RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 4, 2021
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the month of March as Women's History Month
Body
WHEREAS, March is celebrated as Women’s History Month worldwide in acknowledgement of the immense contributions that women have made throughout history; and
WHEREAS, the commemoration of Women’s History Month in the United States began in 1978 in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women organized a Women’s History Week event. The week of March 8th was chosen as a way of incorporating International Women’s Day into the celebration; and
WHEREAS, the weeklong celebration in Santa Rosa gained popularity, and in February of 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. In 1981, the first Congressional proclamation was issued; and
WHEREAS, Women’s History Month became officially recognized in 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9. Presidential proclamations are issued annually in observance of the profuse accomplishments of women; and
WHEREAS, each year the National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for Women’s History Month. The theme for 2021 is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced”. This theme was selected as a continuation of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, given that many celebrations were canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS, throughout history, women have proven that there is no limit to what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. While often being relegated to supporting roles in the past, women have demonstrated that there is no correlation between intelligence and gender; and
WHEREAS, women are invaluable at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (“District”). Since the election in 1972 of Joanne H. Alter and Joan G. Anderson as the first women Commissioners, women have assumed positions of ever increasing responsibility at the District, from department heads to treatment plant operators, plumbers, electricians, master mechanics, pollution control officers, as well as a plethora of other positions; 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 month of March as Women’s History Month; 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.
Dated: March 4, 2021