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2023 SESSION

23107036D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 391
Offered February 20, 2023
Commending Penelope A. Gross.
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Patrons-- Saslaw, Barker, Boysko, Ebbin, Favola, Howell and Surovell; Delegates: Bulova, Delaney, Filler-Corn, Hope, Lopez, Murphy, Seibold, Shin, Sickles, Simon and Watts
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WHEREAS, Penelope A. Gross is an esteemed public servant who has shown extraordinary dedication to her community on the local, regional, state, and national levels for more than 25 years as Mason District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, Penelope “Penny” Gross was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Mason District, in November 1995; she was reelected to her seventh term on November 5, 2019, and currently serves as vice chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and as chair of the Personnel Committee; and

WHEREAS, regionally, Penny Gross represents Fairfax County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors, which she chaired in 2009; the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, which she also chaired; the INOVA Health System Board of Trustees; and the Potomac Watershed Roundtable; and

WHEREAS, on the state and national levels, Penny Gross is a past president of the Virginia Association of Counties; vice chair of the National Association of Counties’ Energy, Environment, and Land Use Committee; and past president of the National Association of Regional Councils; and

WHEREAS, Penny Gross was first appointed by Governor Mark Warner to the Local Government Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Executive Council, which she chaired from March 2006 until August 2008 and on which she continues to serve; and

WHEREAS, prior to her tenure as supervisor, Penny Gross worked for 20 years as a staff member in various congressional offices; she also served on the board of the Lincolnia Park Civic Association from 1985 to 1997 and on the executive board of the Mason District Council of Civic Associations from 1988 to 1995; and

WHEREAS, Penny Gross’ commitment to the well-being of young people in her community is evident in her extensive involvement with her local parent-teacher association and her status as an honorary life member of the Virginia Parent Teacher Association; she also served as co-manager of Girl Scouts of the USA Service Unit 52-4 for nine years; and

WHEREAS, Penny Gross writes a weekly column in the Falls Church News-Press and hosts the monthly television show, Mason Matters, on the Fairfax County Government television channel; she is also a founding member of the Friends of Mason District Park and the National Capital Chapter of the University of Oregon Alumni Association; and

WHEREAS, as a result of her tireless work on behalf of Mason District and Fairfax County, Penny Gross has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2014 Public Officials Award from the Virginia Water Environment Federation, the 2013 Public Officials Award from the Virginia Water Environment Association, and the 2009 Robert L. Bruggeman–Mary C. Michaud Lifetime Achievement Award from Central Fairfax Services, Inc.; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Penelope A. Gross for her service as Mason District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Penelope A. Gross as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her contributions to Fairfax County and the Commonwealth.