[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE 2002 BEA CHRISTY AWARD NOMINEES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
2002 Bea Christy Award Nominees, who will be honored Friday, February 
15, 2002 in Lansing, Michigan for their contributions to improve their 
communities and neighborhoods.
  Bea Christy was a dedicated member of the Eastside Neighborhood 
Organization for more than ten years until her death. She also worked 
with other organizations to make the neighborhood and community a 
better place to live. She was the kind of individual who volunteered to 
do the ``unglamourous'' tasks, who worked quietly and diligently behind 
the scenes, who never sought recognition for her efforts.
  First, she was a good neighbor in her immediate neighborhood, 
welcoming new people, planting flowers in the church yard across the 
street from her house, taking elderly folks to the doctor, and noticing 
where the sidewalk needed repairs. She also helped edit and deliver the 
Eastside Neighborhood Organization newspaper, made soup for the annual 
fund-raiser, and helped plant flowers in the bed on Michigan Avenue.
  Bea was also an active member of her church, volunteered with Radio 
Talking Book, as well as helped to initiate the Lansing area CROP Walk. 
She made these contributions in addition to being a devoted wife, 
mother, and grandmother.
  It is quiet, committed, unsung people like Bea who make neighborhood 
organizations successful, and the community as a whole a better place 
to live. It is in this spirit that individuals are nominated for an 
annual award exemplifying the qualities of Bea Christy. The following 
six criteria must be considered when making a nomination for the Bea 
Christy Award: variety of activities in your neighborhood organization; 
unsung nature of contributions; overall good neighbor; reliability; 
willingness to take on tasks; and, other service to the community.
  Friday night, eleven deserving individuals will be recognized as 2002 
Bea Christy Award Nominees. I salute the following nominees for their 
outstanding service to their communities and neighborhoods: Connie 
Sevrey, Association for the Bingham Community; Mia Tioli, River Point 
Neighborhood Association; Hannah Gardi, Neighbors United in Action; 
Mary Rawson, Northtown Neighborhood Association; Ernestine Merritt, 
Northwest Neighborhood Alliance; Alex Kruzel, Walnut Neighborhood 
Organization; Rick Kibbey, Eastside Neighborhood Association; Larry 
Karn, Old Forest Neighborhood Association; Ruth Hallman, Genesee 
Neighborhood Association; Thomas Foster, Eastern Neighbors; Kathie 
Dunbar, Sagamore Hill Neighborhood Organization.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me 
in paying tribute to the 2002 Bea Christy Award Nominees.

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