[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1202-E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PAYING TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY GRIEVE, INGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWS 2004 
                           VOLUNTEER OF YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2004

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
accomplishments of Shirley Grieve who is described as ``a one-woman 
champion of causes'' in Ingham County, MI. Shirley Grieve's 
contributions are best described in an article in the Ingham County 
Community News, written by Editor Rachel Taylor:

       Mason, MI.--Shirley Grieve is a one-woman champion of 
     causes.
       To find out which one she's campaigning for on any given 
     day, just take a look around her Mason home, where the 67-
     year-old resident spends time raising money for worthwhile 
     efforts.
       Addresses, letters, leaflets and various ``thank you'' 
     notes litter Grieve's dining room table. The mother of six 
     takes volunteering seriously, committing to fundraising goals 
     and these days, surpassing most of them.
       This June, Grieve will be recognized for her commitment, as 
     the Ingham County Community News' 2004 Agnes Corner Volunteer 
     of the Year recipient. The award, now in its fifth year, is 
     given to a member of the community that has made significant 
     volunteer contributions locally.
       Grieve fits the bill perfectly. This year alone the list of 
     her efforts includes: Raising $6,000 for the Capital Area 
     Community Services' (CACS) Walk for Warmth in February, which 
     helps pay heating and electric bills for people in dire need 
     of financial assistance; collecting hundreds of items to send 
     to U.S. troops stationed overseas; organizing a spaghetti 
     dinner to benefit the Mason Kiwanis Golden K Club; and 
     raising over $7,000 to help fund Angel House in a matter of 
     weeks. The project is headed up by Capital Area Child & 
     Family Services to build mid-Michigan's first emergency 
     shelter and advocacy center for abused children.
       I always said, ``I'm going to get out and make something of 
     myself,'' explained Grieve, who grew up in West Virginia as 
     the daughter of a coal miner. ``Now, I didn't make something 
     of myself by working but I made something of myself by 
     volunteering.''
       Grieve said her volunteer efforts started 32 years ago 
     after moving to Mason from Lansing with her husband Richard. 
     She said the rural life style was a shock in many ways and 
     made her desperate to make friends in the community.
       ``The only thing I had was a dog in the back yard,'' 
     remembered Grieve. ``Then the kids would go to school and I 
     would just have the baby.''

[[Page E1203]]

       In an effort to meet people, Grieve said she started 
     volunteering in the schools, where her children were 
     attending. Through Girl Scouts and the PTO Grieve said she 
     began feeling more at home.
       Soon Grieve began volunteering at St. James Catholic 
     Church, where her family still attends services. Other 
     projects followed. Throughout all of it, Grieve said she 
     remembered to follow in her mother's footsteps--a woman who 
     made her own mark with church fundraisers and bake sales in 
     West Virginia.
       The most important rule her mother taught her? ``You always 
     send a thank you note and people will respond with your next 
     fundraiser,'' she said.
       CACS Center Coordinator Deb Biehler said Grieve, who has 
     been volunteering with the agency for five years, is a force 
     of positive energy.
       ``She can work circles around people,'' said Biehler.
       Grieve raises at least three-quarters of the funds raised 
     during Walk for Warmth each year. ``We wouldn't have raised 
     the money without her,'' said Biehler. ``She's helped 
     hundreds of people.''
       And then there are the little things, said Biehler, like 
     volunteering to collect food bank donations every Sunday at 
     St. James and picking up bread for the food bank at local 
     stores when no one else can go.
       Members of the Mason Kiwanis Golden K Club say Grieve is an 
     asset to the community. The club's president-elect, Jim Day 
     stated, ``She has that rare gift for causing other people to 
     share their time and funds with a minimum of resistance and a 
     maximum of positive results. I am in awe at hearing about her 
     achievements and of the wonderful good that she generates. 
     People who possess her awesome ability and dynamic energy in 
     motivating people in supporting worthwhile causes are very 
     rare individuals.''
       Mason resident Don Jacot said Grieve's volunteer efforts 
     are felt throughout the Mason community. ``She is a trustee 
     for the Fair City Golden K Kiwanis Club. She volunteers for 
     the Signal Corps Operation Up Link for service men and women. 
     She volunteers for the Book Buddies and Head Start. What 
     energy.''
       Grieve said she is happy to help further good causes. ``I 
     know in my heart it makes me feel good,'' she said. ``I get 
     so much out of it. I think if people did it once they'd do it 
     again too.''
       The staff of the Ingham County Community News is planning a 
     luncheon ceremony in Grieve's honor on Tuesday, June 29 in 
     Mason.

  Mr. Speaker, we wish to extend congratulations to Shirley Grieve for 
her commitment to serving her community. We are honored to support her 
efforts and ask that our colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives join us in recognizing their very worthy achievements.

                          ____________________