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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING GINNY HOTALING ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, on May 31, 2017, Ginny Hotaling will be retiring from her position as Vice President of Government Affairs at the Chicago Botanic Garden where she has served for more than 13 years; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling has had a diverse and substantive career beginning as a teacher and administrator, then as District Director and Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman John Porter; and most recently as Vice-President of the Government Affairs Department at the Chicago Botanic Garden; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling was instrumental in leading the Garden’s various initiatives and government affairs efforts with the Village of Glencoe, City of Chicago, Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), State of Illinois, and the federal government; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling cultivated and nurtured numerous invaluable relationships with elected officials and government staff with grace and style; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling epitomizes the “Garden Way” by nurturing supporters and garden enthusiasts alike; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling has been an effective advocate helping to secure and maintain government funding across all levels for important capital and programming initiatives such as the circular drive at the Learning Center Campus, Windy City Harvest and shoreline restoration work; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling is leaving the Garden having championed the introduction of federal bill HR 1054 (the Botany Bill), which demonstrates the Garden’s leadership in plant science conservation on a national level; and
WHEREAS, Ginny Hotaling will continue to lend her expertise in government relations as she has accepted a part-time position supporting Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison, whose district includes the Garden; and
WHEREAS, as a gardening enthusiast herself Ginny Hotaling earned the prestigious designation of Master Gardener and she plans to continue to volunteer at the Windy City Harvest Youth Farm in North Chicago and participate in other Garden events and activities; and
WHEREAS, Forest Preserve and County staff have benefitted greatly from Ginny’s expertise, knowledge and never ending support and dedication to the Garden and FPDCC initiatives including the Next Century Conservation Plan and she will truly be missed; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, and that the Board of Commissioners and General Superintendent Arnold Randall do hereby extend their thanks and appreciation to Ginny Hotaling for her support of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, one of the oldest and largest conservation districts in the nation.
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