Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Declaring the band State Radio and its members, Chad Stokes Urmston, Chuck Fay, and Mike "Maddog" Najarian, and guest member, Matt Embree, honorary citizens of the great City of Madison, Wisconsin.
Body
WHEREAS, State Radio has visited Madison and played concerts here at least seven times since the band's founding in 2002 2005, including sold out shows at the Orpheum Theatre; and,
WHEREAS, during Chad Urmston's last visit to Madison he visited State Street and played in front of the State Capitol Building; and,
WHEREAS, the band's lyrics have created awareness of human rights issues surrounding human rights in Dafur, including women's empowerment, the death penalty, conscientious objection to war, marriage equality, the environment and poverty in Sudan and Afghanistan; and,
WHEREAS, the band put activism back in Madison through a non-profit organization called "Calling All Crows", named after one of State Radio's songs, as a way to motivate people mobilize their fans to create change through music, service, and activism; and,
WHEREAS, Calling All Crows has raised over $250,000 and invested more than 20,000 hours of service in local communities across North America and Europe; and,
WHEREAS, the band and local fans have volunteered during past visits to the City of Madison with the East Madison Community Center, Amnesty International, City Year; the Morgridge Center for Public Service at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and,
WHEREAS, the group will be back in City of Madison participating with volunteering with local fans and Habitat for Humanity to help construct an affordable home on the North side before their upcoming show at the Majestic Theatre ; and,
WHEREAS, while the band hails from Sherborn Boston, Massachusetts, the City of Madison looks forward to this visit by State Radio and wishes the band best wishes on their upcoming tour,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council and Mayor declare the band State Radio and its members, Chad Stokes Urmston, Chuck Fay, and Mike Najarian, and guest member, Matt Embree, honorary citizens of the great City of Madison, Wisconsin.