HR1106

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Bob Carlock on the 
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occasion of his retirement from Rend Lake College on January 
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31, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock began working at Rend Lake College in 
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May of 1986; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock was instrumental in the creation of 
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many beneficial programs for Rend Lake College; he was 
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instrumental in the establishment of a $5 million insurance 
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reserve fund for Rend Lake College, which enabled the college 
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to have available insurance coverage in the event of any 
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liability on the campus; the fund also provides interest of 
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$150,000 per year for tort liability purposes, which enabled 
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Rend Lake College to spend $1.3 million for the addition and 
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renovation of the Administration Building on Rend Lake 
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College's main campus in Ina; he was one of very few 
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individuals that helped found an insurance consortium in which, 
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with some umbrella policies, community colleges can collect 
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premiums and insure themselves for health coverage, helping the 
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college save a great amount of money on insurance costs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock successfully lobbied to obtain 
 


 






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funding for a new north road on the Rend Lake College campus, 
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routing traffic around the campus rather than through the 
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campus, which eliminated a very hazardous condition; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock pioneered the Rend Lake College's 
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textbook rental program, one of a few in the State of Illinois; 
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the rental program has made books available to the college's 
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students for a greatly reduced price, combining with the 
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college's low tuition rate to make Rend Lake College one of the 
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most affordable community colleges in the State; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock was responsible for Rend Lake 
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College's marketing plan; under his leadership, the college has 
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grown for five out of the last six years and has set record 
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enrollment during those five years; due to his accomplishments, 
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the college was recognized in Community College Week as the 
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fastest growing college of its size in the nation from the fall 
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of 2004 to the spring of 2005; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Bob Carlock was largely responsible for the 
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renovation of the Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon; 
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once a declining outlet mall, the Rend Lake College MarketPlace 
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is now a thriving community, housing retail stores, state 
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agencies, educational space for Rend Lake College, and space 
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for four year universities; Mr. Carlock was responsible for the 
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purchase of the MarketPlace and is single-handedly responsible 
 


 






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for encouraging existing retail businesses to stay and the 
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enticement of new businesses to move in; he was also 
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responsible for the buyout and operation of a golf store that 
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had operated in the MarketPlace previously and the creation of 
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a coffee shop along with an internet cafe to support the 
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activities of the mall; the college now collects hundreds of 
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thousands of dollars of rent from retail stores and State 
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agencies due to Mr. Carlock's forward thinking and fiscal 
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insight; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The faculty, staff, and students of Rend Lake 
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College, as well as the citizens of this State, owe Bob Carlock 
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a debt of gratitude for the services that he has rendered to 
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Rend Lake College and the State at large; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Bob Carlock on the occasion of his retirement and 
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wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Bob Carlock as a symbol of our esteem and respect.