HR1384 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1384 LRB094 21045 HSS 59372 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of the St. Joseph Club; and

WHEREAS, The San Guiseppe Society was officially chartered with the State of Illinois on August 13, 1926; the group originated in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, when members of the All Saints Parish, which was composed of predominantly Sicilian/Italian families, chose to make their regular Saturday evening gatherings a more formal group; and

WHEREAS, The group purchased its first property from the Mellon family; the first building was located at 608 West 26th Street and made the San Guiseppe Society one of the first Italian-American clubs in the city of Chicago to own its own property; and

WHEREAS, The membership has both gained and declined throughout the years; the name of the club changed to the Saint Joseph Athletic Association and came to its present name, the Saint Joseph Club; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, the membership voted to sell the property at 608 West 26th Street and to buy property at 2724 South Union Avenue; this purchase of a new home for the club and the subsequent renovation of the new property revitalized the group; many new members joined and the group continued to grow; and

WHEREAS, The Saint Joseph Club regularly contributes to several groups and organizations, including the Saint Albert the Great Knights of Columbus, the Palos Ladies Golf Club Annual Breast Cancer golf outing, the All Saints - Saint Anthony senior citizen Christmas Party, area churches, area family that experience tragedies, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Mark White Post, the McGuane Park Baseball League (team sponsorship), the September 11th Memorial, and Fireman and Police benefits; the group also provides educational assistance awards, contributes to Thanksgiving food drives and clothing drives, and provides support to troops overseas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the fiftieth anniversary of the Saint Joseph Club; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Saint Joseph Club as an expression of our esteem.