H.R. No. 529
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Christopher House of Austin is a therapeutic
1-2 treatment facility that provides hospital-level care in a homelike
1-3 setting for people with HIV or AIDS and is aptly named for Saint
1-4 Christopher, who was known for his willingness to help those in
1-5 need; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Though the facility has an excellent
1-7 multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and support staff, it
1-8 has found that the needs of its clients and their families are far
1-9 too great to be met by the members of its hardworking staff alone,
1-10 and to this end, the staff of Christopher House formed the Chris
1-11 Team project in September 1994; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Since its creation, the volunteers of the Chris Team
1-13 project have assisted 60 patients by pairing off in groups of two
1-14 volunteers per client to assist individuals with day-to-day
1-15 nonmedical needs as well as to provide them with companionship over
1-16 the course of their illness; and
1-17 WHEREAS, This challenging role is not for just anyone, for it
1-18 takes people of rare qualities to grow close to someone knowing
1-19 they will inevitably have to lose that person; Chris Team members
1-20 are all team players with strong communication and organizational
1-21 skills who exhibit a high degree of professionalism and a proven
1-22 ability to maintain confidentiality; and
1-23 WHEREAS, In addition, Chris Team members must have a clear
1-24 sense of personal and professional boundaries and possess the
2-1 ability to work effectively under pressure and in emergencies; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Christopher House is fortunate to have found these
2-3 qualities in a number of dedicated individuals, and the members of
2-4 this chamber would like to take a moment to honor each of them at
2-5 this time, for their selfless efforts have greatly enhanced the
2-6 lives of countless individuals in need; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Committed and sincere, Otis Manchester is a
2-8 nine-month volunteer with the project who always gives generously
2-9 of himself to help out wherever he is needed despite his busy
2-10 schedule as an IBM employee; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Retired state worker Doris Walker has been with the
2-12 facility for a year and brings to her position the insight of one
2-13 who has lost her own loved ones to AIDS; having suffered the loss
2-14 of her son and daughter-in-law to the disease, she has turned her
2-15 own difficult experience into a vehicle by which she can help other
2-16 people; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Her sister, Lula Green, is also sharing her
2-18 retirement years with the newfound friends she has made at the
2-19 center; regarded by many as the strength of the project, Ms. Green
2-20 not only accepts each assignment she is given but has taken it upon
2-21 herself to visit all of the clients at Christopher House, even on
2-22 weekends, in spite of the fact that she doesn't own a car and must
2-23 find her own transportation; and
2-24 WHEREAS, A caregiver to a client for six years before she
2-25 started her work with Christopher House, retired city employee
2-26 Alnetia McClendon has shared her wisdom and insight to the benefit
2-27 of her peers and has helped everyone at the facility to get through
3-1 some difficult times; and
3-2 WHEREAS, Kathryn Peterson, who is employed by the law firm of
3-3 Clark, Thomas & Winters, has served on the Chris Team for the past
3-4 year; blessed with a heart of gold, Ms. Peterson doesn't hesitate
3-5 to give of her own resources to meet clients' needs and her gentle
3-6 yet firm personality has proven a refreshing addition to the team;
3-7 and
3-8 WHEREAS, Though she has a demanding career as an elementary
3-9 school teacher, Lisa Drummond never hesitates to accept an
3-10 assignment for Christopher House and her dedication is an
3-11 inspiration to all who know her; and
3-12 WHEREAS, Similarly, KTBC-TV employee Sharon Cohen also faces
3-13 a daunting schedule yet makes time for patient care above and
3-14 beyond her assignment; and
3-15 WHEREAS, Retired county worker Gracie Miles lost her beloved
3-16 son and grandson to AIDS and became a volunteer at the home within
3-17 months of losing them; a familiar sight in the kitchen, she can
3-18 often be found cooking special meals for clients and feeding them;
3-19 and
3-20 WHEREAS, Bringing her past experience as a CARE Team member
3-21 to her work with the Chris Team, Catherine Bailey leaves behind a
3-22 demanding position with the Texas Medical Association to visit and
3-23 care for her patient, and her kind and compassionate presence makes
3-24 her a welcome member of the team; and
3-25 WHEREAS, Albert Marasco is a former member of the Chris Team
3-26 who resigned from the team to address his own personal struggle
3-27 with HIV; during his tenure with the project, Mr. Marasco
4-1 demonstrated to others what giving is all about, spending much of
4-2 his time with the client to whom he was assigned until the
4-3 patient's death last January; and
4-4 WHEREAS, All of these individuals have enriched the lives of
4-5 the patients of Christopher House and they indeed merit special
4-6 legislative recognition for their exceptional contributions in this
4-7 regard; now, therefore, be it
4-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
4-9 Legislature hereby commend Otis Manchester, Doris Walker, Lula
4-10 Green, Alnetia McClendon, Kathryn Peterson, Lisa Drummond, Sharon
4-11 Cohen, Gracie Miles, Albert Marasco, and Catherine Bailey for their
4-12 outstanding service as volunteers at Christopher House; and, be it
4-13 further
4-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-15 prepared for these remarkable individuals as an expression of
4-16 highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.