Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
Congratulating Dorothy Conniff on her retirement after 30 years with the City of Madison.
Body
Whereas Dorothy Conniff will retire on September 7, 2007, after 30 years with the City of Madison; and
Whereas Dorothy has directed the Office of Community Services, including the Child Care and Community Resources Programs, for the City of Madison since 1981; and
Whereas Dorothy was hired by the City of Madison in 1977 as the City's first Child Care Specialist; and
Whereas under Dorothy's leadership the City Child Care Accreditation Program has grown from nine accredited programs to more than 80, ensuring quality child care services for thousands of children over the past 30 years; and
Whereas in 2006 more than half of Madison's children who were in child care were in City Accredited child care; and
Whereas the number of children in the City of Madison growing up in poverty, experiencing homelessness, trauma and violence is rising; and
Whereas Dorothy has provided strong, unflinching City leadership around these issues for children and child care throughout her career; and
Whereas the Office of Community Services has provided leadership in Madison in the provision of innovative, responsive human service programming; and
Whereas Dorothy's commitment to collaboration and responding to community need has supported the establishment of programs such as the Respite Center, the Rainbow Project, Girl Neighborhood Power, the MAP Program, Life as a Boy in Vera Court, and the Latino Family Resource Center in Bridge-Lake Point; and
Whereas Dorothy has served under five mayors in six administrations, led her office through five different reorganizations and has the gray hair to prove it; and
Whereas Dorothy seems to know her way around a Hula Hoop and the Office Bouncy Ball; and
Whereas Dorothy will have more time to develop her reputation as "Grandmother Extraordinaire," and knit various unrecognizable items for the masses; and
Whereas Dorothy's sense of humor, caring and passion for the citizens of Madison; particularly those too young to have their voices heard, will be missed by all.
Now therefore be it resolved, that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison recognize and congratulate Dorothy Conniff on her retirement after 30 years of work for the City of Madison.