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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing and honoring Faye W. Blanton,

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Secretary of the Florida Senate, on the occasion of her

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retirement following an outstanding career in government

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service to the State of Florida.

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     WHEREAS, Faye Blanton was elected Secretary of the Florida

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Senate in November 1996, the first woman to be elected to this

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office for a full 2-year term, and she has since been unanimously

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reelected to that office, and

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     WHEREAS, Secretary Blanton's great gifts and talents as an

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administrator and manager, and her deep knowledge and experience

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with the Florida legislative process since 1970, have kept the

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Senate running smoothly as the legislative workload has grown and

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technological complexity in the legislative process and product

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has increased, and

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     WHEREAS, Secretary Blanton served as Assistant to the

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Secretary of the Senate for 10 years beginning in 1974, and as

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Assistant Secretary from 1984 until her election as Secretary in

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1996, and

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     WHEREAS, Secretary Blanton played an important role on the

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staff of the 1977-1978 Florida Constitution Revision Commission,

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and was Secretary and Parliamentarian of the 1997-1998 Florida

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Constitution Revision Commission, and

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     WHEREAS, Secretary Blanton has also served as a member of

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the Board of Directors of the Legislative Research Center and

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Museum, has lectured on the legislative process, and has managed

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many mock legislative sessions for civic, student, international,

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and private groups, and

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     WHEREAS, among her additional public service activities, she

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has been an adviser and counselor for Girls State, Boys State,

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the YMCA Youth Legislature, and the Silver-Haired Legislature,

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introducing many thousands of Florida residents to the

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legislative process, and

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     WHEREAS, throughout the years of her leadership in the

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administration of the Senate's work process, Faye Blanton has

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consistently earned the admiration and love of her colleagues and

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employees through her personal vibrancy, professionalism,

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kindness, compassion, and graciousness, and

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     WHEREAS, among Secretary Blanton's proudest accomplishments

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have been balancing a long and rewarding career with the Florida

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Senate along with a fulfilling family life; helping Senators and

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Senate staff on a daily basis with procedural and other issues

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regarding the welfare of the Senate; working with the many Senate

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professional staff who have traditionally been known as "the

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Senate Family"; and creating the Senate Kids Web Page and the

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Senate Kids Handbook, and

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     WHEREAS, Secretary Blanton has earned the high respect and

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gratitude of the members of the Florida Senate throughout her 38-

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year career, and she will be missed more than words can say by

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the entire Senate Family, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate recognizes and commends Secretary

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Faye Blanton for her long and distinguished service to the

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Florida Senate and to the people of Florida, and offers her its

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congratulations and best wishes for a long and enjoyable

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retirement with her husband, Edwin F. Blanton, and their children

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and grandchildren.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with

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the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Faye W. Blanton

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as a tangible token of the admiration and gratitude of the

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Florida Senate.