[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    IN RECOGNITION OF KAREN CLAPPER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 11, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Karen Clapper for her 
service on the San Carlos City Council since June 2012. She has applied 
decades of experience with private and public organizations to keep San 
Carlos the ``City of Good Living'' for all residents.
  When a seat on the council became vacant, the four remaining council 
members unanimously selected Karen to fill the remaining term. She has 
been a passionate advocate for our neighborhoods, schools, parks and 
public safety. During her time on the City Council, Karen Clapper has 
worked collaboratively with her colleagues and sought to create a 
community marked by fiscal prudence and regional relevance. She was 
always well prepared at council meetings and asked many important 
questions during budget and policy sessions. Karen has been a team 
player who worked hard to ensure that San Carlos had the finest fire, 
police, and parks services possible. She was frequently attended public 
events, wanting to be accessible to residents.
  During her time in public service, Karen served on the boards of the 
Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance and the Library Governing Board 
WA. She also served on ad hoc committees dealing with school property, 
the San Carlos Transit Village, and Wheeler Plaza. She was the liaison 
to San Carlos Green, a citizens group advocating for environmentally 
sensitive projects and policies, and the Planning Commission. In fact, 
Karen's longest service to the city was during her time on the 
commission where she served from 2009-20012. During this formative time 
in the city's history, she helped to maintain the city's small town 
character while recognizing that its planning decisions had to fit into 
the regional need for housing and other changes.
  Karen earned her BA in Environmental Design from San Diego State 
University and her MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Anderson 
School of Management at UCLA. She has been a consultant, coach and 
board member for a long list of companies and non-profit organizations, 
including Great American Bank FSB, Accenture, Friends of San Carlos 
Library, the Service League of San Mateo County, and Elizabeth F. 
Gamble Garden.
  Karen will continue her work as an independent productivity and 
leadership coach and be guided by one of her favorite quotes by Albert 
Einstein: ``Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; 
in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.'' Her eternal optimism 
will no doubt direct her to continue to contribute to the community. In 
her spare time she enjoys reading, quilting and doing crossword 
puzzles.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Karen Clapper for her outstanding leadership during her tenure on 
the city council and for her service to the residents of San Carlos at 
many meetings and forums in the past. She will be missed on the council 
but certainly seen and heard throughout the community for many years to 
come.

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