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 30, 1998

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, my colleague Mr. Davis of 
Virginia and I are honored to recognize four outstanding Northern 
Virginians who are being recognized this week by the Fairfax County 
Federation of Citizens Association as the Citizen of the Year and as 
Citation of Merit Award recipients for their community contributions.
  The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations is a 
volunteer, nonpartisan, umbrella for the organized citizenry of Fairfax 
County. For the past forty years it has represented the interests of 
hundreds of civic, condominium and town house associations working 
together with the magisterial district councils of citizens 
associations.
  Minerva W. Andrews is the Fairfax County of Citizens Associations 
1998 Citizen of the Year award recipient. Ms. Andrew's record of 
lifetime achievement and her dedication to country issues sets a 
shining example of public service for the Fairfax County community. 
Born and raised in South Carolina, Ms. Andrews distinguished herself by 
pursuing a career in law at a time when social mores directed women 
toward ``traditional'' occupations. She came to Fairfax County after 
graduating from the University of Virginia's Law School in 1948. 
Formerly a partner with McGuire, Woods, Battle and Boothe, Ms. Andrews 
specialized in real estate law. Her professional interest and civic 
commitments dovetailed as she worked to strengthen land development 
environmental practices. Ms. Andrews assisted in drafting the very 
first Erosion Control Ordinance adopted by Fairfax County.
  During the 1950's, when Virginia entered the era of ``massive 
resistance,'' Ms. Andrews served as the Fairfax League of Women Voters' 
President. Under her leadership, the LWV strongly supported integration 
of public schools and took the lead in opposing the states' actions to 
close the public school system. Ms. Andrews has been active in 
providing opportunities for young people throughout her life. She 
served on the Fairfax County Vocational Educational Foundation Board 
for 25 years (renamed the Foundation for Applied Technical Education) 
and served as the organization's President from 1977 to 1980.
  Since her retirement, she has increased her participation on the 
National Society of Arts and Letters Board, an organization that 
recognizes talented students in the creative and literary arts. First 
associated with the Washington Chapter of the National Society of Arts 
and Letters, she served as the Chapter President from 1973-1974 and 
more recently has served as the National President from 1994-1996. Ms. 
Andrews has been an active member of the Fairfax-Falls Church United 
Way Executive Committee for many years and is a past chair of the 
Government Relations Committee.
  Ms. Andrews was an early supporter of the Fairfax Committee of 100 
having served on its Board and as its volunteer registered Agent. Until 
her retirement she also served for twelve years as a board member of 
the Greater Washington Research Center, a forum supported by the 
business community to encourage research on regional business, social 
issues and public policy, with an emphasis on transportation issues.
  In addition to her county-wide and national activities, she has been 
active in her home community of McLean, serving as the president of the 
McLean Citizens' Associates from 1971-1972 and working with her husband 
Robert in forming the McLean Planning Commission that helped secure a 
federal grant for McLean's central business district. She has also 
served as a board member of the McLean Citizens' Foundation, the McLean 
Community Center and the McLean Project for the Arts.
  She is a life Elder in the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church and has 
just completed a term as vice President on the board of the National 
Capitol Presbytery. She is also on the board and serves as counsel for 
the Lewinsville Retirement Residence.
  In addition to Ms. Andrews, three citizens will be honored with 
Citations of Merit. They include: Mildred Corbin who will be recognized 
for her work in many county wide organizations such as the National 
Political Congress of Black Women, the Fairfax Care Network for 
Seniors, the Fairfax Commission for Women, the Route One Human Service 
Task Force, the Fairfax Committee of 100, and the Steering Committee 
for the Human Services Alliance to name just a few. She is also a two-
term member of United Community Ministries and dedicates time to the 
Mount Vernon Mental Health Center and the Eleanor Kennedy Homeless 
Shelter. She actively supports Fairfax Offender Aid and Restoration 
Program, Black Women United for Action, the National Association of 
Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired 
Persons. In 1997, she became the District representative to the Fairfax 
Area Commission on Aging. Ms. Andrews also participates in the Pinewood 
Lake Civic Association. Her volunteer contributions span more than 
forty years of service to young people, as well as senior citizens in 
the Northern Virginian community.
  Shirely O. Nelson will also be recognized for her contributions to 
the Chantilly community and for her county-wide volunteerism. Her work 
has focused on innovative and practical youth programs, such as the 
Chantilly Pyramid Minority Achievement Committee (CPMSAC), a program 
that serves twenty eight schools. CPMSAC works toward improving youth 
motivation and awards academic achievement; it is currently in its 
thirteenth year. She also has been a lynchpin in saving and expanding 
the Saturday Toward Excellence Program (STEP). After serving on the 
Fairfax County Council of PTA for seven years, Ms. Nelson became its 
first African-American President in 1996. Since then she has 
spearheaded planning and communications program activities for the PTA. 
She has also coordinated community activities such as the first County-
wide extended Family Solutions Conference. Additionally, Ms. Nelson 
founded and directs the Young Voices of Chantilly, an ensemble of 
fifteen elementary, middle and high school students. This group 
provides positive and inspirational messages to youth through song.
  Thomas E. Waldrop will add the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' 
Associations

[[Page E512]]

Citation of Merit award to his 1998 Jinx Hazel Arts Citizen of the Year 
Award, a Northern Virginia Community Foundation Founders Award in 1997 
and his designation in 1996 as the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce 
Citizen of the Year. He has served for an unprecedented third term as 
Chairman of the Board of the Arts Council and is on the Board of 
Directors for numerous arts and educational organizations. In addition, 
he has supported many county-wide and national human service causes 
such as the American Heart Association, United Way, the Hospice of 
Northern Virginia, the Women's Center, the Adopt a Family Program, and 
Ronald McDonald House to name only a few.
  Mr. Speaker, we thank you for this opportunity to recognize such 
valuable members of the Northern Virginia community. We wish each of 
them the best in their endeavors to improve the lives of our 
constituents. Their life time dedication to volunteering is truly an 
inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________