RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 2, 2023
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 was officially recognized in 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9. Presidential Proclamations have been issued annually in observance of the abundant accomplishments of women; and
WHEREAS, each year the National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for Women’s History Month. The theme for 2023 is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories”. This theme was selected to honor the women that have been active participants in communicating the journey of women, including both the victories and tribulations; and
WHEREAS, throughout history, women have proven that there is no limit to what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. Women have demonstrated that there is no correlation between intelligence and gender. Instead, women have confirmed that all people are, in fact, created equal; and
WHEREAS, women are invaluable at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (“District”). Since the 1972 election of Joanne H. Alter and Joan G. Anderson as the first female Commissioners, women have assumed positions of ever-increasing responsibility at the District, including President and Vice President of the Board of Commissioners, department heads, treatment plant operators, plumbers, electricians, master mechanics, pollution control officers, as well as a plethora of other positions; and
WHEREAS, there are hundreds of women that work tirelessly at the District to protect our water environment. These women bring a wealth of talent and skills to the agency and are instrumental to our success, supervising and mentoring staff, growing our value throughout Cook County, and showing tremendous pride in the services that we deliver; 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 our 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 2, 2023