[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23251-23252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF MR. M.J. ``MIKE'' ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 19, 2005

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and a 
fixture within the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. On Friday, 
October 21, 2005, after twenty years at the helm, Mike Arts retires as 
President of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. Throughout his 
tenure, Mike's leadership cut a path of economic growth and prosperity 
transforming his home community, Boca Raton.
  In 1985, Mike took the reigns of the Chamber and faced an daunting 
task. The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce was dealing with the 
loss of 10,000 IBM jobs, an inactive membership and a fledgling 
downtown development plan.
  Today, thanks to Mike's leadership, the Chamber enjoys a membership 
of 1,800 members, the largest business organization in Palm Beach and 
Broward counties. The success of the Boca Raton Chamber has been at the 
center of making the City of Boca Raton, the envy of municipalities 
throughout Florida.
  Mike's involvement reaches far beyond Boca Raton. Mike has served as 
President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Executives and as a member 
of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Mike has also supported a 
regional business approach that has led South Florida to become a 
national and international leader in transportation and international 
trade. As a result of this progressive vision, Mike has been called one 
of Palm Beach County's ``movers and shakers.''
  I have had the privilege of representing the residents of Boca Raton 
and Palm Beach County since 1992. As a Member of Congress representing 
a new area, it was an easy transition the day I first met Mike. Mike 
took precious time introducing me around the Boca Raton business 
community.

[[Page 23252]]

  The many relationships and support I have today is a direct result of 
Mike's support.
  Every two years constituents of Florida's 22nd Congressional District 
travel to Washington and participate in my District Fly-In. The Fly-In 
provides my constituents with a firsthand look at the inner workings of 
the Congress and our federal government. I appreciate Mike's 
longstanding support of these events during the planning and 
implementation process. His assistance has made these Fly-In events a 
tremendous success.
  Although Mike will step aside from leading the Boca Raton Chamber, we 
know his activities and commitment to Boca Raton and the South Florida 
business community remain a top priority.
  I Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to call Mike Arts my 
friend. I wish Mike and his lovely wife, Catherine, much happiness and 
good health as they complete this chapter in their partnership and look 
for new challenges and opportunities in the future. I thank my 
colleagues for allowing me to bring to the attention of the House the 
outstanding service of Mike Arts.

                          ____________________