FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK PETER VOGIAN, LOU BACHETTI AND RUTH FLYNN FOR ALLOWING ME THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZETHESE DISINCTIVE EMPLOYEES OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SOME MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS REGION.

THE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITY. YOUR DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN AND THE LOW INCOME CLASS (?) IS COMMENDABLE AND EXEMPLIFIES THE KIND OF COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS YOU ALL ARE.

I KNOW THAT THE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO, WHETHER IT BE PROVIDING CHILDREN’S SERVICES, DIRECT CARE, RADIO READING PROGRAMS, JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, IS DIFFICULT WORK. OFTEN YOU ARE FACED WITH DOING THE TASKS THAT MANY OTHERS COULD OR WOULD NOT DO. OFTEN YOU FACE STRESSESFUL SITUATIONS IN YOUR PROFESSION THAT MUST NOT INTERFER WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE AND OFTEN YOU ARE NOT COMPENSATE AT A QUALITY RATE OR THANKED FOR YOUR COMMITMENT & EXCELLENCE CARE TO THE INDIVIDUALS YOU SERVE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM AWARE OF THE LABOURIUOS, AND THANKLESS, WORK THAT YOU DO AND I FIND IT TO BE AN HONORABLE PROFESSION. I ADMIRE ALL OF YOU. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU ARE NOT IN THIS PROFESSION FOR MONEY BUT BECAUSE SOMEWHERE DEEP INSIDE YOUR BEING YOU HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN AND TO SHARE IN THE WONDERFUL THING THAT MANY PEOPLE OFTEN OVERLOOK, HUMANITY.

I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MAY WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS TO MAKE A LIVING; YET, YOU REMAIN IN THE HUMAN SERVCIES FIELD BECAUSE OF THE BELIEFS YOU BELIEVE IN AND THE CARE YOU FEEL FOR YOUR COMMON FELLOW MAN OR WOMAN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I RECENTLY WENT TO BAT FOR ALL OF YOU IN BOSTON DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE.

(GIVE YOURSELF A PLUG - TALK ABOUT YOUR DIRECT CARE AMENDMENT – GETTING THE $$$ FOR DIRECT CARE WORKERS SALARIES + TELL THEM WHY YOU FIND IT IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET A WAGE INCREASE.)

(MENTION CONGRATULATORY LETTERS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ALL OF THEM.)

BEFORE I GO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES FOR RECOGNIZING THESE FINE EMPLOYEES, HERE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY THAT COMEMORATED THIS PAST YEAR AS WELL AS WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR SERVING MY COMMUNITY.