SPONSOR:	Sen. Sorenson & Sen. Amick, on behalf of all Senators & Rep. Miro & Rep. Schooley, on behalf of all Representatives

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10

CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, WORLD-RENOWNED INNOVATOR IN TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND CORPORATE CULTURE.

WHEREAS, W. L. Gore & Associates, a privately held company based in Newark, Delaware is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2008; and

WHEREAS, the founding of W. L. Gore & Associates is a legendary story of the entrepreneurial spirit, perseverance and success; and

WHEREAS, since Bill Gore and his wife Vieve began the business venture in the basement of their home in Newark in 1958, the company has grown to achieve annual sales exceeding $2 billion; and

WHEREAS, Gore is known around the world for creating innovative, technology-driven solutions and products, and currently has a presence in 80 countries, with technology and manufacturing facilities clustered in the U.S., Germany, Scotland, Japan and China; and

WHEREAS, Gore employs more than 8,000 Associates, including 3,000 in Delaware and Maryland; and

WHEREAS, in addition to well-known brand names such as GORE-TEX high-performance fabrics and the #1-selling acoustic guitar string “Elixir”, Gore has developed a wide range of technologies and processes focused in four main areas—electronics, fabrics, industrial and medical products; and

WHEREAS, Gore is known as much for its unique corporate culture as for its innovative products, a “lattice” structure team-based environment that promotes personal initiative and direct communication among all associates, with emphasis on minimal barriers to creativity and sound decision-making; and

WHEREAS, Gore has earned and maintains a reputation for integrity and ethical practices along with an unwavering commitment to the performance and reliability of its products; and

WHEREAS, Gore is one of only four companies to appear in every listing of the “100 Best Companies to Work For in America, published annually in Forbes magazine, and also ranks consistently among the “Best Companies to Work For” in the U.K., Germany, Italy and France; and

WHEREAS, we wish to recognize the significant contributions of the innovations, the success and the people of W. L. Gore & Associates to the quality of life in Delaware and around the globe.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 144^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives and the Governor concurring therein, that we hereby join W. L. Gore & Associates in celebrating the company’s 50^th anniversary.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congratulations are extended to all the creative Gore Associates for the success and innovation achieved over the years, and with appreciation for their significant contributions to Delaware’s economic vitality and quality of life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon its passage, this Joint Resolution be presented to Elizabeth Gore Snyder, a Gore Associate and the daughter of Bill and Vieve Gore, as she represents all Gore Associates on the occasion of her visit to the Delaware State Capitol on March 13, 2008.