2015 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 15-017 BY SENATOR(S) Kefalas and Lambert, Crowder, Aguilar, Balmer, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hill, Hodge, Holbert, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kerr, Lundberg, Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Young and Landgraf, Arndt, Becker K., Brown, Buck, Buckner, Carver, Conti, Coram, Court, Danielson, DelGrosso, Dore, Duran, Esgar, Everett, Fields, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Humphrey, Joshi, Kagan, Keyser, Klingenschmitt, Kraft-Tharp, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Lontine, Lundeen, McCann, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Navarro, Neville P., Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Ransom, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Saine, Salazar, Sias, Singer, Tate, Thurlow, Tyler, Van Winkle, Vigil, Willett, Williams, Wilson, Windholz, Winter, Hullinghorst. CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF MARCH 19, 2015, AS "COLORADO ARC DAY". WHEREAS, More than 80,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in Colorado; and WHEREAS, In 1950, a group of parents and other concerned citizens came together to act as voices for change and created The Arc; and WHEREAS, Since its inception, The Arc has been instrumental in improving systems that provide community supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and WHEREAS, The Arc is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots organization advocating for the civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and WHEREAS, The Arc of Colorado's 12 local chapters work alongside people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and other advocates to improve the service delivery system; and WHEREAS, Colorado chapters serve the city of Aurora, as well as Adams, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Pueblo, San Juan, and Weld counties; and WHEREAS, The Arc believes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are defined by their strengths, abilities, and inherent value, not by their disabilities; and WHEREAS, The Arc believes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities belong in the community and have fundamental moral, civil, and constitutional rights to be fully included and to actively participate in all aspects of society; and WHEREAS, The Arc believes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with appropriate resources and supports, can make decisions about their own lives and must be heard on issues affecting their lives; and WHEREAS, The Arc is committed to working with the Colorado General Assembly, the Governor's office, and state agencies as well as all partners providing advocacy, services, and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to increase resources and improve service delivery systems so that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live productive, healthy lives in their communities; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: (1) That we express our most sincere and deepest appreciation to the men and women at The Arc for their commitment to supporting and improving the quality of life for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and (2) That we hereby declare March 19, 2015, to be "Colorado Arc Day". Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to Governor John Hickenlooper; Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia; Mr. Peter V. Berns, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc of the United States; Marijo Rymer, Executive Director, The Arc of Colorado; Ms. Aileen McGinley, Executive Director, Advocacy Denver; Ms. Linda Skaflen, Executive Director, The Arc of Adams County; Ms. Darla Stuart, Executive Director, The Arc of Aurora; Ms. Lori Ropa, Executive Director, The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin Counties; Ms. Marilee Boylan, Executive Director, The Arc of Larimer County; Mr. Keith Larsen, Executive Director, The Arc of Mesa County; Ms. Carol Meredith, Executive Director, The Arc of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties; Ms. Ailsa Wonnacott, Executive Director, The Association for Community Living in Boulder County; Mr. Wilfred Romero, Executive Director, The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region; Ms. Stephanie Garcia, Executive Director, The Arc of Pueblo; Mr. Larry McDermott, Executive Director, The Arc of Weld County; Ms. Brooke Hayden, Executive Director, Blue Peaks Developmental Services, Inc.; Mr. Michael F. Atlas-Acu¤a, Executive Director, Colorado Bluesky Enterprises, Inc.; Ms. Julie Dreyfuss, President/Chief Executive Officer, Community Connections, Inc.; Mr. Tom Turner, Executive Director, Community Options, Inc.; Ms. Beverly Winters, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Resource Center; Ms. Melanie Worley, Chief Executive Officer, Developmental Pathways; Ms. Judy Fehringer, Executive Director, Eastern Colorado Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc.; Ms. Mary Lou Walton, Executive Director, Envision; Mr. John Haley, President, Foothills Gateway; Robert L. Grover, President, Horizons Specialized Services; Mr. Mark Emery, Executive Director, Imagine!; Mr. Johnnie DeLeon, Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration Field; Mr. Bruce Christensen, Executive Director, Mountain Valley Developmental Services; Mr. Randy Brodersen, Executive Director, North Metro Community Services, Inc.; Mr. Stephen R. Block, Chief Executive Officer, Rocky Mountain Human Services; Mr. Duane Roy, Executive Director, Southern Colorado Developmental Services; Ms. Loretta Johnson, President, Southeastern Developmental Services, Inc.; Mr. Robert Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Starpoint; Ms. Sharon Jacksi, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Strive; Mr. David A. Ervin, Executive Director, The Resource Exchange; Mr. Josh Rael, Executive Director of Alliance; and Marcia Tewell, Executive Director, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. ____________________________ ____________________________ Bill L. Cadman Dickey Lee Hullinghorst PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Cindi L. Markwell Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES