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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Friends of the Parks is a non-profit advocacy
3group based in Chicago; the group's mission is to preserve,
4protect, improve, and promote the use of parks in Chicago and
5in the forest preserves of Cook County; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Erma Tranter has been the President and Chief
7Executive Officer of Friends of the Parks for over 33 years;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, During Erma's tenure, Friends of the Parks has
10grown into one of the most respected and influential
11environmental advocacy groups in Illinois; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Friends of the Parks improves the quality of life
13in our State through programs that protect land of public value
14along our lakefront and in our neighborhoods, through volunteer
15activities that enlist citizens to adopt and steward their
16local parks and through environmental education programs that
17engage hundreds of Chicago Public School children each year,
18and by pursuits that inform the public through lectures, tours,
19and publications; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Erma's efforts have helped foster the Chicago
21Marathon, the Garfield Park Conservancy Alliance, the DuSable

 

 

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1Coalition, and the Clean Harbors Initiative, among many others;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Through Erma's work, hundreds of acres of land
4have been transferred to the Chicago Park District, and thereby
5have been saved from private development; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Erma spearheaded the Last Four Miles, an
7initiative to expand Chicago's lakefront park system, from
8Evanston to the Indiana border; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Erma was a moving force in the creation of two
10signature Chicago annual events, the L.A.T.E. Ride and the
11Earth Day Parks & Preserves Clean Up; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Through her efforts, 23 acres of prairie and
13wetlands on the northwest side of Chicago were saved from
14development and designated as the Dunning-Read Conservation
15Area; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Erma's leadership encouraged and supported
17partnerships with many kindred organizations, including, but
18not limited to the Chicago Park District, the Forest Preserve
19District of Cook County, Friends of the River, Friends of the
20Forest Preserves, Openlands, and the Chicago Area Runners
21Association; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, After 33 years of exemplary service to Illinois,
2Erma plans to leave Friends of the Parks in order to take on a
3new challenge, bringing medical supplies to Guatemalan
4villages; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we applaud Erma Tranter's efforts and results in preserving the
8State's environment, congratulate her for enhancing the fabric
9of our shared lives, commend her for her devotion to protecting
10and nurturing our natural areas, and offer our best wishes for
11her continued success in the future; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we salute Erma Tranter on February 6, 2014,
13as Friends of the Parks expresses its appreciation for her work
14well done at its annual meeting and offers its enthusiastic
15wishes for her continuing success in the next chapters of her
16life; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to Erma Tranter as a symbol of our esteem and
19respect.