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Agenda Item No. 4(B) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION In Recognition of Ellen MacDonald-Paasch WHEREAS, Ellen MacDonald-Paasch, Adult Programs Supervisor, has served her community with passion, honor, and dedication and upon the occasion of her retirement, is deserving of recognition. Ellen was bmn in Glasgow, Scotland, immigrated to the United States to attend the University of California, Berkeley, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, and became a citizen of the United States of America in 1972; and WHEREAS, Ellen began her career in the recreation field as a volunteer for the I-House at UC Berkeley, directed a Montessori style preschool, ran a consultation business for home day care, and volunteered for the El Cerrito Senior Services Division; and WHEREAS, Ellen began employment with the City of El Cerrito in 1978 as a part-time van driver for the City's "Dial-A-Ride" Program and gradually worked her way into full tiine status as the Adult Programs Supervisor for the El Cerrito Recreation Department and performed her duties in an exemplary and innovative manner; and 1 , WHEREAS, Ellen continued her professional growth as a n1ember of the California P·arks and Recreation Society, National Council on Aging, and the American Society on Aging, and served with distinction tor eight consecutive years as the local chapter president of SEIU 790; and WHEREAS, Ellen has consistently and substantially overseen improvements to the Senior Services Division of El Cenito over the years by helping to secure funding tor the expansion of the Open House Senior Center, fostering pminerships with over forty cmnn1unity organizations, utilizing over one hundred fmiy volunteers per year, re-establishing paratransit service in El Cerrito, establishing a Computer Learning Center and Cyber Cafe, amongst many other accomplishments; and WHEREAS, over the course of Ellen's career she has raised more than $600,000 to support programming for older adults in El Cerrito through direct appeals, endowments, and bingo programs; and WHEREAS, Ellen has been a strong advocate of programming and services for the residents of El Cerrito and surrounding communities that allow them to age in place at their homes, and for progran1s that suppmi healthy living and wellness; and WHEREAS, Ellen has served the residents of the City of El Cerrito and surrounding communities, and in retiring from her position as Adult Programs Supervisor, concludes a career with the El Cerrito Recreation Department that exceeds thirty-three years. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito does hereby commend and recognize Ellen MacDonald-Paasch for the many contributions made by her to the residents of El Cerrito and acknowledges the importance of her role in helping older adults tnaximize their quality of life. Dated: August 21, 2012 William C. Jones Ill, Mayor