H.R. No. 2286
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, After more than 36 years of outstanding service with
the Texas House of Representatives, esteemed Capitol staffer Janice
Vastine is retiring in July 2009; and
WHEREAS, Though she was born in Mississippi and grew up in
Louisiana, Ms. Vastine has embraced the Lone Star State as her own,
a fact made evident by her notable career in state government; her
tenure began in 1967 with the Welfare Department in the John H.
Reagan Building; her first employment with the Texas House came two
years later, when she worked for Representatives Maurice Angly,
Jr., and John Poerner during the 61st Legislative Session; although
she was the busy mother of three young children at the time, she
stayed with her employers through the special sessions that summer
before transferring to the Texas Attorney General's Office in the
fall; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Vastine returned to the legislature briefly
during her three-year tenure with Attorney General Crawford Martin,
responding to a call for help during a period of transition taking
place in the speaker's office; and
WHEREAS, On January 8, 1973, she made the house her permanent
workplace, and since that time, she has distinguished herself in
each of the capacities in which she has served; in addition to
working for the Committee on House Administration and the speaker's
office, she has been employed as house purchaser, director of
finance, and manager of the Business Correspondence, Personnel and
Staff Development, and Payroll and Personnel Departments;
moreover, Ms. Vastine has been responsible for the Records
Retention Schedule and the House Policies and Procedures Manual,
and she has served as the coordinator of the Americans with
Disabilities Act; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her decades of service, she has performed
her duties with the enthusiasm of one who enjoys her job to the
fullest; she has loved the ever-changing issues, the people, the
politics, and the workplace itself, many nights leaving by a
specific exit to catch the best view of the Capitol in all its
glory; and
WHEREAS, While claiming for years she'd have to be forcibly
removed from the building before she'd give up her job, Ms. Vastine
had seriously underestimated the magnetic pull of her
grandchildren, whose undeniable adoration of their grandmother
will soon render her retirement a fait accompli; with her state
employment coming to an end, she is looking forward to spending more
time with her family, including her children and their spouses,
Pamela and Blake Turner, Victoria and Michael Folger, and Bo and
Florence Vastine, and most especially her eight beautiful
grandchildren, Jake, Austin, Meaghan, Molly, Aidan, Kaylee,
Sophie, and Oliver; her new status as a woman of leisure will also
allow Ms. Vastine time to pursue her favorite hobbies, which
include finding special antiques for herself and her loved ones and
traveling, particularly in Western Europe during the Christmas
markets, where she is always on the lookout for German Christmas
pyramids; and
WHEREAS, Janice Vastine is an admired and beloved member of
the close-knit legislative community who has served her fellow
citizens and their elected public officials in the house with great
skill, dedication, and diligence for nearly four decades, and it is
a pleasure to honor her and pay tribute to her remarkable career;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Janice Vastine on her retirement
from the Texas House of Representatives and extend to her sincere
best wishes for continued happiness in all of her endeavors; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Vastine as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Geren
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2286 was adopted by the House on May
25, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House