HR0923 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0923 LRB098 20547 MST 56660 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Norbert and Charlotte Zinck on their work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and

WHEREAS, The USAID is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid; its focus is disaster relief, poverty relief, cooperation on global issues, supporting U.S. geopolitical interests, and socioeconomic development in low-income nations; and

WHEREAS, Norbert Zinck has an extensive history of service with the USAID, often with his wife, Charlotte at his side; and

WHEREAS, Norbert Zinck began his connection with the USAID in 1999 after hearing an advertisement on the radio requesting volunteers with knowledge of farming, welding, machining, raising animals, and anything agriculturally related; his first assignment sent him to Armenia in July of 1999, at that time, a new country with only substandard equipment to work with, to teach no-till soybean planting; in addition to Armenia, he has volunteered in Macedonia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Siberia, Guyana, Ghana, and Nubaria to help with agricultural production; and

WHEREAS, Norbert Zinck has traveled a total of 8 times to the country of Azerbaijan to aid in everything from soil preparation and corn production to machinery repair and helping in obtaining farming loans; he was the first volunteer the new country of Azerbaijan received from the U.S. in September of 2000; and

WHEREAS, Norbert Zinck was born in Mascoutah on December 16, 1934 and Charlotte in St. Louis, Missouri on March 20, 1937; they were married at the Assumption Catholic Church in Matese, Missouri on November 27, 1958 and have 4 children, Jim (June), Mary (Don), John (Lisa), and Dan (Carolyn); 12 grandchildren, Jeremy, Sarah, Jaime, Adam, Joshua, Nicole, Mitchell, Patrick, Allyson, Jackson, Annie, and Kelly; and 2 great-grandchildren, Mellissa and Conner; Norbert currently operates a shop fabricating, welding, machining, designing, and repairing equipment for clients, family, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Norbert and Charlotte Zinck on their work with the United States Agency for International Development; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Norbert and Charlotte Zinck as an expression of our esteem and respect.