August 2, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: Board Member Jacobsen's Farewell

After nine years of service as a Board Member and Chair of the National Mediation Board, Maggie Jacobsen is leaving the NMB. Her replacement, Mr. Harry Hoglander, was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2002. As she begins to address the new challenges in her life, Ms Jacobsen sends the following thoughts to all those who have worked with her at the Board, among the parties in the airline and rail industries, at other government agencies, and in the press.

Dear Colleagues:

It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I bid you farewell as I leave the National Mediation Board, retiring after three terms at the NMB and 24 years of government service as a mediator.

The historic text in the opening phrase of the document signed by President Clinton after my confirmation by the Senate, some 8 ½ years ago, "Know ye, that imposing special trust in the integrity and ability of Magdalena Jacobsen ".....etc, expresses a strong obligation and expectation upon those of us privileged to serve in public office. Those words were very meaningful to me and I have tried to live up to their spirit and letter during my tenure at the Board, hopefully you would agree that I have done so.

My plans are to play a constructive role in labor-management relations in a mediator/facilitating capacity and perhaps to do some teaching. I believe that labor representatives, labor relations professionals, and the media play an essential catalytic role in overcoming conflicts that will always exist in the workplace and hope my experience could be helpful in the continuing work of conflict resolution.

I thank you for your help, support and the many efforts you have made to work with me to improve our processes. I do believe that we have accomplished a great deal and that we have collectively made changes which will endure.

Sincerely,

Magdalena G. Jacobsen

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