[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS WORK OF MR. RICHARD A. JOANIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2014

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a great American 
who has spent his career working to help the underserved in our 
country--especially migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
  Richard A. Joanis spent 33 years as Executive Director of Telamon 
Corporation, one of the nation's most successful nonprofit 
organizations operating federal programs. He retires on February 14, 
2014 after 44 years of service to farmworkers, elderly and other 
disadvantaged populations including major program efforts in Head 
Start, adult and youth training and employment, home ownership, housing 
rehabilitation, and homeless services.
  Mr. Joanis' more than three decade career at Telamon allowed him the 
opportunity to serve in many capacities on behalf of those to whom he 
gave voice.
  He served on the U.S. Department of Labor's National Advisory 
Committee on services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and also was 
a member of the Agricultural Employment Work Group set up by the 
Secretaries of Agriculture and Labor. Mr. Joanis was former president 
of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, a national 
federation of farmworker services organizations, now in its 42nd year.
  At Telemon Corporation, Mr. Joanis built the organization from a one-
state operation into a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary non-
profit organization serving America's migrant and seasonal farmworkers, 
children, youth and the rural poor in eleven states.
  In 2004, in recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Joanis was 
inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in my great state of 
North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Joanis has spent his career building hope, helping 
others see their inherent potential, and positively impacting countless 
lives by creating an upward trajectory for people around the nation. 
Mr. Joanis answered the nation's calling to assist its citizens when 
they are most in need.
  Through his efforts on behalf of disadvantaged Americans, Mr. Joanis 
demonstrated that as citizens we are at our best when we are engaged in 
service to others, especially when that service leads to the 
empowerment of our fellow citizens and the improvement of our 
communities.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Mr. Joanis 
for his tireless work on behalf of those who are less fortunate.

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