HR0383 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0383 LRB099 11926 GRL 34158 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly wish to congratulate Susan E. Richter for her designation as the 82nd recipient of the First Citizen Award by the Danville Chapter of American Business Clubs, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, William L. White founded the first American Business Club in Birmingham, Alabama in 1922 as a service organization for business professionals; that first club had 50 members, who adopted the motto of "Shoulders Together", which is still used today; and

WHEREAS, In 1932, the Danville Chapter of AMBUCS started presenting an annual award to a community member in recognition of outstanding community service; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter began working in 1976 as a volunteer and gift shop manager at the Vermilion County Museum Society in Danville; she became the Museum's curator in 1990 and its Director in 1991; she has also been the co-editor of the Museum's quarterly magazine, "The Heritage", since 1981; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter has been instrumental in the planning and implementation of the Vermilion County Museum's Historical School, which is used by all third graders in Danville's School District 118 and most other county schools to meet local history programming requirements set by the State; and

WHEREAS, From August of 1999 until August of 2000, Susan Richter served as chairwoman of the Museum's fundraising committee to build the new museum building, which was subsequently completed in 2002; she also served as a co-chair for the Museum's 50th anniversary celebration and fundraising campaign from September of 2013 until May of 2015; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter has fostered strong working relationships between the Museum Society and other organizations throughout Vermilion County, resulting in collaborations with 21 other organizations to produce projects and programs within the Museum's mission scope; and

WHEREAS, From 1987 to 2008, Susan Richter served on the Illinois Association of Museum Board of Directors, where she held the positions of Director-at-Large, Secretary, and Region 2 Director; she also served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois State Archives from 2007 to 2013; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter served as the president of the Danville Garden Club from 1989 to 1990; she also served as president-elect from 1987 to 1989 and as treasurer from 1999 to 2015; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter served as president of the Women's Council of Muncie Baptist Church for 17 years; she also taught an adult Sunday school class for 22 years and a children's Sunday school class for 10 years; she is also the chairwoman of the Memorial Committee and a member of the Christian Education Board and the MBC Annex Board; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter is a former board member of the Danville YWCA, where she also served as secretary, treasurer, and as the chairwoman of the fundraising committee; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter currently serves on the Red Mask Players board as treasurer and previously served on that board as secretary and as the chair of the scholarship committee; she also serves on the Spring Hill Cemetery Board as the board secretary and a member of the Danville Executive Club; and

WHEREAS, Susan Richter has been honored over the years with many distinguished and deserved awards associated with the Museum; in 1997, she earned the Illinois State DAR Award for Best Program; she was also named "Woman of the Year" by the American Association of University Women in 1999 and received the Old Towne Preservation Legacy Award for Historical Preservation in 2013; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Susan E. Richter for her many years of service to the people of Danville and Vermilion County and congratulate her for being honored as the 82nd First Citizen Award recipient by the Danville Chapter of American Business Clubs, Inc.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Susan Richter as an expression of our congratulations and appreciation for her service to others.