[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 128 (Thursday, October 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1746]]
                       A TRIBUTE TO GAIL SHAIVITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 2, 2002

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Gail 
Shaivitz and her 22-year career in service to Baltimore County seniors. 
During her career at the Pikesville Senior Center, Gail was dedicated 
to the well-being of her members, whom she treated as extended family.
  Gail is unique because she has spent 20 years with one senior center, 
the Pikesville Senior Center. She began her career in 1980 as a part-
time regional program specialist. In October 1982, she was assigned to 
the Pikesville Senior Center as the center supervisor. In 1984, Gail 
was promoted to director. In fact, Gail has the distinction of working 
at one senior center, in the same position, for the longest period of 
time of anyone in the Baltimore County Department of Aging.
  As director of the Pikesville Senior Center, she was instrumental in 
getting it accredited by the National Council on the Aging's National 
Institute of Senior Centers. It was largely through Gail's efforts that 
the Pikesville Senior Center became one of the first centers in the 
county to receive accreditation status. Since then, all 18 Baltimore 
County senior centers have been accredited.
  Gail's 20-year career at the Pikesville Senior Center has been marked 
by significant expansion and creativity in programing. She has worked 
to connect the senior center to the greater Pikesville community 
through membership in the Pikesville Community Growth Corporation and 
the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce. In 1997, she received special 
recognition from Baltimore County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger and the 
Baltimore County Department of Aging Director Charles Fisher.
  I hope my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives will join 
me in saluting Gail Shaivitz, a committed public servant who has done 
much to improve the lives of seniors in Baltimore County.

                          ____________________