[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 STATEMENT IN HONOR OF NANCY H. BECHTLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute Nancy Hellman Bechtle for 
her longstanding commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area community. 
For the last fourteen years, Nancy Bechtle has served as the President 
of the San Francisco Symphony. On December 3, 2001, the Board of 
Governors of the San Francisco Symphony, civic leaders, elected 
officials and friends and fans will gather for a tribute dinner and 
concert in Nancy's honor, to recognize what her Presidency and overall 
leadership has meant to the community.
  A fourth generation San Franciscan and alumna of Stanford University, 
Nancy Bechtle comes from a family tradition which has blessed 
California with its philanthropy and civic involvement and she is 
passing this legacy on to her children. Nancy Bechtle has been a member 
of the Symphony's Board of Governors since 1984. Elected in 1987, she 
is the second woman to hold the position of President of the San 
Francisco Symphony.
  Mrs. Bechtle's tenure was one of the most successful in the 
Symphony's history, highlighted by the appointment of Michael Tilson 
Thomas as Music Director, the completion of an acoustic renovation of 
Davies Symphony Hall, a major touring program that has taken the 
Symphony throughout Europe, Asia and the United States and the release 
of numerous Grammy Award winning recordings. Mrs Bechtle, with her 
grace and strength, negotiated a historic six year labor agreement 
signed in January of 1999. As a result of these efforts, the San 
Francisco Symphony is considered one of the world's premiere orchestral 
ensembles. In addition, Mrs. Bechtle has illustrated her commitment to 
the San Francisco community by establishing annual outdoor concerts as 
well as expanding the Symphony's education program for youth, 
Adventures in Music. Mrs. Bechtle has been recognized with numerous 
awards for her outstanding service to the community.
  I am proud to Join my constituents in thanking and praising my friend 
Nancy Bechtle for her fourteen extraordinary years as President of the 
San Francisco Symphony. We have been truly blessed by her leadership, 
will miss her as President, and wish her well in all her endeavors, 
including her continued service on the Board of Directors of the San 
Francisco Symphony.

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