Recognizing Melinda Fleming for Her Life of Service

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. I rise today to recognize Melinda Franca Fleming, a pillar of the Sonora community.

Melinda was born on the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Northern California and grew up in a small town called Waterford. In her early adult life, she worked to balance part-time jobs and family obligations with her college work, earning an associate degree from Columbia College and later graduating Summa Cum Laude from Stanislaus State. Melinda pursued a substitute teaching job prior to earning her teaching credential from the University of the Pacific.

As a full-time teacher, Melinda became quickly involved in her school community where she taught English, reading, journalism, speech, yearbook, and newspaper. She was such a positive force that she was twice recognized as teacher of the year.

Melinda would later leave teaching to spend more time with her family, which now includes her husband Ken and their three children, nine grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

Melinda soon continued her community service as Executive Director of the Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment (TuCARE), a non-profit promoting good stewardship of public lands. By hosting educational lands tours with regional leaders and annual conferences on forest health, Melinda has had an incalculable impact not only on local forestry, but on informing long-term policies needed to save our forests, communities, and local economies for posterity. Due to her twenty years of service, TuCARE has been recognized as a non-profit of the year, a testament to her influence and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, Melinda Fleming spent her life serving her community. Whether educating and mentoring our youth or advising senior policymakers, Melinda's passion to better those around her embodies her true character as a model citizen. We are better for her service, and we know that even in retirement she will continue to serve through the shining example that is her legacy.

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