HR0906

LRB094 19520 HSS 55434 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to honor Chuck Balling for his 
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many years of service to the Gurnee Park District; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Balling holds a B.S. degree in parks and 
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recreation administration from Eastern Illinois University and 
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a Master of Arts degree from DePaul University, School for New 
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Learning, with a concentration in marketing and new venture 
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management; he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from 
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Eastern Illinois University's Recreation Department in 1989; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has been the Executive Director of the Gurnee 
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Park District since December 1996; the Park District operates 
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23 parks and owns over 300 acres of open space and provides a 
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full range of activities and programs; it employs 37 full-time 
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employees and over 200 part-time and seasonal employees; the 
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District opened a 1,500-bather capacity outdoor family aquatic 
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center in 2001; currently, the Park District is constructing a 
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40,000-square-foot community center; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District received the 2002 
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Outstanding Aquatics Facility and Parks Award Division III from 
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the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the 2004 
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Excellence in Aquatics Award Class V from the National Park and 
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Recreation Association; in January 1999, the Illinois Park and 
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Recreation Association named Mr. Balling Professional of the 
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Year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to his service at Gurnee, Mr. Balling served 
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as the Director of Leisure Services for the Elmhurst Park 
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District from 1987 through 1996; during his tenure, the 
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Elmhurst Park District was honored with several prestigious 
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awards including the 1992 National Gold Medal Award for 
 


 






HR0906
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LRB094 19520 HSS 55434 r




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Excellence in Park and Recreation Management; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to his position at Elmhurst, he served as 
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Superintendent of Leisure Services at the Homewood-Flossmoor 
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Park District and as the Acting Superintendent of Recreation, 
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Program Manager, and Recreation Supervisor for the Naperville 
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Park District; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Balling's accomplishments have been centered 
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on the development of new leisure programs and facilities that 
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are customer-oriented; he's been involved with the 
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construction and renovation of a community center, two fitness 
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centers, an ice arena, and outdoor pools; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has instructed classes at the College of 
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DuPage, George Williams College, and Eastern Illinois 
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University; he has conducted workshops and programs at the 
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Athletic Business Conference, Club Industry, Western Revenue 
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Sources Management School, the International Aquatic School, 
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the N.R.P.A. Marketing School, the Illinois Park and Recreation 
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Association State Conference, the Maine Parks and Recreation 
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Association, and the New York Parks and Recreation Society; he 
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has authored numerous articles on parks, recreation, and 
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fitness, and in 1993, he was one of three American citizens who 
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were invited to make presentations at the International 
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Marketing Conference for Health and Fitness Managers in Moscow, 
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Russia; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we honor Chuck Balling for his many years of service to the 
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Gurnee Park District; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Mr. Balling as an expression of our esteem.