HR0844 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0844 LRB097 20737 KXB 67180 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, For 90 years, WILL-AM, WILL-FM, and WILL-TV have provided a lifeline of information to people across much of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Public radio station WILL-AM (then known as WRM) aired its first official broadcast on April 6, 1922, when radio was new and experimental, using one 50-watt vacuum tube in a University of Illinois electrical engineering laboratory; and

WHEREAS, In 1941, WILL-FM (then known as WIUC) signed on with its first FM license to the University of Illinois, and ever since has offered Illinois listeners music and news to nourish the spirit and mind; and

WHEREAS, In 1955, WILL-TV went on the air, broadcasting from makeshift studios under the stands of the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium, preserving the history, culture, and stories of Illinois residents, and engaging the children of the State with educational programming; and

WHEREAS, In 1974, WILL established the membership organization known as Friends of WILL; today, donations from supporters provide strong local financial backing, making up 42% of the public media organization's operating revenue; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, WILL Radio-TV-Online became Illinois Public Media, while retaining the individual identities of WILL-AM, WILL-FM, and WILL-TV, to better reflect its expansion into the community and the Internet; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Illinois Public Media is still true to its original spirit of innovation and its original mission of service; today, it makes use of new technology to bring the people of the State of Illinois stories about their communities and their world; Illinois Public Media helps students learn core subjects using digital media; and Illinois Public Media gives voice to local arts, provides knowledge and new ideas, and assists in local community needs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate everyone involved with Illinois Public Media on the occasion of the 90th anniversary and wish them the best in their continued endeavors to bring quality programming to the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Illinois Public Media as a symbol of our respect and esteem.