[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 159 (Thursday, November 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO BETTY GARDNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Ms. Betty Gardner, who is retiring this month from her position as 
President and CEO of the Kings Federal Credit Union in Kings County, 
California.
  During her tenure, Ms. Gardner has overseen a period of tremendous 
growth for the Kings Federal Credit Union. In 1960, she began serving 
credit union members from her home, slowly building the credit union's 
customer base. Nearly forty years later, the credit union's membership 
has expanded to 11,000 members, serving more than 180 select employer 
groups. In the small rural communities of Kings County, the credit 
union has played a vital role in providing project financing and 
financial services for people who might not otherwise have access to 
those services.
  In addition to her leadership of the Kings Federal Credit Union, Ms. 
Gardner has been active in professional associations for the credit 
union industry. In 1990-91, Ms. Gardner served as chairman of the 
California Credit Union League, working to improve the league's voting 
procedures.
  Her advocacy for and interest in the credit union industry also led 
her to travel on behalf of the industry. In October 1992 for example, 
she spent five days in Gdansk, Poland, visiting new credit unions and 
assisting the Polish Credit Union Foundation in their development of 
new operations.
  Ms. Gardner has been honored by the California Credit Union League 
with a number of awards, including the 1994 Distinguished Service 
Award, and the 1998 Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award.
  She has also been actively engaged in the community, participating in 
Soroptimist International, the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, the Sacred 
Heart Hospital Board of Directors, the Business Development Committee, 
the American Cancer Society, and serving as a former chair of the 
Hanford Parks and Recreation Commission.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Betty Gardner for contributions to the credit union industry and to the 
larger community of Kings County. We send our sincere congratulations 
and wish her well on her retirement.

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