RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 4, 2019
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Friends of the Chicago River
Body
WHEREAS, for 40 years Friends of the Chicago River has improved and protected the Chicago River system for people, plants and animals; and
WHEREAS, Friends has worked in the areas of policy, on-the-ground projects and education on behalf of the river system; and
WHEREAS, since 1979, Friends has educated more than 400,000 students about science, nature, and the environment; received over 200,000 visitors to its McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, and taken 20,000 individuals canoeing to build new and future advocates; and
WHEREAS, each year Friends’ Chicago River Day, Centennial Volunteers, and River Action Days attract over 10,000 volunteers who participate in river clean ups, performing restoration activities instream and on adjacent lands; and
WHEREAS, the organization has worked on behalf of the Chicago River system to raise overall water quality, foster healthier wildlife habitat, reduce flooding, and raise public awareness of combined sewer overflows; and
WHEREAS, Friends has grown from a handful of people concerned about the neglect of the river system to an organization of 10,000 members, volunteers and online advocates; and
WHEREAS, generations of Chicagoans now value the Chicago River system as a natural resource; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby recognize the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Friends of the Chicago River; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Friends of the Chicago River Executive Director Margaret Frisbie.
Dated: April 4, 2019
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel