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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Donald Jessen has served the Addison Park District 
3for 30 years; his passion is limitless for recreation and parks 
4for everyone, from the tiniest of tots to senior citizens; he 
5believes in  having a place to go to be inspired, to enjoy the 
6outdoors by taking a walk in the park, and to meet friends; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The Addison Park District was only 10 years in 
8development when Don Jessen became a commissioner; the District 
9has now grown to encompass 281 acres with 25 park sites; the 
10development of the Community Recreation Center, the Centennial 
11Recreation Center, the Links and Tees Golf Facility, Club 
12Fitness, the Family Aquatic Center, and the partnership with 
13NEDSRA have all become a reality during his time with the 
14District; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, He is an advocate for parks and recreation on a 
16legislative level; his skillful lobbying  efforts have made him 
17a welcome guest in Springfield and  Washington D.C.; his 
18legislative efforts have benefited park and recreation 
19agencies statewide as well as nationally through Open Space 
20Land Acquisition grants and Land and Water Conservation 
21funding, both of which  go directly to units of local government 
22to directly benefit residents; his efforts to secure funding 
23contributed hugely to the growth of the Addison Park District 
 
 
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1over the years; and

  
 
2    WHEREAS, At the state level, he has served the Illinois 
3Association of Park Districts for 28 years as a citizen 
4volunteer; he was the President of the Board of Directors in 
51993 and was named Commissioner of the Year in 1995; on the 
6national level, he has served on the Board of Trustees of the 
7National Parks and Recreation Association for 15 years; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, He has also served as an ambassador to Parks and 
9Recreation in Japan at their national conferences, and has 
10hosted a Japanese delegation at the National Congress here; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we congratulate Donald Jessen for his 30 years of service to 
15the Addison Park District and the people of Illinois, and thank 
16him for his hard work and dedication; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to Donald Jessen as a symbol of our respect and 
19esteem.