[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING TOBY ROSENBLATT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 1, 2000

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, Toby Rosenblatt is a remarkable individual 
we are fortunate to have in our San Francisco midst. He has 
accomplished extraordinary feats in various roles and over many years 
of public service to the community.
  Toby was honored today by Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt for his 
outstanding work to preserve the scenic and recreational lands of our 
Golden Gate National Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has made 
an immense and indelible contribution to our natural landscape. The San 
Francisco community joins the Department of Interior in congratulating 
Toby on this special recognition to a most deserving individual.
  One of the highlights of this lifetime of accomplishment is Toby's 
leadership to return Crissy Field, a former World War II airstrip, to 
historic wetlands along the Presidio's window to the Bay. This is a 
phenomenal accomplishment--to bring the resources, talent and energy 
together in a great success that reverberates for the entire Bay Area 
Community, as well as for all of our national parks.
  As Chairman of the Golden Gate National Parks Association (GGNPA), 
Toby has led the successful drive to bring over $50 million in private 
donations to this spectacular project. By engaging the public in this 
effort, Toby had sparked a new awareness in the importance of our 
national parks and has led the way in forging the most successful 
public-private partnership in the history of the National Park Service. 
As the Secretary's citation notes: Under Toby's leadership at the 
GGNPA, ``the Parks Association has become a national leader of NPS 
friends groups . . .'' with contributions totaling over $50 million, 
``the largest of any individual friends group.''
  In addition to serving as the volunteer Chairman of the GGNPA, Toby 
also wears the hat of Chairman of the Presidio Trust. In this capacity, 
he has led the Trust in preserving the Presidio's integrity as a 
national park and in meeting the goal set by Congress to reduce costs.
  On behalf of our community, I extend my congratulations to Toby for 
this well-deserved honor, and also to his wife, Sally, and their sons 
Jamie and Adam.
  Toby has served as the epicenter for many great accomplishments at 
the GGNPA and the Presidio and we look forward to his continued 
leadership in our community on behalf of our national parks.

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