HR0809LRB098 19607 MST 54801 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Vandalia 
4Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of 
5its founding; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS,  The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce was incorporated 
7on April 3, 1914 in the City of Vandalia and will have served 
8the community for an entire century on April 3, 2014; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The mission of the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce is 
10to serve its member businesses by encouraging and supporting 
11business growth, economic development, tourism, and networking 
12opportunities; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In advancing the interests of business 
14professionals and service organizations in the area, the 
15Vandalia Chamber of Commerce serves a vital role in the 
16development and promotion of economic activity in Vandalia, 
17enhancing the quality of life of its residents; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The organization's founding officers included 
19President Charles Evans, Vice-President Herbert Sonnemann, and 
20Secretary-Treasurer N.C. Gochenour; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The founding members included: Mayor C.A. Janett, 
2Judge George T. Turner, J.V. Waddell, Joseph C. Burtschi, Ira 
3D. Lakin, P.T. Denny, J.S. Ritter, Nathan Levin, H.H. 
4Sonnemann, J.S. Carp, George A. Kurtz, N.C. Gochenour and C.A. 
5Evans; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In its nascent years, the Vandalia Chamber of 
7Commerce supported the community in its classic roles such as 
8the recruitment of business and industry to Vandalia, but the 
9it served a larger role, being involved in nearly every civic 
10and social function in the town; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In 1922, the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce acquired 
12a new building, suitable for offices, and a public library for 
13Vandalia;  and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Vandalia Chamber Commerce headed a drive to 
15build a new railroad depot in Vandalia and found success, 
16providing for service on the Illinois Central and Pennsylvania 
17railroads in 1924;  and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce raised the 
19necessary funds for the erection of Mark Greer Hospital in 1925 
20and another local hospital in 1955; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce has attracted and 
 
 
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1facilitated the development of numerous prominent businesses 
2in the past, including: the Hart-Carter Company in 1953, the 
3Crane Packing Company in 1955, the United Wood Heel Company in 
41961, and the Benner Nawman Company in 1968; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, In 1978, Marie Bristow became the first woman to 
6serve as president of the organization; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce remains very 
8active to this day, sustained by approximately 200 member 
9businesses; and
  
 

  
10    WHEREAS, Current officers of the Vandalia Chamber of 
11Commerce include: President Greg Starnes of Fayette County 
12Hospital, Vice-President Brock Brannon of FNB/ Investment 
13Centers of America, Secretary John Ashdown of Family YMCA of 
14Fayette County, Treasurer Todd Stapleton of WPMB/WKRV Radio and 
15past President Ben Timmermann; therefore, be it
  
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
17NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
18the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce be commemorated for achieving 
19the epic milestone of a century of business and public service; 
20and be it further
  
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
 
 
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1presented to the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce as an expression 
2of our esteem and respect.