[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JOSEPH ORSULAK HONORED ON OCCASION OF RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the long public service of my good friend 
Joseph P. Orsulak of Lansford, Pennsylvania, who will be honored with a 
retirement dinner on March 2, 2002.
  Joe began his political career working for the late Congressman 
Francis ``Tad'' Walter of Easton in Washington, D.C., as an assistant 
publication officer. In 1971, he was appointed as Carbon County's chief 
clerk and served several county commissioners in that capacity over the 
next 20 years. During his terms as chief clerk, the commissioners 
entrusted him with additional responsibilities and named him the 
country's fiscal director to coordinate all fiscal and budgeting 
affairs of the country government.
  During his service as country chief clerk, the state Association of 
County Commissioners asked him to serve on a state committee to create 
an instructional booklet on the duties and responsibilities of a county 
chief clerk. He accepted the challenge and contributed many 
administrative ideas to improve the way chief clerks do their jobs.
  In 1993, Joe was elected to the first of two full terms as Carbon 
County treasurer. During his first term as treasurer, he installed a 
new computer system and upgraded the software to conform with the 
various changes in the hunting, fishing, and dog license regulations.
  One of his primary duties as treasurer was serving on the Carbon 
County Employees Retirement Board. In his capacity as a fiduciary 
member of the board beginning in 1994 with a portfolio worth $20 
million, he set a goal of reaching $50 million during his term of 
office, and this goal was reached in 2000. Joe was also instrumental in 
having the Retirement Board to evaluate its investment policies and 
strategies by engaging the services of a second investment manager to 
diversify the employee pension fund portfolio.
  He served on the legislative and nominating committees of the 
Pennsylvania State Association of County Treasurers, and hosted two 
state conventions in Carbon County. He was also a member of the 
Pennsylvania Finance Officers Association.
  In December 2000, Joe was appointed to the Pennsylvania State 
Association of Elected County Officials to represent all treasurers in 
Pennsylvania. In this capacity, he met monthly with state legislators 
on the Local Government Commission in Harrisburg to discuss legislation 
pending in the state House of Representatives and state Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe also dedicated himself to serving his neighbors 
outside of his official capacity. He was active in the former Panther 
Valley Jaycees, serving as an officer on a local, regional and state 
level. He concluded his tenure in the Jaycees organization as a 
Pennsylvania state vice president and state chairman of a program 
called ``Operation We Care'' accepting the portfolio of the ``Apple 
Butter Sunday'' program. He coordinated the statewide program where 
Jaycee chapters raised funds for the mentally disadvantaged children of 
Pennsylvania. In two weeks the organization raised over $400,000, and 
the funds were used to send children to summer camps to enjoy the 
fruits of recreation.
  Also in his activities with the Jaycees, Joe had a major role in 
creating a ``Leadership in Action'' committee, and traveled throughout 
the region instructing Jayee chapters in leadership skills and the 
importance of the use of the rules of parliamentary procedures in 
public meetings.
  Joe is a member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church and a graduate 
of the former Lansford High School. A lifetime Democrat, he has served 
on the Carbon County Democratic Executive Committee and as a member of 
various Democratic clubs in the county.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives to the long public service of Joseph P. Orsulak, and I 
wish him a happy retirement.

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