How I met an amazing person as the U.S. Olympic Archivist

I was thirteen. I lived in a small town in Kentucky and yet even there, we heard about it. Who could believe it? Who would believe it? A mass murder-suicide in a country I'd never heard of. But before long, all heard about it; all knew about it and Jonestown was on tip of everyone's lips. November 18, 1978, tiny Guyana was put on the map by Jim Jones and the forced suicide, or mass murder, of over 900 souls as well as the murder of California Representative Leo Ryan.

I conduct a fair amount of tours of the U.S. Olympic archives supporting Team USA. Most of the time for our development, marketing or alumni teams, seeking to inspire our visitors with a tour of our Olympic and Paralympic memorabilia. I also have the privilege of meeting our Olympians and Paralympians, as well as their families, to share with them the Olympic/Paralympic history & memorabilia we have as well as discuss (read that as plead) with them about the importance of preserving their history.

Today, we had a low-key visit of a contingent from Congress and the German Marshall Fund. To be honest, I did not know who was coming until I quickly scanned the list just hours before the tour. I was familiar with my two representatives on the list; but not the other names. However, I am an archivist and historian therefore, I research. Imagine my wonder when I conducted research on the Congresswoman from California's 14th congressional district. I am not a member of her district, nor do I live in California; however, today she and a few fellow members of Congress visited the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Olympic Archives. And today, I can say, I had the utmost privilege of meeting one of the survivors of the Jonestown mass murder and shooting at the airstrip, Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

Jackie Speier was a congressional staffer who visited Jonestown along with her boss Representative Leo Ryan. She was shot five times and left for dead on November 18, 1978, along with 9 others as they were preparing to leave. She saw her boss shot and killed as well as four others. She then waited for over 22 hours for help to arrive. Jackie Speier is not only a survivor, but a woman of action. She decided she did not want to be a victim, to promote more women in Congress and in 2008, she won the same seat the Leo Ryan held at the time of his murder and now serves in Congress.

Jackie Speier is also an outspoken leader regarding sexual harassment experienced by female members of Congress. Speier experienced sexual harassment first hand as a congressional staffer. Once again, just as she did over 10 years ago, Speier refused to be just a victim; but rather, to be a leader. She has proposed legislation to make sexual harassment training mandatory and make the reporting of sexual misconduct or abuse easier on Capitol Hill. And I, me, the archivist for a sport organization, just had the privilege of meeting her.

I do not care what your political affiliations are, I am not promoting one party over another; I am looking at an amazing individual who doesn't know what the words give up mean; who will not be labeled a victim; but who is an advocate. Someone who stands for her beliefs and seeks to change a system in dire need of being pulled into the 21st century.

Thank you Congresswoman for visiting our archives; thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share what I love doing; what I am passionate about with you and your fellow Congressmen. Thank you for being a leader. The honor and pleasure was all mine.