HR1138 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1138 LRB098 21491 GRL 60008 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are honored to congratulate the members of the Itoo Society of Peoria on the occasion of its 100th anniversary on July 4, 2014; and

WHEREAS, The Itoo Society of Peoria is a charitable organization that was founded on July 4, 1914 by 46 men who emigrated from the village of Aytou, Lebanon and settled in Peoria between 1887 and 1914; and

WHEREAS, The Itoo Society of Peoria was founded in 1914 as the Itoo Reform and Progress Society; the name was changed in 1951; at its inception, the Itoo Society was envisioned as an organization dedicated to both charitable and fraternal purposes; it has lived up to that goal by helping its members and the villagers of Aytou, Lebanon in times of misfortune, as well as working with many local and national charities; and

WHEREAS, In November of 1928, a group of 18-20 women decided to cook a meal to serve to their friends in the Peoria community, with the proceeds to help pay the mortgage of the original Itoo Hall; that tradition has continued each year as the Itoo Supper, one of the oldest ethnic festivals in the State of Illinois; in June of 1968, the first Itoo Shish-Ka-Bob was held to complement the Itoo Supper; these festivals' specialties have been wonderful Lebanese food, served along with the legendary hospitality of the Itoo Society; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the strong link between the communities of Aytou, Lebanon and Peoria and the fact that the heritage of over 6,000 area residents are linked to Aytou, Lebanon, the Peoria City Council recently sealed the bond between the 2 communities by officially making Aytou, Lebanon a Sister City of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, The Itoo Society has been the anchor for most of the Lebanese-Americans living in central Illinois, providing a strong link to their rich heritage; the founders of the Itoo Society instilled in their descendants a strong faith and devotion to God, a love of family, the knowledge of how to be contributing members of society through hard work and to be proud of their Lebanese heritage, and a profound love of the United States of America; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Itoo Society of Peoria on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and wish then continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Board of Directors of the Itoo Society as an expression of our esteem and respect.