[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DEBORAH SZEKELY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
treasured member of the San Diego community. Deborah Szekely is an 
extraordinary woman of tenacity and dedication, and on May 3rd she 
celebrated her 90th birthday.
  Deborah is a renowned health and wellness advocate, philanthropist, 
community leader, and champion for childhood nutrition. At 90 years 
old, she represents the beauty and energy that comes from a life 
committed to health and wellness, and she outpaces younger fitness 
advocates. She truly lives what she teaches. Along with her husband, 
Edmond Szekely, she founded Rancho la Puerta, a destination spa and 
wellness center in Baja California, and the Golden Door Spa in 
Escondido, California. She is committed to helping others prioritize 
healthy living.
  Deborah has worked with my office on initiatives related to educating 
children about health and nutrition. She is committed to changing the 
culture of eating and making sure young children understand the 
importance of healthy food, and the role it plays in wellness. Ever the 
energetic advocate, on May 3, 2012, her 90th birthday, Deborah launched 
wellnesspring.org, a grassroots effort to encourage the creation of a 
culture of wellness throughout the United States. I appreciate her 
laser focus when it comes to reaching people and educating them about 
the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and eating well.
  In addition to her healthy living work, Deborah has served as the 
president of the Inter-American Foundation, worked with the 
Organization of American States, and served as principal delegate to 
the Inter-American Commission on Women. She currently works as the 
Chairman and Founder of the New Americans Museum in San Diego and 
serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Science in the 
Public Interest and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
  Deborah ran for Congress in 1982, and while she did not win that 
election, through that process she conceived the idea of Setting 
Course, a publication of the Congressional Management Foundation which 
provides guidance on the fundamentals of managing a congressional 
office. The first edition of Setting Course was published in 1984, and 
the 12th edition of Setting Course just recently came out. This manual 
has been an invaluable resource to congressional offices, including my 
own. Deborah is still a member of the Board of Directors for the 
Congressional Management Foundation and continues her critical role in 
the publication of Setting Course.
  I truly admire Deborah's ongoing commitment to helping people of all 
ages understand the importance of good nutrition, healthy living, and 
being a force for positive change in their communities.

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