HR0486 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0486 LRB101 13441 ALS 62285 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Aurora Area Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on the occasion of their 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1881, the AAUW is the nation's most active and diverse organization for college graduates; it is the oldest and largest national organization working for equality and the advancement of women through education; and

WHEREAS, The AAUW works to address the barriers and implicit biases in education that hinder the advancement of women, to ensure livelihoods for women by creating inclusive career pathways to attain economic security, and to close the gender gap in leadership opportunities by cultivating women leaders; and

WHEREAS, The Aurora Area Branch was founded in 1919 and has approximately 60 members; among their achievements is the effort to elect women to local offices, beginning in the 1950s when Elaine Hegy, the former branch president, was the first woman elected to the local school board; many of the Branch's members have run for public office, including State Senator Linda Homes, State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, former State Representative Linda Chapa-LaVia, and former State Representative Suzanne Deuchler; and

WHEREAS, The Aurora Area Branch's other achievements include being selected as a finalist for AAUW's Breaking Through Barriers Award for its "Science Spooktacular" program for girls in 2011 and being the home branch of Andi Danis, the 2013-2014 Illinois State President; and

WHEREAS, A graduate with an associate's degree or the equivalent, a baccalaureate, or a higher degree from a qualified educational institution is eligible to join the AAUW; members of the Aurora Area Branch join 100,000 members nationwide with a long-standing commitment to advocacy for women; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Aurora Branch of AAUW on the occasion of their 100th anniversary and commend them for examining and taking positions on the fundamental issues of the day and on promoting equity and education for women and girls; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Aurora Branch of AAUW as an expression of our esteem and respect.