[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF 2004 STATE OF MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AWARD 
               WINNER DORRENE GILBERT, OF GRAND LEDGE, MI

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                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and 
admiration that I rise today to recognize Dorrene Gilbert, whose 
generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and 
capacity for human service has earned her the 2004 State of Michigan 
Volunteer Award.
  Dorrene is an enthusiastic and energetic promoter of Grand Ledge, 
especially its historic and cultural projects. For forty years, she has 
notably spearheaded activities for the Grand Ledge Area Historical 
Society, the Art Guild, Ledge's Playhouse, Ledge Craft Lane, the Garden 
Club, Lincoln Brick Park, Michigan Week, and her church. Dorrene is 
extremely creative and well known for her cultural endeavors and 
bringing beauty to the community.
  A founder of the Art Guild, Dorrene served as its president in the 
1960s. She was Artist of the Month chairman for Ledge Craft Lane, a 
non-profit arts and crafts center, in the 1970s and still serves there 
as a volunteer. Known for her talent as a writer who has been publicity 
or promotion chairman for many groups in town, Dorrene has written and 
produced plays for church and for several style shows as fundraisers 
for the Opera House and Historical Society.
  Having always been interested in gardens and nature, Dorrene has 
devoted a great deal of time and effort to the Garden Club and its 
projects. She has served as president twice, and program chairman many 
times, while remaining a long time geranium sale promoter and working 
on the gardens at the restored Opera House in downtown Grand Ledge. 
Dorrene has also been involved with the Memorial Tree Trail, where over 
300 crab trees have been planted on the streets and in the parks in 
Grand Ledge in honor of or as memorials to residents.
  When Dorrene's husband passed away, she decided that she wanted to do 
something special in his memory. She wanted to promote recreation and 
historical traditions at the Lincoln Brick Park, which, at the time, 
was just being developed. The Brick Factory on the park's grounds had 
been a part of his family's heritage. Working with the park staff, she 
helped develop the Ashley Gilbert Memorial Historical Trail. When her 
son passed away, Dorrene wanted to add something educational and 
beautiful to Lincoln Brick Park once again. The David Gilbert Memorial 
Sugar Bush, with 105 maples and dogwoods, was born from memorial funds, 
family contributions and a grant. She has also encouraged the Garden 
Club to plant at Lincoln Brick Park and is a contributor and supporter 
of the Lincoln Brick 100 Club.
  Furthermore, as a board member of the Grand Ledge Area Historical 
Society, Dorrene has chaired and presented several programs on the 
history of Grand Ledge over the years. She is currently planning a 
vintage clothing style show as a fundraiser for the Historical Society. 
Dorrene has also spearheaded Festive Tables at the Opera House during 
the Historical Society Annual Holiday Home Tour for several years. She 
has served her church as the Sunday School Superintendent, a Church 
Council Member, Fine Arts and Decoration Chairman, and often handles 
its publicity. Dorrene also wrote and produced a play on the 125 years 
of the church. She has served on Michigan Week Committees for nearly 
forty years as promotion and publicity chairman, hospitality chairman, 
and in recent years, on the Awards Committee. The list of her 
activities is vast, diverse, and always growing.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I join her many friends, 
admirers, fellow volunteers, and the people of Grand Ledge in extending 
our highest praise and congratulations to Dorrene Gilbert for winning 
the 2004 State of Michigan Volunteer Leadership Award. Her personal 
interest and active participation in her community are deeply 
appreciated and should serve as an example for us all.

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