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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce is |
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| 8 | 9 | | marking its 180th anniversary with the second annual Galveston |
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| 9 | 10 | | Island Country Music Fest on January 25, 2025, and this occasion |
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| 10 | 11 | | provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on the many contributions |
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| 11 | 12 | | this organization has made to the economic well-being of the |
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| 12 | 13 | | community; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Established in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, the |
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| 14 | 15 | | Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce is considered to be the |
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| 15 | 16 | | oldest chamber of commerce in continuous operation in the Lone Star |
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| 16 | 17 | | State; with more than 1,000 members, it represents a robust and |
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| 17 | 18 | | diverse network of business, education, research and health care, |
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| 18 | 19 | | government, nonprofit, and religious organizations; the chamber |
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| 19 | 20 | | benefits from the able leadership of its president and chief |
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| 20 | 21 | | executive officer, Gina M. Spagnola; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, The Galveston chamber established itself as a |
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| 22 | 23 | | catalyst for progress from the start by spearheading efforts to |
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| 23 | 24 | | build a railroad line, a wagon bridge, and lifeboat stations along |
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| 24 | 25 | | the coast; moreover, its early advocacy was instrumental in the |
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| 25 | 26 | | construction of the Galveston Mercantile Library, the city's first |
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| 26 | 27 | | such institution; its leaders also played an important role in |
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| 27 | 28 | | instituting mail connections with neighboring counties, developing |
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| 28 | 29 | | the port and waterborne commerce, and paving the way for The |
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| 29 | 30 | | University of Texas Medical Branch; throughout its history, the |
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| 30 | 31 | | chamber has been at the forefront of disaster recovery initiatives, |
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| 31 | 32 | | and its programs have helped sustain communities during wartime |
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| 32 | 33 | | periods; further, the chamber sponsors such popular events as Mardi |
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| 33 | 34 | | Gras! Galveston; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, The Galveston Island Country Music Fest, which is |
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| 35 | 36 | | being held at the Galveston Island Convention Center, will |
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| 36 | 37 | | celebrate the chamber's commitment to the region and will feature |
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| 37 | 38 | | such prominent Texan performers as Drake Milligan and The Powell |
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| 38 | 39 | | Brothers; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, For nearly two centuries, the Galveston Regional |
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| 40 | 41 | | Chamber of Commerce has played an integral role in the growth and |
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| 41 | 42 | | vitality of the community, and it is indeed deserving of |
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| 42 | 43 | | recognition as it marks this special milestone in its history; now, |
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| 43 | 44 | | therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 180th anniversary of the |
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| 46 | 47 | | Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce and extend to its members |
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| 47 | 48 | | sincere best wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; |
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| 48 | 49 | | and, be it further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for the chamber as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 51 | 52 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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