00 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 26                                                                                    
01 Urging support of the 1998 International People First Conference.                                                       
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS the 1998 International People First Conference will be held in Anchorage                                     
04 on April 23 - 25, 1998, at the Egan Convention Center; and                                                              
05  WHEREAS this conference is expected to link at least 1,000 participants from 41                                      
06 countries in an effort to develop the leadership skills of developmentally disabled persons so                          
07 that they can help themselves and other developmentally disabled persons to self-advocate and                           
08 live independently; and                                                                                                 
09  WHEREAS the conference is co-chaired by Joe Pichler, treasurer of People First of                                    
10 Alaska, and Beverly Tallman, University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human                                           
11 Development; and                                                                                                        
12  WHEREAS the positive economic effect of the conference on the Anchorage area                                         
13 could be as high as $1,000,000; and                                                                                     
14  WHEREAS the success of the conference will depend on the involvement of                                              
01 corporations, businesses, and others in advance planning, funding, and the various activities                           
02 necessary to accommodate a conference of this type;                                                                     
03  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature commends the involvement of                                         
04 the committee members who are working on this international conference, including members                               
05 of The ARC of Anchorage, Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, Access Alaska,                                       
06 Special Olympics Alaska, Hope Cottages, the Alaska division of vocational rehabilitation, and                           
07 PARENTS; and be it                                                                                                      
08  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges corporations,                                               
09 businesses, service clubs, school groups, and other persons to offer support to help make the                           
10 conference an example of the finest welcome that the state has to offer.                                                
11  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to People First of Alaska, c/o The ARC of                                    
12 Anchorage, 2211 Arca Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508; and to the 1998 International People                                   
13 First Conference, Conference Headquarters, 2330 Nichols Street, Anchorage, AK 99508.