[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF AUDREY RUST ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT 
                    FROM PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 2011

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Audrey Rust, a highly 
distinguished constituent, a nationally recognized leader of land 
preservation and a cherished friend on her 24 years as President, CEO 
and Executive Director of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).
  Under her exceptional leadership since 1987, Ms. Rust has led POST, 
the Palo Alto, California based nonprofit land trust and has worked 
successfully in partnership with public agencies and private landowners 
to bring permanent protection to thousands of acres of open space lands 
in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Recognized across 
the country as a conservation innovator and champion, she has helped 
protect local landscapes that are now part of the National Park System, 
the National Wildlife Refuge System, the California State Parks, as 
well as county and city parks, regional open space preserves and 
private farmlands.
  Before coming to POST, Ms. Rust worked with the Sierra Club, Yale 
University and Stanford University. She has served on the boards of 
numerous local, State and national organizations, primarily in the 
conservation and housing arena. She has received the Times Mirror-
Chevron National Conservationist of the Year Award; the League of 
California Voters Environmental Leadership Award; the Cynthia Pratt 
Laughlin Medal; the Garden Club of America's top environmental honor; 
and the Jacqueline Kennedy Award from JFK University for her 
achievements in land conservation. Ms. Rust is a graduate of the 
University of Connecticut at Storrs.
  I've been privileged to know and work with Audrey Rust for many 
years. She has been a friend, a mentor, and an inspiration to me and to 
thousands more. Audrey is one of the great environmental heroes of our 
Nation. Her determination and focus have shaped an extraordinary legacy 
and our entire Nation is grateful to her for leading the way in saving 
and preserving the world-class beauty and natural integrity of the 
Peninsula, South Bay and Coastside of California for generations to 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud to have my Bay Area colleagues--Leader 
Nancy Pelosi; Representative Sam Farr; Representative Mike Honda; 
Representative Zoe Lofgren; Representative Jerry McNerney, and 
Representative Jackie Speier join me in honoring Audrey Rust. I ask the 
entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring and thanking 
Audrey Rust for her unparalleled record of leadership and wish her a 
joyful retirement. Audrey Rust is indeed a national treasure and it is 
a privilege to represent her and call her my friend.

                          ____________________