[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING BERTHA DAUBENDIEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 1997

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend 
of our environment, Ms. Bertha Daubendiek. On Saturday, April 19, as 
part of Michigan's Earth Day activities, Ms. Daubendiek will be 
recognized and honored for her longtime accomplishments in working to 
preserve our precious natural resources.
  After graduating with honors from Grinnell College in 1938, Bertha 
Daubendiek made Michigan her home, and made activism and voluntarism 
her new calling. In 1970, her activities prompted both chambers of the 
Michigan legislature to acknowledge her as one of the States's premier 
volunteers. As her interest turned to the environment, her commitment 
to community increased as well. In 1979, Ms. Daubendiek received the 
Detroit News' Michiganian of the Year Award for her work in the 
completion of 50 nature preservation projects. In 1994, Ms. Daubendiek 
was inducted into the Michigan women's Hall of Fame.
  Some of Ms. Daubendiek's most significant work has been as founder 
and executive director of the Michigan Nature Association. This unique 
group of individuals have banded together and created preserves in 51 
of Michigan's 83 counties, enhancing the State's natural beauty. They 
have performed this task without using a penny of taxpayer funds. In 
addition to this, Ms. Daubendiek is the author of Michigan's natural 
beauty road law. Passed in 1970, the law is responsible for the 
preservation of more than 800 miles or roadside habitat.
  If you drive around the great State of Michigan, you may notice new 
license plates on some of our automobiles that display the saying, 
``Great Lakes Splendor.'' I believe this statement is true because of 
the efforts of people like Bertha Daubendiek.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor and pleasure for me to rise today 
to pay tribute to a true environmental hero, Bertha Daubendiek. She is 
an inspiration to me and countless others who work to protect our 
precious environment.

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