[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7677-H7678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING JOAN ALBI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Bob Schaffer) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to 
recognize the distributions and dedicated service of Joan M. Albi, 
Secretary of the Senate, the Colorado State Senate. After serving 32 
years in State government, Joan has done it all. She worked in the 
State House of Representatives and the State Senate, the lieutenant 
governor's office, and the governor's office.

                              {time}  1830

  Joan worked for the State Senate in several capacities for 23 years, 
serving as the Secretary of the Senate for 10 of those years before 
retiring in the spring of 1998.
  A Colorado native and a lifelong resident, she was born in Denver. 
Joan attended Cathedral High School in Denver before continuing her 
education at Loretto Heights College in Denver. Her father, Jim 
Bastien, worked as a purchasing agent for a local paint company. Her 
mother, Winnifred, still lives in Denver. She has one sister, Carol 
Dinapoli, also of Denver. She has three children: Kathy Albi-Ferguson 
of Aurora, Joe Albi, Jr., of Highlands Ranch, and James ``J.T.'' Albi 
of Bakersfield, California. She is also the proud grandmother of two.
  Mr. Speaker, without question, Joan is devoted to home and family. 
She actively participated in the Women's Auxiliary Circlo Italiano. Her 
main hobby is politics. The campaigns she worked on over the years were 
countless. Colorado's Republican Party truly benefited from her 
tireless efforts and will be forever indebted to her. Joan's loyalty 
and contributions to the party are evident.
  She worked in the Colorado House of Representatives steno pool from 
1966 to 1970 as an assignable stenographer, before taking a position in 
1971 with the lieutenant governor's office. In those days, the 
lieutenant governor was also the President of the Colorado State Senate 
and Joan was secretary of the senate president from 1971 to 1974. In 
her capacity as secretary, she was also a receptionist, payroll clerk, 
and she did the bookkeeping.
  When Colorado Governor John Love resigned to become the first 
``energy czar'' in Washington, D.C., Joan became the administrative 
secretary for the new governor, John Vanderhoof. She remained in that 
position until he finished what was left of Love's term. Joan then 
worked as assistant secretary of the Senate from 1974 to 1987, before 
becoming Secretary of the Senate in 1988.

[[Page H7678]]

  The contributions Joan made to the Senate during her tenure are 
remarkable. Joan serves on the Capitol Advisory Committee which meets 
regularly to address the preservation of the Colorado State Capitol 
building, one of the most remarkable buildings of its kind in the 
Nation. She was also active in the American Society of Legislative 
Clerks and Secretaries, a group sponsored by the National Conference of 
State Legislatures.
  In addition, she helped pave the way to bring the Colorado State 
legislature into the age of technology. Joan took part in the earliest 
meetings that began the computerization of the legislative process in 
Colorado.
  Mr. Speaker, Joan earned the respect of both legislative staffers and 
legislators. In fact, Patricia Dicks, Colorado's current Assistant 
Secretary of the Senate, said, ``Joanie and I worked together, and have 
been friends for 20 years. Joanie was a very good teacher who was very 
kind and patient, but always made sure that staff was updated and 
knowledgeable. When Joanie was injured during the session, the 
transition was seamless to the point that we never missed a beat. This 
is a tribute to her as a person and as a leader.''
  Legislators who served with her while she was Secretary hold her in 
the highest regard. Senate President Tom Norton of Greeley, Colorado, 
remarked, ``During the 6 years I served as Senate President, Joanie did 
an outstanding job of maintaining the efficiency and decorum of senate 
operations.''
  State Senator Ray Powers of Colorado Springs added, ``Joan always 
welcomes us in the morning with a friendly smile and good conversation. 
Her pleasant demeanor and strong work ethic were two of her strongest 
assets, and my colleagues and I always appreciated her.''
  Joan's daughter, Kathy, said it best, ``Mom loves to help people. She 
has a big, kind heart and generous personality.''
  The Colorado State Legislature expressed its sincerest appreciation 
to Joan Albi's dedication and dedicated service by passing a tribute in 
her honor in the 1998 legislative session. A retirement party will be 
held in her honor at the governor's mansion in Denver on September 15, 
1998, which is tomorrow.
  I first became acquainted with Joan in 1986 when I was working as a 
Senate majority administrative assistant in Denver. Then when I became 
a Colorado State Senator from 1987 to 1996, I had the privilege of 
continuing my working relationship with Joan. Working with her for over 
10 years, I can attest to her generous and pleasant demeanor and 
administrative abilities as Secretary of the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, Joan's presence at the State House of Colorado will be 
clearly missed by all. The friends she made over the years in State 
government wish her well and the best in her retirement. We all say, 
``Thank you Joan.''

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