Groundbreaking For Research Demonstration House.docVIP

NEWS RELEASE USDA FOREST SERVICE ● FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY One Gifford Pinchot Drive ● Madison, WI 53726-2398 ● Web site: www.fpl.fs.fed.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2000 NR #1 Contact: Sue Paulson, (608) 231-9249 E-mail: skpaulson@fs.fed.us Groundbreaking For Research Demonstration House Madison, Wis - Outstanding contributions by Federal employees in the Madison area will be recognized at the 2nd Annual Awards Banquet sponsored by The Greater Madison Federal Agency Association (GMFAA) on Public Service Recognition Day (May 3). This year the association will also be celebrating Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month by having Akira R. Toki as the guest speaker for the banquet and by displaying artwork provided by the Chinese Fine Art Association. Toki, for whom the Akira R. Toki Middle School in Madison is named, will speak about the experiences he has encountered in the past 84 years. He will discuss being a part of the only Japanese-American family in Madison during World War II and of his enlistment in the U.S. Army, where he was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for being wounded and meritorious achievement. In addition to being the speaker, Mr. Toki will be receiving the “Distinguished Citizen Award”. The “Distinguished Contributions to the Youth of Wisconsin” award will be presented to the Ropes Program, Wisconsin National Guard Drug Control Program, which has contributed significantly to the youth by providing Outdoor and Mobile Ropes Challenge courses throughout the state. By providing a positive atmosphere for grade 6-12 youth the process has focused on improving self-confidence, decision-making abilities and ability to counter negative influences such as drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence. The Ropes coordinator is WO1 Trish Murray and her team consists of:WO1 Angela Joseph, SPC Chad Brownell, SSgt Telvin Gross, SSgt Heidi Burks, SSgt Rob VanLanen and SPC Brian Blahnik. This award will also be given to the U.S. Marine Corps