[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 92 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ELISSA GIAMBASTIANI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2005

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elissa Giambastiani 
who is retiring after 18 years as President and CEO of the San Rafael, 
California, Chamber of Commerce. Under Elissa's dynamic leadership, the 
Chamber has successfully promoted not only the immediate needs of local 
businesses but also the long-term economic interests of the community.
  As an advocate for workforce housing and transportation 
infrastructure improvements, Elissa has been in the forefront of 
efforts to establish a housing trust and to pass a transportation sales 
tax. Her expertise is widely recognized, and she was recently invited 
to speak at a National Workforce Housing summit in Arlington, Virginia, 
on ``Fostering Community Acceptance of Affordable and Workforce 
Housing.''
  Born and raised in Minnesota, Elissa worked there as a teacher before 
taking a job with the Army teaching in Europe. After her return, she 
moved to San Francisco where she worked in an architect's office and 
met her husband Ron Giambastiani who worked in the same office and 
lived in San Rafael. She also worked as public relations consultant 
before joining the Chamber in 1987.
  As President, Elissa developed and implemented the overall program 
for an organization with over 950 members. She also took the lead in 
tracking and advocating the business viewpoint on legislation, 
including an instrumental role in the formation of the Alliance of 
North Bay Chambers to increase clout. This function lead to the San 
Rafael Chamber earning an Advocacy Chamber of the Year Award, one of 
the first winners in this category which was created by the California 
Chamber of Commerce in 2003.
  Elissa has also won an award from Western Association of Chamber 
Executives for management excellence and an Accredited Chamber 
Executive designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Locally, she 
is a member of the League of Women Voters, the Ecumenical Association 
for Housing, and the San Rafael Rotary.
  Mr. Speaker, ``tenacious'' and ``tireless'' are appropriate words 
frequently used to describe Elissa Giambastiani. I would add ``clear-
sighted, passionate, and caring,'' all adjectives which do justice to 
her effectiveness as a leader in of the San Rafael community. I wish 
her luck in her new pursuits of piano playing, Japanese flower 
arranging, Italian study, public relations consulting as well as 
grandmothering.




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