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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE 58TH ANNUAL EMMY AWARD PRESENTED TO THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY DOCUMENTARY FILM:
“CHICAGO’S TRUE NATURE: THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY”
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves 2013 Centennial Campaign Plan provided for the development and production of a one-hour documentary; and
WHEREAS, “Chicago’s True Nature: The Forest Preserves of Cook County” premiered on WYCC PBS television in Chicago on May 2016; and
WHEREAS, the vision of the film was to create local and global awareness of the value of nature, the health and well-being the Preserves brings to people, animals, flora, fauna and its nearly 70,000 acres of natural lands; and
WHEREAS, the films interviews with the descendants of Preserve Founders, Jens Jensen and Dwight Perkins, Forest Preserve staff, volunteers and partners; explored the Forest Preserves’ creation; and,
WHEREAS, one hundred hours of raw footage of nature and interviews was gathered and created an archival record of the Forest Preserves’ rich history as one of the largest and oldest Preserves in the United States for endless future learning opportunities; and
WHEREAS, what seemed a daunting task turned into a labor of love and a beautiful film; and
WHEREAS, as affirmation of these efforts, “Chicago’s True Nature: The Forest Preserves of Cook County” was nominated by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a 2016 Emmy Award; and
WHEREAS, blind judging was performed by professionals in markets from Cleveland, Denver, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Texas; and
WHEREAS, on December 3, 2016, the Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall was presented with an Emmy Award for the film, in the category of “Outstanding Achievement for Information/Instructional Programming - Program/Special/Series; and,
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to its employees, partners and WYCC PBS Chicago television staff for their expertise, creativity, talent, tenacity and dedication in capturing the Preserves unique history as evidenced in the film’s success; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Board of Commissioners congratulate General Superintendent Arnold Randall, all Forest Preserve Staff, volunteers and partners, and WYCC PBS Chicago television for their collaboration on this Emmy award winning film and dedication to Cook County and its residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to General Superintendent Arnold Randall, WYCC PBS Chicago television’s Ron Schofield, Executive Director of Media Services, Shaunese Teamer, Revenue and Development Director, Supervising Producer, Shelley Spencer, Juneteenth Productions Founder Judith McCray, Director, Writer & Producer and Heidi Zersen, Director Producer & Writer and Mary Pat Dailey Cross, Executive Producer.
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