HR 9041

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing the role of associations in
3	Florida's economy and designating April 17, 2007, as
4	"Associations Advance Florida Day."
5
6	WHEREAS, associations originated with the guilds of
7	medieval times and have developed into some of the largest and
8	most powerful forces in the United States today, and
9	WHEREAS, associations are filled with people who find
10	strength in numbers and share common interests of industries,
11	professions, charities, hobbies, and philanthropic action, and
12	WHEREAS, associations are founded upon the principles of
13	democracy, volunteerism, and the common interests which are at
14	the heart of the American experience, and
15	WHEREAS, associations share the goals of helping their
16	members and advancing society, and
17	WHEREAS, associations represent an enormous collective
18	presence because their work is woven throughout the fabric of
19	society, and the public has come to depend on the social and
20	economic benefits that associations afford, and
21	WHEREAS, the estimate of the direct economic value of
22	associations to the State of Florida is more $1.7 billion
23	annually, including payroll, rent and mortgagee expenses,
24	transportation, printing, office supplies, postage, lodging and
25	facility accommodations, and educational programs, and
26	WHEREAS, the association community in Florida provides
27	nearly 60,000 professional positions and accommodates more than
28	three million meeting attendees, adding to nearly three-quarters
29	of hotel meeting revenue in the State of Florida, and
30	WHEREAS, associations pay nearly $52 million in taxes each
31	year, and association staff and members donate more than 10
32	million hours of service to their associations and communities
33	each year, NOW, THEREFORE,
34
35	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
36	Florida:
37
38	That, in recognition of the role of associations in
39	Florida's economy, the Florida House of Representatives proudly
40	designates April 17, 2007, as "Associations Advance Florida
41	Day."

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.