[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22750-22751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING SUE KLUGER FOR ESTABLISHING LEADERSHIP WILKES-BARRE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sue Kluger of 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for making Leadership Wilkes-Barre what it 
is today. I ask that my colleagues pay tribute to her achievements as 
she is honored at a dinner this Wednesday, September 24, in Wilkes-
Barre.
  Established in 1981, Leadership Wilkes-Barre is an outstanding 
community development program designed for those in the field of 
business and industry, healthcare, social services, utilities, 
government, labor, education, and professional and volunteer 
organizations. Graduates of the program usually take on leadership 
roles throughout my Congressional District in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania, and throughout the United States.
  Leadership Wilkes-Barre has a strong commitment to developing 
leadership skills and of informing class members about the issues 
confronting our community. It encourages its participants to address 
community needs by completing group projects, and the program instills 
a commitment and a personal responsibility to serve and strengthen our 
community. This program inspires people to get involved and lead their 
community toward a brighter future.
  Sue Kluger exemplifies community involvement and leadership. She is a 
member of the founding Board of Directors of Leadership Wilkes-Barre 
and its Executive Director since 1983. She has assisted in the 
formation of 15 Leadership programs throughout Pennsylvania.
  She is a member of countless organizations throughout the Wilkes-
Barre area and has participated in many community projects throughout 
the years. It is no surprise that Sue has been recognized for her 
community leadership on several occasions. She has been honored as 
Woman of the Year by the Sisters of Mercy, won the Lifetime Achievement 
in Philanthropy Award from the National Society of Fund Raising 
Executives, was awarded the Preceptor Award from the National 
Association for Community Leadership, was included in the National 
Directory of Who's Who in Executive and Professional Women, and was the 
winner of the United Ways of Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Year Award. 
She has also received the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce 
Award for Outstanding Business Woman.
  Mr. Speaker, I insert in my remarks at this point the complete text 
of a recent editorial honoring Sue.

         [From the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, Sept. 23, 2003]

                     Sue Kluger Radiates Leadership

       Her tenure created 3,000-plus leaders, doers and friends.
       If the Greater Wyoming Valley is well-supplied with 
     anything, it is with individuals who are groomed for 
     community leadership. This, to a great extent, is the result 
     of the career of one who has been called ``the leader of 
     leaders,'' Sue Kluger. Sue Kluger will be honored tomorrow 
     evening with a party and salute at the F.M. Kirby Center For 
     the Performing Arts on Public Square. The salute will be for 
     20 years of service as executive director of Leadership 
     Wilkes-Barre as she completes that tenure and takes up the 
     role of senior adviser to the organization.
       During those two decades, Sue Kluger has headed this well-
     known community program that identifies as many as 40 
     emerging community leaders each year and educates them about 
     needs and assets--ranging from economic development to local 
     government to social services. During the same two decades, 
     too, she has encouraged and helped the core program expand to 
     leadership training for high school students, college 
     students, executives and senior citizens through programs 
     called Junior Leadership, Intercollegiate Leadership, the 
     Executive Leadership Series and The Masters Leadership 
     Program. By way of all these programs, more than 3,000 local 
     people have gained understanding of our community and been 
     put into position to help it progress.
       Equally as impressive as the large numbers of 
     ``graduates,'' however, is the substantive result of their 
     participation. The boards of directors of scores of area 
     organizations and agencies are more diverse and more vital 
     because they include individuals who have

[[Page 22751]]

     gone through the leadership programs. The actual leaders in 
     training have completed hundreds of class projects. They have 
     done environmental cleanups. They have organized recreational 
     events. They have held performances events promoting the arts 
     in Northeast Pennsylvania. They have held forums--attended by 
     several thousand people over the years--addressing community 
     concerns.
       Too, the Leadership Wilkes-Barre program has been 
     personally enriching for those who participate in it. The 
     many alumni of the leadership programs have become a network 
     of friends who can call upon each other to advance community 
     goals.
       Friendship, community activism, diversity, and belief in 
     the future of the Greater Wyoming Valley will fill the room 
     tomorrow night at the Kirby Center as the graduates and 
     friends of Leadership Wilkes-Barre gather. And it will 
     radiate--as it long has--from the woman being saluted, Sue 
     Kluger.

  Mr. Speaker, It is a privilege and honor to represent a woman who has 
done so much for her community and for all of Northeastern 
Pennsylvania.

                          ____________________