[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 2 (Friday, January 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING NANCY VEHRS ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 6, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Nancy Vehrs on her retirement after 31 years of service to 
the citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia. I worked closely with Nancy 
during my 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and I 
saw firsthand her dedication and hard work.
  Nancy began working for Fairfax County in 1980 and held positions in 
the Woodburn Mental Health Center and the Fairfax County Police 
Department before being appointed by Clerk to the Board of Supervisors 
in 1990.
  The position of Clerk to the Board of Supervisors is often thankless, 
but nevertheless extremely vital to both the operations of County 
government and our citizens' ability to actively participate in the 
decision-making process. Nancy was instrumental in modernizing 
recordkeeping for official Board proceedings and constituent 
correspondence, enabling better governmental transparency and providing 
for County residents with a better means of communication. Citizen 
involvement in government provides another avenue for individual 
contributions; however, the process of volunteering to serve one's 
community can be daunting. Nancy saw the value in the County's various 
volunteer Boards, Authorities and Commissions, and she helped implement 
a training program to provide citizen volunteers with access to legal, 
proprietary, and procedural training to assist in their endeavors.
  Nancy always sought to pass along her expertise, sharing those ideas 
and best practices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, and she 
served as President of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association. She 
received well-deserved recognition for these efforts, earning the title 
of Master Municipal Clerk in 2008 and twice being named the VCMA Region 
II Clerk of the Year.
  In addition, Nancy has actively served her community in her 
individual capacity. She has served as President of the Prince William 
Committee of 100, a civic organization dedicated to informing the 
community of local issues of importance. She has served on the Board of 
Directors of Virginia Native Plant Society and the Board of the Prince 
William Conservation Alliance, and was the President of the Prince 
William Wildflower Society.
  Mr. Speaker, Nancy Vehrs is a tremendous example of a dedicated civil 
servant whose many efforts over the years have improved the lives of 
her community. While her departure will be felt throughout the County 
government, the many procedures and improvements she helped implement 
will continue to benefit County residents for many years to come. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating Nancy Vehrs 
on her 31 years of service to the citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia, 
and in wishing her well in her much-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________