[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3563-3564]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    A TRIBUTE TO MRS. JOAN P. ALTMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2001

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, today I want to extend my warmest thanks 
and my most sincere best wishes to Mayor Joan P. Altman who will be 
leaving southeastern North Carolina after many years of service to the 
citizens of Oak Island, Brunswick County, and the State of North 
Carolina.
  Currently serving her fifth term as Mayor of Oak Island, Joan has 
been an instrumental leader and good steward of the public's interest 
in a variety of capacities. Mayor Altman currently serves as Chairman 
of the North Carolina League of Municipalities Energy, Environment, and 
Natural Resources Committee. She is a member of the N.C. General 
Assembly Legislative Research Commission Committee on Beach Issues and 
was a member of the N.C. Estuarine Water Quality Stakeholder Group. In 
addition to her public service, Joan serves her community in a variety 
of other ways, including being a member of the Brunswick Community 
College Board of Trustees, Cape Fear Area United Way Board of 
Directors, and Cape Fear Council Boy Scouts Board of Directors.
  When I think of Joan's commitment to the public good, the words 
``spirit, sacrifice, and service'' come to mind. Joan's positive spirit 
has always been to do the task at hand--a spirit that inspires others 
to achieve. Joan's sacrifice in time and commitment has been to make 
southeastern North Carolina a better place to live and work--a 
sacrifice that meant doing the right thing and not being concerned with 
who gets the credit.
  Pearl S. Buck once said, ``To serve is beautiful, but only if it is 
done with joy and a whole

[[Page 3564]]

heart and free mind.'' Joan, there is no question that your years of 
service have been the epitome of this statement. Service to others has 
been the embodiment of your life--service that sets a path for others 
to follow and that we all should emulate.
  As you enter this next stage of your life, I am confident that your 
talents and energy will continue to be of benefit to many. Through your 
commitment to your family, and your community, a shining jewel you will 
continue to be.
  Bart Giamatti, the former President of Yale University, said it well 
in 1987, ``Be mindful of what we share and must share; not the least of 
which is that each of our hopes for a full and decent life depends upon 
others hoping the same and all of us sustaining each other's hopes * * 
* If there is no striving for the good life for any of us, there cannot 
be a good life for any of us.''
  Joan, on behalf of the citizens of the Seventh Congressional District 
of North Carolina, thank you so much for the good life you have given 
to so many. Now, you enjoy the same, and may God's strength, peace and 
joy be with you always.

                          ____________________