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“RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS WORK OF MR. RICHARD A. JOANIS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E8 on Jan. 7, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS WORK OF MR. RICHARD A. JOANIS
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HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a great American who has spent his career working to help the underserved in our country--especially migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
Richard A. Joanis spent 33 years as Executive Director of Telamon Corporation, one of the nation's most successful nonprofit organizations operating federal programs. He retires on February 14, 2014 after 44 years of service to farmworkers, elderly and other disadvantaged populations including major program efforts in Head Start, adult and youth training and employment, home ownership, housing rehabilitation, and homeless services.
Mr. Joanis' more than three decade career at Telamon allowed him the opportunity to serve in many capacities on behalf of those to whom he gave voice.
He served on the U.S. Department of Labor's National Advisory Committee on services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and also was a member of the Agricultural Employment Work Group set up by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Labor. Mr. Joanis was former president of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, a national federation of farmworker services organizations, now in its 42nd year.
At Telemon Corporation, Mr. Joanis built the organization from a one-
state operation into a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary non-
profit organization serving America's migrant and seasonal farmworkers, children, youth and the rural poor in eleven states.
In 2004, in recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Joanis was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in my great state of North Carolina.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Joanis has spent his career building hope, helping others see their inherent potential, and positively impacting countless lives by creating an upward trajectory for people around the nation. Mr. Joanis answered the nation's calling to assist its citizens when they are most in need.
Through his efforts on behalf of disadvantaged Americans, Mr. Joanis demonstrated that as citizens we are at our best when we are engaged in service to others, especially when that service leads to the empowerment of our fellow citizens and the improvement of our communities.
I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Mr. Joanis for his tireless work on behalf of those who are less fortunate.
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