[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 162 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2143-E2144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE S. RUDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased to rise 
today to acknowledge Stephanie S. Rudy for the depth and diversity of 
contributions she has made to so many local organizations in Colorado.
  Stephanie's energy is boundless, her smile matchless, and her 
compassion far-reaching. She is a dedicated advocate for the arts and 
one of the rarest and most wonderful talents in our community. This 
year she was selected by the Denver Foundation as the recipient of the 
``Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award,'' which recognizes 
individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the city of 
Denver and their community through volunteerism. She also was chosen by 
the Boulder Chamber of Commerce to receive the ``Women Who Light Up The 
Community'' honor.
  Among the many organizations Stephanie has enriched with her talents 
are the ``Open Studios'' for artists and art lovers throughout the 
Boulder area, the Colorado Music Festival, the Conference on World 
Affairs at the University of Colorado, the Boulder County Safehouse for 
women and children, the Boulder Community Hospital, and the Boulder 
Police Department. To serve so broadly, so successfully, and with such 
grace, heart, and spirit is deserving of recognition.

[[Page E2144]]

  I first met Stephanie when, as a representative of ``Open Studios,'' 
she enlisted my help in inviting Mr. William Ivey, chairman of the 
National Endowment for the arts, to visit Colorado. Through her 
coordinating genius with the Colorado Council on the Arts, the Colorado 
Business Committee for the Arts, the Arvada Center for the Arts, 
Chairman Ivey's office and my staff, Stephanie booked the chairman to 
speak before full audiences in Denver, Arvada, and Boulder. This 
special engagement with the chairman was a triumph only to be dreamed 
of by others in Colorado.
  For the past 4 years Stephanie has been the personable Steering 
Committee Chair in charge of Publicity and Marketing for ``Open 
Studios.'' This program is a self-guided tour of over 130 studios of 
Boulder's finest visual artists. Under her inspired direction, 
attendance has increased nearly thirty percent, and ``Open Studios'' 
has garnered generous coverage in local and national newspapers and 
magazines. Her creativity in designing the unique Press Kits has 
generated remarkable public participation in this exceptional annual 
event.
  In addition to the incomparable work Stephanie does for ``Open 
Studios,'' she also serves as a member of the Board of the Colorado 
Music Festival. This festival orchestra has been described as ``the 
best orchestra is Colorado,'' and ``the most important orchestra 
between Chicago and Los Angeles.'' To celebrate the Colorado Music 
Festival's 25th Anniversary, Stephanie graciously gave me the 
tremendous honor of having the U.S. flag presented to the festival's 
accomplished young conductor, Mr. Michael Christie, for his debut 
season.
  Stephanie has also been a member of the General Committee for the 
Conference on World Affairs, an annual event held at the University of 
Colorado each April. She has been in charge of publicity for this 
conference that is attended annually by over 50,000 people. She has 
recently been asked to use her extraordinary skills as a member of the 
committee to plan the World Affairs Athenaeum.
  The Boulder Police Department has benefited for three years from her 
volunteer work as a Victim's Advocate. This program requires Stephanie 
to respond to the scene of a crime and inform victims and witnesses of 
their rights, give them resources, and help them find constructive ways 
to cope with incidents. She has dealt sympathetically with victims of 
sexual assault, assault, bank robberies, domestic violence, and 
harassment. She has also worked sensitively with groups of people 
affected by the suicide of others.
  Stephanie has enhanced the ``Chocolate Lover's Fling,'' among other 
projects for the Boulder Country Safehouse, a human service 
organization serving women and children victimized by domestic 
violence. She cochairs the arts committee of ``Wine Women and Food,'' 
an event sponsored by the Boulder Community Hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in expressing our 
gratitude to Stephanie Rudy for touching our community socially, 
culturally, and artistically. Her constant and loving contributions go 
beyond reckoning, and I wish her good health and happiness in the 
future.

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