National and State
Leaders Praise Valley Voice

---

   Top.
   Member of Congress, Visit, Words, Gift, 2003.
   Member of Congress, Words, 2003.
   Member of Congress, Words, 2002.
   Governor, Words, 2001.
   Member of Congress, Visit, Words, Medals, 2001.

Text-to-speech software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.

---

US Congressman Bob Goodlatte 6th VA
Honors Valley Voice with 2003 Pay Raise Gift.


At Valley Voice reading service for the blind, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (under Valley Voice sign) stands with staffers Rob Munro (left), Terry Ward (right) and supervisor Tom DuVal (rear). Congressman Goodlatte honored Valley Voice with a Pay Raise Gift during the visit. When he took office in 1993, Goodlatte declined the pay raise passed by the previous Congress. However, when Goodlatte requested a salary at the older lower level, the federal paymaster refused. Rather than keep the extra money, the Congressman has donated his pay raises to worthy non-profit organizations ever since. Valley Voice volunteers read newspapers and other time-sensitive print matter for broadcast to the region's blind, partially blind, and medically print-impaired population.
26 Aug 2003. Photo credit: Mia LaBerge.

At Valley Voice reading service for the blind, staffers Rob Munro (middle) and Terry Ward (right) listen while Congressman Bob Goodlatte (left) recalls nights of reading law textbooks aloud to a blind college roommate who later became his state's first blind federal judge. Valley Voice volunteers read newspapers and other time-sensitive print matter for broadcast to the region's blind, partially blind, and medically print-impaired population. Congressman Goodlatte honored Valley Voice with a Pay Raise Gift during the visit. When he took office in 1993, Goodlatte declined the pay raise passed by the previous Congress. However, when Goodlatte requested a salary at the older lower level, the federal paymaster refused. Rather than keep the extra money, the Congressman has donated his pay raises to worthy non-profit organizations ever since.
26 Aug 2003. Photo credit: Mia LaBerge.

   

United States Senate
Washington, D.C.
George Allen
Virginia

June 21, 2003

Dear Friends:

...I would like to add my voice to those applauding the volunteers....

Blindness is a terrible affliction that dramatically affects an individual's quality of life. I applaud Valley Voice ...for their dedication to alleviating the burdens of blind, partially-blind, and medically print impaired individuals. By reading newspapers and magazines ...to people who have lost the gift of sight, you ensure that they have access to otherwise unattainable sources of print material.

Friends, thank you for all you have done, and are doing, to help make the lives of ...Amriccans longer, fuller, and healthier. Working together, we will get closer to a future without visual disorders.

With warm regards, I remain

Sincerely,
(Ink signature)
George Allen

June 21 2003.

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives

August 12 2002

...Please accept my deepest thanks for helping make my Seniors Conference a success....

Your organization was an invaluable part of the event. I received many compliments afterwards about the content of the conference and the information that was available for the senior citizens who attended.

With kind regards,

Very truly yours,
(Ink signature)
Bob Goodlatte.

12 August 2002.

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Governor
James S. Gilmore, III
Governor

September 10, 2001

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone in attendance to the 20th Anniversary celebration for the Valley Voice in Harrisonburg.

There are currently more than 100,000 blind and vision impaired Virginians living in our great Commonwealth...

...The work of loving families and dedicated volunteers...plays a crucial role in helping Virginia's blind and vision impaired community enjoy a high quality of life.

I extend my sincere thanks to the many volunteers at the Valley Voice Reading Service for the Blind, including those recognized today for their long and distinguished volunteer service. Your efforts are appreciated by many throughout our great Commonwealth and nation.

Best wishes for a joyous celebration, and I look forward to the positive contributions you will continue to make to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Very truly yours,
(Ink signature)
James S. Gilmore III
Governor of Virginia

The governor also sent a Certificate of Recognition bearing a large metallic state seal, the paper signed by himself and countersigned Anne P. Petera, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

10 Sept 2001.

Pictured above, left to right: (Standing to right of Congressman Goodlatte) Brenda Fox representing the late Evelyn Watkins, Isabelle Dotson, Virginia Willis, Onnie Bailey, active Volunteer Wilkie Wilkerson, Vickie Simmons; (seated) Mrs. Poulter representing the late Maury Poulter, active Volunteers Dot Sander, Anne Hill, Lynn Schultz, Mae Frantz, and Liz Bowman.

HONOREES, ACTIVE VOLS PRESENT:
Leonie "Lynn" Schultz
Edgar "Wilkie" Wilkerson
Dorothea "Dot" Sander
Liz Bowman
Mae Frantz
Anne Hill

HONOREES, ACTIVE VOLS, NOT PRESENT:
Jeff Clark
Cheryl Lavy


HONOREES, PAST VOLS, PRESENT:
Vickie Simmons.
Virginia Obenschain Willis.
Onnie Bailey.
Isabelle Dotson.
Maury Poulter, Posthumous (accepted by a family Representative).
Evelyn Watkins, Posthumous (accepted by a family Representative).


HONOREES, PAST VOLS, NOT PRESENT:
Joanne Pearson.
Priscilla "Pem" Liskey.
CharlotteTaylor, Posthumous.
Mary Garland Taylor, Posthumous.

OAK LEAVES ABOVE DENOTE METAL OAK LEAF DEVICE ON RIBBON INDICATING "STILL ACTIVE WHEN AWARDED".   TWO OAK LEAVES FOR "LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY-SERVING ACTIVE VOLUNTEER".

More info about the medals on this page: Awards We Give.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte praising Valley Voice at a speech during Valley Voice's 2001 State of the Service and Volunteer Recognition event. Mr. Goodlatte stressed that sight loss does not end one's ability to achieve and contribute to society --but often access to print is crucial.





After the speech, Mr. Goodlatte remained on stage to pin medals on the longest-serving Volunteers.

10 Sept 2001.