HR0181 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0181 LRB094 11601 CSA 42680 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives offer our sincere congratulations to Betsy Hanisch, who was honored with the Elmhurst Jaycees' 2005 Distinguished Service Award; and

WHEREAS, Betsy is well-known to residents and business people throughout the community; and

WHEREAS, She has selflessly given her service, time, and financial support to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, the Elmhurst Family YMCA, Elmhurst College, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the former Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Her efforts throughout the past 20 years has made Elmhurst a better place to live; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, Betsy left her job as a social worker at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan to join her father's management team at Western Slate, a manufacturing firm in Elmhurst's industrial park; and

WHEREAS, Her tireless work ethic and keen intellect prompted her father to appoint Betsy his successor a few years later; and

WHEREAS, She served as Director, Executive Board Secretary, and Membership Chairman for the Midwest Association of Family Business Owners from 1991-1995; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, Betsy founded Fire Facilities, Inc., which designed buildings for hands-on firefighting training under controlled conditions; the DuPage Area Association of Business and Industry recognized Fire Facilities as a Nominee for Emerging Entrepreneurial Company in 1995 and again in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Betsy has been an active member of the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission since its inception in 1994, and has served on the Commission as Director, Marketing Committee member, Annual Meeting Chairman, Membership Committee member, Executive Board Secretary, Vice Chairman, and Chairman; and

WHEREAS, Betsy has also been an active member in the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry where she served on the Board of Directors, two Executive Director Search Committees, twice-chaired the Industrial Committee, and has been as Ambassador since 1991; and

WHEREAS, The Chamber of Commerce & Industry has honored her as one of 10 Outstanding Businesswomen in 1997, Ambassador of the Year in both 1991 and 1998, and with both the "Tee Off for Toche" Good Works Award and Chairman's Award in 2001; and

WHEREAS, She has relentlessly given her time and energy to help the Elmhurst Family YMCA since 1998, serving on the Annual Dinner Committee as a member and as a Chairperson, as well as on the Board of Directors and holding the position of Executive Board Secretary and Chairman; and

WHEREAS, Betsy has also donated her time to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, acting as member of the Board of Governors and Foundation Trustees since 1995, and as Vice Chairman of the Foundation Board since 1998; she has contributed her expertise on hospital committees, including the Corporate Annual Giving Fund, Guild Gala Fundraiser Committee, Quality Resource Management Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Golf Classic as founder and chair; and

WHEREAS, She continues to be active with her alma mater, Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where President Gregory Campbell presented her with its Distinguished Alumni Service Award; and

WHEREAS, Elmhurst College has also benefited from her commitment to the community, where she volunteers as a mentor for the Center for Professional Excellence Mentoring Program; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, The Business Ledger and National Association of Women Business Owners recognized Betsy with their Influential Women in Business Award; and

WHEREAS, Betsy has donated countless hours to improve all aspects of the City of Elmhurst; and

WHEREAS, Betsy's dedication to the community is a source of inspiration to the entire city and State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we do hereby offer our congratulations to Betsy Hanisch; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Betsy Hanisch.