CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED TO DAVID F. VITE ON HIS RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, David F. Vite is retiring from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association after thirty-five years, serving twenty-eight of those years as President; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of this occasion by The Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman ofthe 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, On Wednesday, September 18, 2013, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association is recognizing David for his leadership and distinguished career, naming him the "2013 Retailer of the Year" with an award ceremony and an evening gala in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Merchandise Mart; and
WHEREAS, David joined IRMA in 1978 as Field Representative, later assumed the position of Manager of Member Relations; was named Vice President of Government Affairs in 1981; became Executive Vice President in 1983; then assumed the position of President in May, 1985; and
WHEREAS, As the Association's chief lobbyist, David was cited by Crain's Chicago Business as "The Best Illinois Business Lobbyist"; he served as a representative to the Illinois Department of Employment Security Advisory Board for more than twenty years - under five Illinois Governors; served on the Workers Compensation Advisory Board; was chosen by Legislative Committee Chairs to facilitate negotiations on electric deregulation in 1997; served two years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Retail Federation; chaired the National Association of State Retail Association Executives for one term; served as Speaker ofthe Illinois Third House in 2002; served on the School Board of St. Mary's Elementary School in Woodstock for five years and Chairman for two years; spent eight years on the Memorial Hospital of McHenry County Board of Directors from 1989 to 1997, and served three years as the Board Chairman; he also served two years on the Centegra Health System Board of Directors and was a former Executive Director of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and
WHEREAS, David served in the United States Army; graduated from the University of Wisconsin at LaCosse; was Manager/Construction Superintendent of the Woodstock Racquet Club Development; served on the National Retail Federation Board; was elected as the first chairman of the National Association of State Retail Association Executives; and
WHEREAS, David's wife, Jane Vite, and their two daughters, Amanda and Gretchen, provided him with love and encouragement throughout his career; and
WHEREAS, The leaders of this great city of Chicago are cognizant of the great debt owed to David F. Vite on thirty-five years of service with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago gathered here this eleventh day of September 2013, do hereby express our gratitude and heartiest congratulations to David F. Vite as he retires and we extend to this fine citizen our very best wishes for continuing success and fulfillment; and
Se It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy/of thus resolution be prepared and presented to David F. Vite.
MARGARET LAURINO Alderman, 39th Ward
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