Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, April 23, 2002 William E. Strickland, Jr., President and CEO of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation will be sworn in as a Member of the President’s Committee On The Arts and Humanities at the Supreme Court by Associate Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor.

The President’s Committee On The Arts and Humanities plays a key role within each Administration in identifying issues and developing initiatives in the arts and the humanities of critical importance to the nation. The Honorary Chairman of the Committee is first Lady, Laura Bush.

Established by the Executive Order in 1982 to help restore and incorporate the arts and humanities in government objectives, the Committee serves the Administration by advising on the effectiveness of these endeavors, providing a mechanism for interagency collaboration, and undertaking projects extending the reach and quality of national arts and the humanities programs.

Members of the committee are private citizens appointed by the President and the heads of federal agencies with cultural programs, including: the National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Institute of Museum and Library Services; Library of Congress; Smithsonian Institution; John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts; and National Gallery of Art. Because of its unique public/private structure, the Committee provides a valuable forum for strategic thinking about culturally significant issues.