[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1188-E1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING CARL DOUGLAS WEEKS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carl Douglas 
Weeks, who will retire this month from his position as President of the 
Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County.
  For more than 42 years, Carl has dedicated himself to the Boys and 
Girls Club movement, holding several positions before being named 
Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County in 
2000 and President in 2011.
  Carl is living proof of the Boys and Girls Clubs' slogan, ``Great 
Futures Start Here.'' He joined the Bradenton Boys Club at the age of 
eight and began working there before graduating high school.
  During his career, Carl has tirelessly dedicated himself to 
developing innovative and effective partnerships that have allowed the 
non-profit organization to serve more children, more often. Under his 
leadership, the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County has become the 
preeminent children's service organization in the community, serving 
over 6,000 youth in 2012.
  I had the honor of meeting Carl when I visited the Boys and Girls 
Clubs of Manatee County in 2006. He shared with me an adage that I have 
often repeated: children are just 25 percent of our population but 100 
percent of our future.
  His passion and the mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee 
County is to enable all young people, especially those who are most in 
need, to become productive, caring, responsible citizens.
  He has also given time, energy and talents to other community service 
organizations, including the United Way of Manatee County, South County 
Community Redevelopment, the Bradenton Kiwanis Club, and the American 
Red Cross.
  I appreciate this opportunity to recognize Carl for all he has done 
to help young people reach their full potential and his involvement in 
community service.

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