[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 25141-25142]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    TRIBUTE TO ANN TRUEBLOOD KRIESEL

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, recently the Burlington Free Press 
had an article about Ann Kriesel of Burlington, VT and praised her as 
the volunteer of the week.
  The Leahy family has known Ann Trueblood Kriesel almost from the time 
she came to Burlington. She is an extraordinary person, loved and 
respected by all who know her. She and her husband, Peter, are dear 
friends of Marcelle's and mine, and she has made her mark on our 
community in a way that would bring great pride and credit to anyone.
  As an exemplary teacher, as a mother and grandmother, her 
intelligence, quiet wit and grace has helped Vermonters of all ages.
  It is with pride that I ask the article about her be included in the 
Congressional Record, so that all Senators might know this exemplary 
woman and how much she and Peter mean to all of us.
  The article follows:

            [From the Burlington Free Press, Oct. 18, 2000]

             Former Teacher Enjoys New Role as a Volunteer

                          (By Beth Gillespie)

       Anne Kriesel is one of those special people who go out of 
     their way to enrich other people's lives.
       The volunteer at The Converse Home in Burlington browses 
     through local libraries for short stories, essays and 
     articles that the home's residents would enjoy and reads the 
     selections once a week. She also calls out for bingo games 
     and facilitates group crossword puzzles.
       A hostess during their social hours, Kriesel visits with 
     people and serves refreshments, and during outings she helps 
     those who use walkers get on and off the bus, carries 
     articles for them and keeps track of everyone.
       Kriesel introduces herself to new residents and helps them 
     feel comfortable. She worked one-on-one with one woman until 
     her death, visiting with her and playing canasta, Kings in 
     the Corner, rummy and other games.
       ``Anne is generous, genuine and dependable,'' says Patti 
     Meyer, activity/volunteer director for Converse. ``Her bright 
     personality and positive `can-do' attitude are priceless--she 
     enthusiastically embraces her responsibilities and gladly 
     does whatever she can to help out. Anne has become part of 
     our family as she helps to make Converse a true home. The 
     time she shares with us is very precious and we thank her 
     from the bottom of our hearts.''
       Kriesel also substitutes for Meals on Wheels and is 
     involved with the Joint Urban Ministries Program through her 
     church, College Street Congressional. She greets clients who 
     come to the Urban Ministries Program for counseling, helps 
     them fill out forms and

[[Page 25142]]

     visits with them until they can see a counselor.
       A retired teacher, Kriesel spent 22 of her 27 years in 
     education at Colchester Middle School, and now works part-
     time for the University of Vermont Department of Education as 
     a supervisor of student teachers. She lives in Burlington 
     with her husband, Peter, and the couple has two adult sons 
     and one granddaughter. She enjoys walking, gardening, 
     cooking, reading and writing.
       ``I loved my 27 years of full-time public school 
     teaching,'' Kriesel says. ``It's fun for me now to branch 
     out, try some new things and work with people at the opposite 
     end of the age spectrum. I find that they have such rich 
     lives and wonderful stories to tell.''

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