|
Chairman John A. Boehner Opening Statement June 25, 2002 Good morning. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone, to Mr. Miller, to my other colleagues, and most importantly to our special guests here today. Thank you very much for being here. We’re here today to recognize the efforts of The First Tee, a youth character building organization with programs located throughout the country that provide young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through both the game of golf and character education, values and character traits that will positively impact their lives and experiences in school. The First Tee programs are community-based and are implemented through a partnership of parents, civic and corporate leaders, state and local governments, youth-serving agencies, schools, and the golfing community. Last week, President and Mrs. Bush hosted a conference at the White House on the importance of character education to our nation’s youth. President Bush cited the importance of character education and instilling common values in our youth. "Teaching character and citizenship to our children is a high calling," he said. "Americans believe in character education because we want more for our children than apathy or cynicism," the President continued. "We’ve got higher aspirations for every child in America. We want them to understand the difference between right and wrong." No activity better parallels life and teaches you the character you need to be successful in life than the game of golf. On the golf course, you learn responsibility, honesty, patience, self-control, integrity, respect, confidence, and sportsmanship. As in life, to be successful at golf you have to realize that you are always going to make mistakes. Overcoming both your own errors and bad bounces is just as much a part of the game’s challenge as trying to hit perfect shots. You learn that a 3-foot putt is just as important as a 300-yard drive, and that you must put the last shot behind you in order to execute the next. You also learn about yourself and where your shortcomings lay, the things you need to work on at life’s "practice range". The First Tee is working to make the game of golf more affordable and accessible to young people throughout the nation by opening up golf courses and providing instruction for free and reduced rates to children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. By the year 2005, The First Tee will serve more than 500,000 children in 250 programs throughout the United States. In my state of Ohio, there are currently four First Tee facilities that serve more than 1,500 children. I am pleased to bring attention to The First Tee and am grateful for its work in our nation’s communities. I want to especially thank the witnesses for being here. Jack Nicklaus, from my own home state of Ohio, has devoted much of his life to promoting golf and the values we can learn from the game. He of course also played the game pretty well, having won more major championships than anyone in history. Mr. Nicklaus, it’s an honor to have you here. I’d like to highlight the student who is here to testify, Amber Davis. She has been involved with The First Tee of Atlanta since April of 2000 and credits The First Tee program with helping her develop strong leadership skills. We look forward to hearing from you. Welcome Amber. I’d also like to thank Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., the executive director of The First Tee, Duane W. Dedelow, Jr., the mayor of Hammond, Indiana, which has a First Tee program, and Robert Krause, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University who has helped to build and develop The First Tee program. I would like to thank our other distinguished witnesses for being here as well. I also want to recognize PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem and Steve Outlaw, a First Tee participant from Hammond, Indiana, for their contributions to The First Tee. They are in attendance today. Welcome. With that, I yield to my friend and ranking member, Congressman George Miller for his opening statement. |