[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO KENNETH RYAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
today the many outstanding achievements of Kenneth Ryan, the outgoing 
president of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club. Kenneth's leadership 
during the 2007-2008 Rotary year has contributed significantly to the 
Hi-Noon Rotary Club and the community of Carlsbad. During his tenure, 
the Hi-Noon Rotary Club awarded high school scholarships, and partnered 
with the Carlsbad evening Rotary clubs to sponsor the annual 
Oktoberfest fundraiser, a community-wide event which provides financial 
support to the Carlsbad Women's Resource Center, The Boys and Girls 
Club of Carlsbad and Community Youth Services. In addition, during 
Kenneth's presidency, we had the most successful golf tournament in the 
club's history. The funds were earmarked for high school scholarships 
and to assist families of wounded marines.
  During his presidency, a number of other projects were completed. 
These projects included providing volunteers to help maintain public 
and private property, provide food and clothing for the homeless, and 
assist in the distribution of food, clothing and toys to needy Carlsbad 
families in conjunction with the Carlsbad Christmas Bureau. A 
Children's Christmas party and dinner for very needy elementary school 
students were also provided. In an effort to improve literacy, badly 
needed bilingual dictionaries were provided and distributed to English- 
and Spanish-speaking elementary school students. In addition a book a 
week was contributed to a school library, and mentors were also 
provided for the ``City Stuff'' program. This program promoted an 
understanding of the workings of city government for young Carlsbad 
school children.
  On the international front, Kenneth's leadership and his team of 
Rotarians joined with Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a needy 
family in Mexico. Through the Paul Harris Fellow Program, contributions 
were made to the Rotary Foundation, the purpose of which is to support 
international projects for the benefit of humanity, such as eradication 
of polio through out the world and to support the Micro-banking 
Project.
  In addition, there were numerous other projects which he led to 
completion during his tenure, too numerous to mention.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the many fine 
achievements of Kenneth Ryan. Without question, his leadership and the 
fine work of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club are worthy of recognition 
by the House today.

                          ____________________