HR0844 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0844 LRB101 14959 MST 63966 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Tori Trauscht on receiving the Best of the Best Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts in the category of Outstanding Volunteer of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Tori Trauscht has lived in Mundelein for 34 years; she became concerned with the health of Diamond Lake and started the Indian Creek Watershed Project in 1999; from 2000 to 2015, the group sought and received over four million dollars in grants for improvement of the watershed; in 2006, she was instrumental in creating the Indian Creek Watershed-based plan, which was the first of its kind adopted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; she has always been passionate about restoring waterways and improving natural areas with low-impact restoration methods; and

WHEREAS, Tori Trauscht's activism started in 1990 with the League of Women Voters, where she focused on promoting recycling and waste reduction; she has volunteered throughout her community to aid in the restoration of waterways and natural land areas; her volunteerism extends to her home and to the homes of others; she has installed rain gardens at her home and helped others install them at their homes; and

WHEREAS, Tori Trauscht was vital in bringing the Mundelein Park & Recreation District, the Village of Mundelein, Fremont Township, and the Diamond Lake Preservation Alliance together for a project to improve the slopes of a retention pond that drained into Diamond Lake, the erosion of which was sending sediment into the lake; and

WHEREAS, Tori Trauscht spent over 800 hours researching, meeting with committee members, writing, and editing a book on the project, which is filled with beautiful photos of the lake, the history of the area, and a guide on how to be a good steward of the lake; over 2,000 copies were shared with area residents to bring greater awareness about the 12,000 year old glacial lake that is majority owned by the Mundelein Park & Recreation District and is under increasing pressure from runoff, climate change, and other human impacts; and

WHEREAS, The Mundelein Park & Recreation District and the entire Mundelein area is very fortunate to have someone as knowledgeable as Tori Trauscht who is willing to share her expertise and time to better the environment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Tori Trauscht on receiving the Best of the Best Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts in the category of Outstanding Volunteer of the Year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Tori Trauscht as a symbol of our respect and esteem.