[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF MR. MARV VALENTINE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor one of my state's 
greatest advocates of integrity and moral character, Mr. Marv 
Valentine. Marv is a good friend, a community hero and an extraordinary 
public servant who has devoted his life to building the character of 
tens of thousands of Boy Scouts in Michigan. Marv is retiring this year 
after more than 30 years as the revered Camp Director of the Michigan 
Lake Huron Area Council's Boy Scout Camp, better known as Camp Rotary. 
I am sure that Congressman Camp will echo my sentiments when I say that 
Marv has truly been an inspiration and a role model for Boy Scouts 
everywhere.
  When Marv arrived at Camp Rotary in 1968, he was greeted with three 
dilapidated structures and a lackluster outreach program. Barely 100 
Boy Scouts attended the Camp that summer. In the years that followed, 
the buildings were replaced, the number of children attending increased 
and additional structures were created. Because of Marv's perseverance 
and leadership, Camp Rotary, not only grew, but thrived.
  What is truly astonishing, today, is the number of Boy Scouts who 
attend Camp Rotary every year--over 10,000. In Thirty years, Marv has 
led more than 100,000 Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts to that high plateau 
of character where leadership, honor and integrity are words to live 
by. So many of these young adults have grown into our community leaders 
and upstanding citizens. Those who attended Camp Rotary, like Mr. Frank 
Bartlett and Mr. Greg Flood, cite Marv's guidance as an essential 
influence in their life, and as a leader who they will always look up 
to, and always follow with trust and gratitude.

                          ____________________