[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E977-E978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                EASTERN QUEENS DEMOCRATIC CLUB HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 25, 2001

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask all my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing Chester (Chet) Szarejko, Cantor Doreen Gammel, 
Frank Biordi, Joanna Laba, and Mohammed Saleh, who will be honored by 
The Eastern Queens Democratic Club at its Annual Awards Dinner on May 
31, 2001.
  Chet Szarejko has demonstrated strong leadership qualities as the 
Democratic District Leader of the 24th Assembly District in Queens 
County, NY. Chet also serves as Political Activities Chair of the 
Polish American Congress, which represents the more than one million 
Americans of Polish descent in the New York Metropolitan area. He has 
met with many Polish leaders, including Lech Walesa, and has worked to 
organize the Polish community in New York politics. He recently 
testified at the Holocaust Restitution Committee and helped to organize 
several Holocaust programs. Due to his activism among Americans of 
diverse backgrounds, members of the Southeast Asian Community have 
nicknamed Chet the ``Queens Political Ambassador.'' He has been awarded 
citations from various immigrant communities and has received local 
acclaim as a champion of immigrants and new Americans.
  Cantor Doreen Gamell studied music and philosophy for years before 
finding her true calling. When Cantor Jacob Taron asked her to 
substitute for him at a Friday night service in Port Washington, she 
found the perfect home for her voice, mind, and heart. Several years of 
study and several student pulpits later, Doreen Gamell became the 
Cantor at Temple Shalom in Floral Park. In addition to her duties at 
the synagogue, Cantor Gamell

[[Page E978]]

has been recognized for her work instructing developmentally challenged 
adults in the study of the Jewish texts and music, and in ritual and 
Torah cantillations.
  Frank Biordi, President of Biordi Construction Company, has long been 
involved in community and business affairs in Queens, and has been a 
strong supporter of various local and national civic organizations. 
Frank has been a generous benefactor of the SIDS Foundation, Cancer 
Care Society, Deepdale Gardens Boulevard Bank Drive, Bayside Little 
League, and New Hyde Park Little League.
  Joanna Laba is the Executive Director of Savoy at Little Neck, a 
world-class assisted living facility which opened in the fall of 2000. 
Her responsibilities include: developing and maintaining operational 
systems, maintaining a maximum census, developing initiatives 
consistent with resident-care needs, maintaining the memory support 
program, and supervising admission criteria practices. Joanna has also 
developed and managed support groups for seniors and their caregivers, 
including those concerning Alzheimer's and other memory-impairing 
diseases.
  Mohammed Saleh was born and raised in Bangladesh, and received his 
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Dhaka. Mr. Saleh 
has served his community in several capacities: as President of the 
Long Island Muslim Society, Former President of the Empire State 
Pharmaceutical Society, and Founding President of the Bangladesh-
American Pharmacists Association. He currently owns three pharmacies in 
the New York Metropolitan Area and is an active member of the 
Pharmacists Society of the State of New York and the National Community 
Pharmacists Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
to join me in honoring these exceptional Americans as they are honored 
by The Eastern Queens Democratic Club, for their outstanding service 
and tireless dedication to the community.

                          ____________________