093_HR0266
LRB093 11688 HSS 15312 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Ralph E.
3 Walberg of Mount Prospect is retiring from his position as
4 Executive Director for Countryside Association after 37 years
5 of service; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Walberg attended Augustana College for his
7 Bachelor's Degree and Loyola University for his Master's
8 Degree; he attended graduate classes in the rehabilitation
9 field at De Paul University; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Walberg has played a very important role in
11 the success of Countryside Association; he became
12 Countryside's Executive Director in 1966 at which time the
13 annual budget was $65,000, and through his leadership the
14 agency has grown to a $5 million United Way funded human
15 service agency with 200 full and part-time employees that
16 serves 654 children and adults who are disabled; Mr. Walberg
17 has been Countryside's only Executive Director overseeing
18 continuity of quality programs and longevity of personnel;
19 since 1975, Countryside Association has been receiving 3-year
20 accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of
21 Rehabilitation Facilities; this accreditation confirms the
22 efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of the
23 Association and its four programs; and
24 WHEREAS, Mr. Walberg has earned the esteem of the
25 community based non-profit sector and the respect of his
26 colleagues; Countryside's Board President, Amy Luczkiw,
27 stated that Mr. Walberg is the "heart and soul" of
28 Countryside Association; and
29 WHEREAS, Mr. Walberg has been a board member for 28 years
30 for the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities; he
31 was one of the founders and served as the Board President; he
32 served on the College of Lake County Early Childhood
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1 Committee for 4 years and as president of the Lake County
2 ABIC Council; he was a board member of the Mount
3 Prospect/Prospect Heights United Way for 7 years; he served
4 on the District 57 School Board for 3 years; he was the
5 United Way of Suburban Chicago Ambassador of Mercy Speaker
6 and Tour Program Co-Chairperson for 2 years and Ambassador of
7 Mercy for 21 years; and he was a Surveyor Consultant for the
8 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for
9 approximately 18 years and performed more than 100 surveys;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Walberg is married to Barbara, a retired
12 teacher, and is the father of 3 children: Brian, Nancy, and
13 Susan; he is the grandfather of 8 grandchildren, 7 girls and
14 one boy; the Walbergs have lived in Mount Prospect since
15 1958; Mr. Walberg's mother, Anne Walberg, is 97 years old and
16 is very proud of his many accomplishments; he is an avid
17 outdoors person particularly interested in fishing, boating,
18 and snow-mobiling; most of his activities are enjoyed at his
19 get-away home located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan;
20 therefore, be it
21 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
23 we congratulate Mr. Ralph E. Walberg on his retirement as
24 Executive Director of Countryside Association and wish him
25 well in the future; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
27 presented to Ralph E. Walberg as a token of our respect and
28 esteem.