[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 30 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING JANET BALL FOR 30 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I wish to include an article 
in the Fairfax Times from May 6, 2011, recognizing the tremendous 
service Janet Ball has given to the Fairfax County community for 30 
years. I have known Janet for years, and have seen her dedication to 
helping others firsthand. She is an unbelievable example of the value 
of volunteerism.

     Greenspring Resident Honored for 30 Years of Volunteer Service

                    (By Kali Shumitz, Staff Writer)

        During her 29-year career working for the Department of 
     Defense, Janet Ball said she never did much to give back to 
     her community.
        So, soon after retiring, she responded to an ad in the 
     Golden Gazette that said the Fairfax County Juvenile and 
     Domestic Relations Court was looking for volunteers.
        Now 90, Ball is still going strong as a volunteer office 
     assistant for the court system. She also volunteers to sort 
     mail at the Greenspring Retirement Village in Springfield, 
     where she now resides, and helps out at her church.
        ``I'm one that likes to keep busy,'' she said. ``If I had 
     to sit around doing nothing, I would be going to St. 
     Elizabeth's,'' referring to the psychiatric hospital in 
     Washington, D.C.
        Last month, the court staff honored her for 30 years of 
     volunteer service.
        Her supervisor at the courthouse, Loida Gibbs, described 
     Ball as ``the admin assistant of the century.''
        Ball also used to volunteer to do office work for U.S. 
     Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Dist. 11) when he represented the 
     Providence District on the Fairfax County Board of 
     Supervisors.
        After he was elected board chairman, she asked him, ``Do I 
     get a promotion?'' Indeed, she continued to volunteer for 
     Connolly doing office work until he was elected to Congress.
        When Ball began volunteering for the court, there were 
     only two judges and the juvenile court operated out of a 
     small building behind the historic county courthouse 
     building. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court now has 
     eight judges and recently moved into the remodeled main court 
     building.
        Her first volunteer job was collecting contact information 
     and other details from families as they exited the courtroom, 
     a task designed to save probation officers time.
        For the past decade, Ball has volunteered for the 
     Volunteer Interpreter Program, logging the hours and types of 
     cases for which interpreters are requested, and producing a 
     monthly report on volunteer contributions.
        ``In the courthouse, there is more work than even staff 
     can do,'' said Gibbs, coordinator of the Volunteer 
     Interpreter Program. ``Without [volunteers], it would get 
     done, but it would take double the time.''
        Ball said the mostly Spanish-speaking volunteers tease her 
     sometimes because she is the only person involved with the 
     program who is not bilingual. But Gibbs sees that as an 
     asset, because her skilled volunteer interpreters often get 
     pulled to other tasks.
        ``I have told her she's not allowed to learn any other 
     language,'' Gibbs joked.
        When Ball had double bypass surgery about five years ago, 
     Gibbs recalled, court staff and volunteers visited her at the 
     hospital every day. They also threw a big surprise party for 
     her when she turned 90.
        ``It's my family away from home,'' Ball said.

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