[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 148 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 16, 1998

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the most important and valuable resource we 
have in this country is our children. Providing a safe environment for 
them to grow and learn has always been this country's number one 
priority. The people who dedicate their time and energy to making this 
possible are most deserving of our praise and thanks. Pamela LeVasseur 
is one of those people. She is being honored on October 21, 1998 with 
the Women's Recognition Award for Volunteerism for her outstanding work 
with the Bay County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and 
Neglect (CAN Council).
  The CAN Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to the 
prevention of child abuse and neglect. This valuable organization is 
comprised entirely of volunteers. Over the past eight years, Pamela 
LeVasseur has devoted her time and talent to the success of the CAN 
Council. Always one of the CAN Council's most energetic volunteers, Pam 
has served as the Council's Treasurer for the last five years.
  Along with her duties as treasurer, Pam has also given countless 
hours overseeing the CAN Council's many service projects and 
fundraisers. Annually leading the CAN Council Bowl-A-Thon, she has 
turned this event into one the Council's most successful fundraisers. 
She has also played a vital role in the Council's Harry Parks Adopt-A-
Smile Program, which provides dental care to children who would 
otherwise go without it, and the Bubylonian Encounter, which teaches 
young children about the subject of ``good touch and bad touch.'' The 
children of Bay County are better off because of programs such as these 
and these programs are successful because of the dedication of 
volunteers, like Pamela LeVasseur.
  The work Pam does is largely behind the scenes and rarely allows her 
the opportunity to receive the accolades that she rightly deserves. 
Yet, that is what makes Pam the great volunteer that she is. She is not 
motivated by praise and recognition. Instead, she is motivated by 
protecting and improving the lives of the children in her community. 
From tracking donations and paying the bills to making the Bowl-A-Thon 
a striking success, Pam's behind the scenes work is a critical 
ingredient in the success of the CAN Council.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Pamela LeVasseur for receiving the Women's Recognition 
Award honoring her tireless dedication to the Bay County Council for 
the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and in turn the children of 
Bay County.

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