[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 115 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SHIRLEY ROBERTS: BRINGING FAIR WINDS TO BAY CITY

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                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2001

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend, Bay 
Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Shirley Roberts, 
and to express the gratitude of an entire community for her outstanding 
work in promoting my hometown of Bay City, Michigan. 1, along with the 
citizens of Bay City, am especially appreciative of Shirley's herculean 
efforts in bringing the Tall Ships Celebration 2001 and Maritime 
Festival to town this summer.
  As one of the founders of BaySail, Inc., Shirley deftly navigated any 
and all obstacles to provide safe harbor for more than a dozen 
historical schooners to drop anchor in Bay City for an unprecedented 
nautical exhibit that truly put the community on the map as a 
destination point for tourists from near and far. Her efforts helped 
hundreds of thousands of visitors discover or rediscover Bay City, 
significantly enhancing the prosperity of the summer season for many 
small businesses, restaurants and tourist attractions. In addition, the 
event provided a wonderful opportunity for residents and others to get 
a glimpse into Bay City's legendary maritime history and its many 
contributions to the shipping industry.
  Bay City has come to expect a lot from Shirley because she always 
delivers. Employing all the vim and vigor that she consistently has 
applied to other community endeavors, Shirley dove right into the Tall 
Ships project to ensure smooth sailing for seafarers and landlubbers 
alike. Moreover, Shirley's keen understanding that the success of any 
voyage depends equally upon the leadership of the skipper at the helm 
and the quality of the crew went a long way to making the event a smash 
hit.
  Shirley has always been the first to acknowledge the role others have 
played in her accomplishments and her modesty is perhaps one reason for 
her remarkable ability to recruit and retain enthusiastic and hard-
working paid staff and a legion of volunteers. In fact, it is a 
testament to her team-effort approach that so many volunteers answer 
the call whenever she asks. Shirley also enjoys the wholehearted and 
energetic support of her husband, David, and daughters, Michelle and 
Erika, and typically credits them for their role in her success.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in praising Shirley 
Roberts for her gung-ho spirit and unwavering devotion to Bay City and 
surrounding communities. I am confident she will continue to bring fair 
winds and Godspeed to any and all undertakings on behalf of the 
citizens of Bay County, Michigan.




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