HR1458 LRB094 21624 HSS 60102 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Lee And Sherrill
4 Blankenship, owners of Village Commons Bookstore in DeKalb, on
5 being named the 2006 Illinois Retail Merchants Association
6 Retailers of the Year; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Throughout the NIU campus, the Village Commons
8 Bookstore (VCB) has a reputation for excellent service; VCB
9 offers textbooks and supplies for all of the classes at NIU,
10 operates a full-service art department and Greek department,
11 and sells NIU clothing, computer programs, magazines, and
12 everyday gifts and greeting cards; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The Blankenships are as devoted to the University
14 and community they serve as they are to their business; when
15 called upon, they have often supported NIU student
16 organizations that needed help, and they give $5,000 annually
17 to the Huskie Athletic Scholarship; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Their generosity crosses over into their business
19 as well, translating into top-notch service for faculty and
20 student customers alike; it's not unusual for VCB to help out
21 faculty members with special requests, even when it costs the
22 store money; and
 
23     WHEREAS, The Blankenships actively participate in business
24 organizations, support nearly a dozen retail tenants within
25 their building, and take leadership roles in fighting for a
26 level playing field for retailers throughout their
27 marketplace; Mr. Blankenship is not only a member of the
28 National Association of College Stores, he once chaired the
29 NACS Privately-Owned Stores Committee, helping develop
30 education for the committee's annual conference and promoting
31 the event to other private bookstores; Mrs. Blankenship

 

 

HR1458 - 2 - LRB094 21624 HSS 60102 r

1 accompanies him to the events and is often involved with the
2 groups as well; he is also a long-time IRMA member and has
3 served on the IRMA Board of Directors since 1995; and
 
4     WHEREAS, For their industry leadership, their commitment
5 to Northern Illinois University, and their retail success, the
6 Illinois Retail Merchants Association recently honored Lee and
7 Sherrill Blankenship as its 2006 Illinois Retailers of the
8 Year; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 we congratulate Lee And Sherrill Blankenship, owners of Village
12 Commons Bookstore in DeKalb, on being named the 2006 Illinois
13 Retail Merchants Association Retailers of the Year; and be it
14 further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to the Blankenships as an expression of our esteem.