Date: 1998-09-14
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. it is my great honor to recognize the distributions and dedicated service of Joan M. Albi. Secretary of the Senate. the Colorado State Senate. After serving 32 years in State government. Joan has done it all. She worked in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. the lieutenant governors office. and the governors office. Joan worked for the State Senate in several capacities for 23 years. serving as the Secretary of the Senate for 10 of those years before retiring in the spring of 1998. A Colorado native and a lifelong resident. she was born in Denver Joan attended Cathedral High School in Denver before continuing her education at Loretto Heights College in Denver. Her father. Jim Bastien. worked as a purchasing agent for a local. paint company. Her mother. Winnifred. still lives in Denver. She has one sister. Carol Dinapoli. also of Denver. She has three children: Kathy AlbiFerguson of Aurora. Joe Albi. Jr.. of Highlands Ranch. and James "J.T." Albi of Bakersfield. California. She is also the proud grandmother of two. Mr. Speaker. without question. Joan is devoted to home and family. She actively participated in the Womens Auxiliary Circlo Italiano. Her main hobbyis politics. The campaigns she worked on over the years were countless. Colorados Republican Party truly benefited from her tireless efforts and will be forever indebted to her. Joans loyalty and contributions to the party are evident. She worked in the Colorado House of Representatives steno pool from 1966 to 1970 as an assignable stenographer. before taking a position in 1971 with the lieutenant governors office. In those days. the lieutenant governor was also the President of the Colorado State Senate and Joan was secretary of the senate president from 1971 to 1974. In her capacity as secretary. she was also a receptionist. payroll clerk. and she did the bookkeeping. When Colorado Governor John Love resigned to become the first "energy czar" in Washington. D.C.. Joan became the administrative secretary for the new governor. John Vanderhoof. She remained in that position until he finished what was left of Loves term. Joan then worked as assistant secretary of the Senate from 1974 to 1987. before becoming Secretary of the Senate in 1988. The contributions Joan made to the Senate during her tenure are remarkable. Joan serves on the Capitol Advisory Committee which meets regularly to address the preservation of the Colorado State Capitol building. one of the most remarkable buildings of its kind in the Nation. She was also active in the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries. a group sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition. she helped pave the way to bring the Colorado State legislature into the age of technology. Joan took part in the earliest meetings that began the computerization of the legislative process in Colorado. Mr. Speaker. Joan earned the respect of both legislative staffers and legislator. In fact. Patricia Dicks. Colorados current Assistant Secretary of the Senate. said. "Joanie and I worked together. and have been friends for 20 years. Joanie was a very good teacher who was very kind and patient. but always made sure that staff was updated and knowledgeable. When Joanie was injured during the session. the transition was seamless to the point that we never missed a beat. This is a tribute to her as a person and as a leader." Legislators who served with her while she was Secretary hold her in the highest regard. Senate President Tom Norton of Greeley. Colorado. remarked. "During the 6 years I served as Senate President. Joanie did an outstanding job of maintaining the efficiency and decorum of senate operations." State Senator Ray Powers of Colorado Springs added. "Joan always welcomes us in the morning with a friendly smile and good conversation. Her pleasant demeanor and strong work ethic were two of her strongest assets. and my colleagues and I always appreciated her." Joans daughter. Kathy. said it best. "Mom loves to help people. She has a big. kind heart and generous personality." The Colorado State Legislature expressed its sincerest appreciation to Joan Albis dedication and dedicated service by passing a tribute in her honor in the 1998 legislative session. A retirement party will be held in her honor at the governors mansion in Denver on September 15. 1998. which is tomorrow. I first became acquainted with Joan in 1986 when I was working as a Senate majority administrative assistant in Denver. Then when I became a Colorado State Senator from 1987 to 1996. I had the privilege of continuing my working relationship with Joan. Working with her for over 10 years. I can attest to her generous and pleasant demeanor and administrative abilities as Secretaryof the Senate. Mr. Speaker. Joans presence at the State House of Colorado will be clearly missed by all. The friends she made over the years in State government wish her well and the best in her retirement. We all say. "Thank you Joan."