[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2007

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
60th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Woodbridge, Virginia.
  In 1947, Frank Sigman and Carroll White noticed a dearth of civic 
engagement in their local Woodbridge community. Having been previously 
exposed to Kiwanis, they decided that the culture of civic and 
community engagement promoted by Kiwanis would greatly benefit the 
area. They canvassed their neighborhoods in an effort to create an 
interest in starting a Woodbridge club. This work paid off and on March 
22, 1947, the Woodbridge chapter was chartered. In fact, they were so 
successful in creating support that more than 200 people attended what 
turned out to be a gala affair.
  Taking root from these strong seeds, the club became a positive 
factor in shaping the development of Woodbridge. In the early days, the 
club helped establish a public water and sewage system, create a rescue 
squad, obtain land for a little league and provided organizational 
support for the creation of the Prince William County Police Department 
and the formation of the Potomac Hospital.
  Currently, the club maintains its strong ties to the local community 
by working with the local Boys and Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army, 
Action in the Community Through Service, Potomac Hospital's Mobile 
Family Health Clinic, the Senior Citizen's Center and the Special 
Olympics to provide services and financial support to those in need.
  Kiwanis is an international institution created to ``serve the 
children of the world.'' They were founded on six guiding principles 
that continue to lead their activities to this day. These six permanent 
``Objects of Kiwanis'' are: to give primacy to the human and spiritual 
rather than to the material values of life; to encourage daily living 
of the Golden Rule; to promote the adoption and application of higher 
social, business, and professional standards; to develop by precept and 
example a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship; to 
provide a practical means to form enduring friendships; and better 
communities and to cooperate in creating and maintaining sound public 
opinion and high idealism.
  The Woodbridge Kiwanis Club continues to use these noble principles 
to guide their efforts in the community to this day. It is plain to see 
that the club has played a fundamental role in making this area of 
Eastern Prince William County a great place to live, work and play.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to commend and congratulate 
all Kiwanians on the service they provide to their communities. Their 
tireless efforts on behalf of the next generation truly merit 
recognition. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding the 
Woodbridge Kiwanis Club on its 60th anniversary and in wishing them 
continued success in the years to come.

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