Senate Bill sb2842
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Florida Senate - 2007 (NP) SR 2842
By Senator Wise
5-1948-07
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution in support of the role of
3 associations in Florida's economy and
4 recognizing the Third Wednesday in March each
5 year as "Associations Advance Florida Day."
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7 WHEREAS, associations, originating with the guilds of
8 medieval times, are one of the largest and most powerful
9 forces in the United States today, yet they are also among the
10 least recognized, and
11 WHEREAS, associations are simply people - groups of
12 people who find strength in numbers in sharing common
13 interests of industries, professions, charities, hobbies, or
14 philanthropic action, and
15 WHEREAS, associations are founded upon the principles
16 of democracy, volunteerism, and common interest that are the
17 heart of the American experience, and
18 WHEREAS, associations, by definition, exist for the
19 mutual protection and advancement of their members, and
20 WHEREAS, associations are known by many names -
21 federations, alliances, institutes, guilds, societies,
22 foundations, clubs, congresses, coalitions, centers, networks,
23 chambers, bureaus, associations, fraternities, and sororities,
24 and although they come in many shapes and sizes, they are all
25 associations, sharing the twin goals of helping their members
26 and advancing society, and
27 WHEREAS, associations represent an enormous collective
28 presence, their work is woven throughout the fabric of society
29 and the public has come to depend on the social and economic
30 benefits that associations afford, and
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Florida Senate - 2007 (NP) SR 2842
5-1948-07
1 WHEREAS, were it not for associations, government at
2 all levels and other institutions would face added burdens in
3 the vital activities they perform, such as setting and
4 enforcing product and safety standards, stimulating and
5 organizing volunteerism, conducting industry research,
6 disseminating valuable information, providing continuing
7 education, conducting political campaign fundraising and
8 political education, and performing community service, and
9 WHEREAS, the estimate of the direct economic value of
10 associations to the State of Florida is over $1.2 billion each
11 year, including payroll, rent and mortgage expenses,
12 transportation, printing, office supplies, postage, lodging
13 and facility accommodations, and educational programs, and
14 WHEREAS, the association community in Florida provides
15 nearly 50,000 white-collar jobs, accommodates more than 2
16 million meeting attendees, and spends $122 million in hotels,
17 and
18 WHEREAS, nearly three-quarters of hotel revenue in the
19 state comes from meetings of associations, and
20 WHEREAS, associations sponsor more than 25,000 events
21 in Florida annually, such as trade shows, committee and board
22 meetings, and conventions and education programs, and
23 WHEREAS, associations pay nearly $100 million in taxes
24 each year, and
25 WHEREAS, associations staff and members donate more
26 than 10 million hours of service to their associations and
27 communities each year, NOW, THEREFORE,
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29 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 (NP) SR 2842
5-1948-07
1 That the Third Wednesday in March is recognized as
2 "Associations Advance Florida Day."
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