Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required.
Title
Awarding the Seventh Annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award to Dan Johnson.
Body
WHEREAS, the Madison Common Council created the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award in memory of Jeffrey Erlanger's contributions to the City of Madison; and
WHEREAS, a committee appointed by the Mayor and Common Council has selected Dan Johnson, an individual who shares Jeffrey Erlanger's dedication to and passion for civility and individual human rights as the recipient of the 2013 award; and
WHEREAS, Dan Johnson served on the City of Madison Commission on People with Disabilities and the City of Madison Transportation Commission, working with elected officials on accessibility and other issues, taking time to make sure that they understood how disabilities affected people's lives; and
WHEREAS, while focusing on the needs of people with physical disabilities, he always remembered to include any other members of the community who could benefit; and
WHEREAS, Dan Johnson gave freely of his time to mentor newly injured people in coping with a disability and developing the needed life skills; and
WHEREAS, Dan Johnson became a foster parent, specializing in the needs of children exposed to drugs and alcohol prenatally and eventually adopting six of his foster children; and
WHEREAS, on a national level, he served as a member of both the board of the World Institute on Disability and as a member of the Disability Task Force for the Social Security Administration and was a member of the Wisconsin delegation at the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
WHEREAS, in all of these and many other endeavors, Dan Johnson exhibited great kindness, patience and courtesy while effectively communicating with colleagues, elected officials and other stakeholders, demonstrating the values exemplified by this award;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Dan Johnson has been chosen to receive the seventh annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council support the recommendation of the committee and congratulate Dan Johnson on being the recipient of this prestigious award.