January 7, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E31 

HONORING THE WORK OF CAROL 

J. FRIEDMAN 

HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to celebrate Carol J. Friedman of Point 

Reyes Station, California. Carol is retiring as 

Executive Director of the Dance Palace Community Center after 37 years at the helm. 

From the founding of the organization in 1971 

to the present, she has been the force that 

has made the Dance Palace an integral part 

of the West Marin community. 

Born and raised in Rye, New York, Carol 

was a dancer from her youngest days, whether it was the Nutcracker Suite in her living 

room or formal study with a number of modern 

dance teachers. She matriculated at Radcliff 

College but took time off in 1971 after two 

years as dance was not part of the Harvard 

curriculum. She came to the Bay Area and 

connected with fellow dancers who had rented 

a perfect dance space with apartments above 

in a building in Point Reyes that had previously housed the Palace Market. As described by Carol, ‘‘So we moved into the 

Dance Palace—7 of us—dancers, musicians, 

hippies, idealists, and all completely naive 

about the community and about going about 

business.’’ 

From those early beginnings, the Dance 

Palace evolved into a multi-use facility with 

input and ideas from all segments of the community and Carol as the guide. She made the 

ideas into reality, whether it took building a 

whole new building, constantly securing funding, running day-to-day operations, programming events, reaching out to new people, or 

plunging toilets. When she saw a need in the 

community, she worked to fill it. And she did 

it all with her own personal warmth, style, and 

creativity. 

Today the Dance Palace Community Center 

has an annual budget of $475,000, presents 

100 special events a year, offers 30 classes 

weekly, has 200 regular volunteers, and 

serves 27,000 people of all ages annually— 

providing a wide variety of services including 

a summer day camp, senior meals program, 

teen theater activities, after-school classes for 

kids, English as a Second Language instruction, and weekend performances and concerts. Carol personally participated in many of 

these activities, claiming, for example, ‘‘I am 

personally responsible for introducing the 

ever-popular Bubble Wrap Day plus the Russian hand jive dance to generations of Dance 

Palace Campers.’’ 

Carol expanded the Dance Palace’s role by 

actively promoting collaboration among other 

local and County-wide organizations. She herself became an expert on non-profit and community work and gave unstintingly of her time 

and knowledge wherever it was needed. 

Along the way, Carol had two sons, Abraham and Eli, whom she raised as a single 

mother. The Dance Palace was their second 

home, and they were early performers in community productions. Carol continues to dance 

and teach dancing as well as sing, and has 

volunteered in many capacities including as an 

elephant seal docent and hospice bereavement supporter. She also stars in a weekly 

soccer pickup game where she has evolved 

into a formidable talent. Clearly, she will not 

be sitting still after retiring from her Dance Palace duties. 

Madam Speaker, Carol Friedman will be 

missed at the helm of the Dance Palace Community Center but will continue to be involved 

in her community, as long as it doesn’t interfere with her soccer schedule. As the heart 

and soul of the Center for so many years, 

Carol’s spirit will shine at the Dance Palace 

Community Center for generations to come. 

f 

117TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELLIS 

ISLAND 

HON. ALBIO SIRES OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, tooday I rise 

to recognize the 117th anniversary of the 

opening of Ellis Island. Originally opened on 

January 1, 1892, the island remains a part of 

American history and our culture. Together 

with the Statue of Liberty, these places represent what it means to be an American. 

During the attacks of September 11, 2001 

these symbols stood as a reminder and a 

warning that we will prevail against those who 

wish us harm. So great are these symbols that 

visitors from here and abroad visit them every 

day. Yet the Statue of Liberty crown is still 

closed to visitors. I am happy that both President-Elect Obama and Interior Secretary Designate Salazar support fully opening up the 

crown. 

I am optimistic that we will again allow 

Americans and foreign visitors to peer out 

from the crown and to think about what it 

means to be an American. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF STANLEY 

REED 

HON. MIKE ROSS OF ARKANSAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize Stanley Reed of Marianna, Arkansas, and his outstanding service to the state of 

Arkansas as outgoing president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau and outgoing chairman of 

the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. 

I have had the distinct honor and privilege 

of knowing Stanley for many years and his 

dedication to the citizens of Arkansas is second to none. A third-generation cotton farmer 

from Marianna, he holds a bachelor’s degree 

in agricultural engineering and a law degree 

from the University of Arkansas, though his affection for the land eventually led him back to 

the farm. 

Stanley is one of the greatest allies to and 

advocates for Arkansas farmers and farm families. He has served as president of Arkansas 

Farm Bureau for 5 years, and has been a 

member of the organization’s state board for 

more than 20 years, including stints as vice 

president and secretary-treasurer. He also 

serves as a member of the Arkansas Farm 

Bureau Federation’s board of directors. Due to 

his determination to improve Arkansas agriculture, Stanley has participated in numerous 

foreign trade missions including trips to Mexico, Turkey, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Cuba. 

Of course, Stanley’s commitment to Arkansas does not end with farming. Stanley just 

completed a 10-year term on the University of 

Arkansas Board of Trustees, where he served 

as chairman for 2 years. His service on this 

distinguished panel earned him the respect 

and admiration of all who came into contact 

with him throughout his tenure. Stanley will 

forever be remembered for his selfless service 

to improve secondary education opportunities 

for countless Arkansans. In addition to these 

roles, Stanley also serves on the board of directors for Baptist Health and as a board 

member of Pine Bluff-based Simmons First 

National Bank. 

Amidst all of these professional successes, 

anyone who knows Stanley understands that 

his most treasured role in life is that of a husband to Charlene, father to Haley Davis, Nathan and Anna, and grandfather to three 

grandchildren. Carrying on in true Reed family 

tradition, Stanley’s son Nathan continues to 

work with him on the family farm. 

Stanley Reed will long be considered one of 

Arkansas’s finest, and a best friend and advocate for agriculture. It is with great pride that 

I rise today to recognize Stanley Reed for a 

lifetime of accomplishments, and for his muchadmired service to one of his greatest passions—farming. 

f 

TRIBUTE ON THE RETIREMENT OF 

MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT C. 

WILKINS FROM THE UNITED 

STATES AIR FORCE 

HON. JOHN S. TANNER OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States 

Air Force, I want to personally take this opportunity to honor my dear friend, MSgt Robert C. 

Wilkins for his 26 years of dedicated service to 

our country. In his most recent assignment, he 

served as the Superintendent, Operations, Air 

Operations Division, Office of the Legislative 

Liaison, Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC. 

A superior leader, Master Sergeant Wilkins 

assisted me and members of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly during trips to France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Turkey, Germany 

and the Netherlands. He performed magnificently, upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and through his efficient 

planning, these trips were a complete success. 

Madam Speaker, I respectively request my 

distinguished colleagues join me in expressing 

our sincere appreciation to Master Sergeant 

Wilkins for his extraordinary service to the 

United States Air Force and our great Nation. 

On behalf of members serving on the U.S. 

NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation, I 

say we will miss his expertise and positive attitude, but most importantly, we will miss his 

friendship. 

Betty Ann and I wish Rob, his wife, Amy 

and son, Robert, the very best as they face 

new and exciting challenges in the coming 

years. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REMARKS