13163 Hon. Zachary T. Space Hon. Gerald E. Connolly
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May 20, 2009 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 10 13163 I am also pleased to see that the bill in- velop their skills and to perform the music of TRIBUTE TO RODGER MCFARLANE, creases funding for Essential Air Service. different cultures and heritages. On April 17, PIONEER IN THE LGBT CIVIL Coming from a rural district, I understand how 2009 during the NOVA-Annandale Symphony RIGHTS AND HIV/AIDS MOVE- critical EAS is to economic development. Orchestra’s 15th Anniversary celebration, The MENTS Rural communities across America count on Reunion Music Society announced the award EAS to preserve affordable, reliable air serv- recipients in two special categories: The Rich- HON. DIANA DeGETTE ice. The EAS program is a major piece of our ardson-Watkins Founders Awards, which rec- OF COLORADO rural transportation infrastructure and greatly ognize persons or businesses from the com- enhances the ability of these communities to munity that have made significant contribu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES attract and retain new business investment. I tions to the success of the Reunion Music So- Wednesday, May 20, 2009 support continued efforts to maintain this vital ciety’s programs, and The Orchestra/Players Ms. DEGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to program and urge my colleagues to support Awards, which are given to musicians who honor the extraordinary life and accomplish- this legislation. have made significant contributions to the suc- ments of Rodger McFarlane. A pioneer and cess and development of the Symphony over f legend in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and several years and are selected by their peers transgender (LGBT) civil rights and HIV/AIDS A PROCLAMATION HONORING RON in the orchestra. VANVOORHIS, TEACHER AT EAST movements, this remarkable man merits our The recipients of The Richardson-Watkins recognition and our esteem for his unprece- MUSKINGUM MIDDLE SCHOOL, Founders Awards are: FOR GIVING STUDENTS THE OP- dented contributions to our nation and to the Annandale Florist, Inc. and Mr. Gary PORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE world. Sherfey for many years of providing com- WASHINGTON, DC FOR 30 YEARS Sadly, Rodger was taken from us far too plimentary flower arrangements displayed on young, at age 54. Larry Kramer, Rodger’s HON. ZACHARY T. SPACE the theater stage at the Symphony Orchestra longtime partner and collaborator, has said concerts and for helping to promote concerts that Rodger ‘‘did more for the gay world than OF OHIO through displays at the florist shop. any person has ever done.’’ Rodger was at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Norman Johnston, a long-time volunteer the forefront of responding to the AIDS epi- Wednesday, May 20, 2009 and one of the founding members of the RMS, demic as it began to ravage our country in the who served on the Board of Directors for Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: early 1980’s. Before HIV even had a name, in many years. He continues to support the Sym- Whereas, Ron VanVoorhis, initiated East 1981, Rodger set up the first HIV/AIDS hotline phony Orchestra by serving as the organiza- Muskingum Middle School’s annual trips to anywhere; in fact, he used his home phone. tion’s graphic artist as well as providing signifi- Washington, D.C.; and Rodger, one of the original volunteers at Gay cant financial support both personally and Whereas, Mr. VanVoorhis has been respon- Men’s Health Crisis, the nation’s first and larg- through the solicitation of paid advertising. sible for close to 4,000 students being able to est provider of AIDS client services and public Dr. Bruce Mann, Dean of Liberal Arts at see and experience Washington, D.C.; and education programs, became its first paid ex- Northern Virginia Community College’s Annan- Whereas, Mr. VanVoorhis has consistently ecutive director. Until his death, Rodger was dale campus, who serves as the college’s liai- attended each trip, missing only one year for the president emeritus of Bailey House, the son to the RMS. He oversees the music the birth of his daughter; and nation’s first and largest provider of supportive courses that involve college students and Whereas, Mr. VanVoorhis has provided this housing for homeless people with HIV. Rodger members of the Symphony Orchestra and co- service without stipend and consistently at was also a founding member of ACT UP–NY, ordinates the scheduling of concerts and re- very low cost, saving each student an average the pioneering protest group responsible for hearsals. In addition, he successfully solicits of $100 per trip; now, therefore, be it sweeping changes to public policy as well as and obtains financial resources for concerts. Resolved, that along with his friends, family, drug treatment and delivery processes. Dr. Mann is presently serving his fourth year and the residents of the 18th Congressional In 1989, Rodger became executive director on RMS’ Board of Directors. District, I commend Mr. Ron VanVoorhis on of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, merg- his service to the East Muskingum Middle The recipients of The Orchestra/Players ing two small industry-based fundraising School, and congratulate him on his 30 years Awards are: groups into one of America’s most successful of service in bringing the students of EMMS to Mr. Claiborne T. Richardson II: For the last and influential AIDS fundraising and grant- Washington, D.C. to give them a better idea of 15 years ‘‘Clai’’ has generously contributed his making organizations. From 2004 to 2008, what it means to be an American citizen. time and talent to the Symphony Orchestra Rodger served as the executive director of the helping it to grow and thrive. As the orches- f Denver-based Gill Foundation, one of the na- tra’s percussion and timpani section leader he tion’s largest funders of programs advocating IN HONOR OF THE 15TH ANNIVER- leads and teaches his section, which is com- for LGBT equality. Rodger was instrumental in SARY OF THE NOVA-ANNANDALE posed of many budding musicians, while en- the creation of the Gill Foundation’s sister or- SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN couraging and promoting the works of new ganization, Gill Action. RECOGNITION OF THE 2009 young composers. Clai is a mainstay musician Rodger took three organizations in their in- AWARDS RECIPIENTS with the other RMS programs—the Annandale fancy and grew each into a powerhouse to Brass, Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra, tackle the international tragedy of HIV/AIDS. HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY and the Chris Johnston Trio. At Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Rodger increased OF VIRGINIA Ms. Jody Smalley: Jody has been playing fundraising from a few thousand dollars to the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the violin with the Symphony Orchestra since $25 million agency it is today. During his ten- it was formed 15 years ago. As vice president ure at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, he Tuesday, May 19, 2009 of the Orchestra’s Board of Directors, Jody ar- increased the organization’s annual revenue Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speak- ranges for guest musicians to rehearse and from less than $1 million to more than $5 mil- er, I rise today to congratulate the NOVA-An- perform with the Orchestra. Her production of lion, while also leveraging an additional $40 nandale Symphony Orchestra on the occasion CD’s of music to assist other musicians with million annually through strategic alliances of their 15th Anniversary and to pay tribute to their individual practices and the Power Point with other funders and corporate partnerships. their 2009 Award Recipients. presentation she prepares to accompany the He transformed the Gill Foundation by sharp- In 1994, Dr. Claiborne Richardson of The annual ‘‘Winter Wonderland’’ program helps to ening its strategic purpose, focusing its philan- Reunion Music Society and Dr. Gladys Wat- ensure the high quality of the performances. thropy in the states, aligning its investment kins of the Northern Virginia Community Col- Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with political imperatives, and forging alliances lege formed a partnership between the two or- me in congratulating the NOVA-Annandale that furthered both the LGBT movement and ganizations to create the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra on their 15th Anniver- the progressive movement as a whole. Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra com- sary and paying tribute to the recipients of The The breadth of Rodger’s accomplishments bines the talents of local professional and Richardson-Watkins Founder’s Awards and of is astounding. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, amateur musicians and college students to de- the Orchestra/Player Awards. Rodger was a licensed nuclear engineer who VerDate Mar 15 2010 08:29 Sep 12, 2011 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR09\E20MY9.000 E20MY9 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 13164 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 10 May 20, 2009 conducted strategic missions in the North At- spread along five miles of roads. The IN RECOGNITION OF THE lantic and far Arctic regions aboard a fast at- groundskeepers mow an average of 35 times PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY tack submarine. A gifted athlete, he was a vet- per year, totaling 1,600 acres. eran of seven over-ice expeditions to the I want to salute the board members and HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON North Pole. He also competed internationally staff members, past and present, of the Oak- OF ILLINOIS for many years as an elite tri-athlete. wood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, for the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Although Rodger never completed college, important work that they have done for 125 he was an accomplished and best-selling au- years. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 thor and producer of works for the stage. Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, today Rodger co-wrote several books, including The f I rise to recognize the Princeton Public Library Complete Bedside Companion: No Nonsense in Bureau County, Illinois.