Senate Resolution 109 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 109 BY JOCHUM A Resolution celebrating the centennial anniversary of 1 the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association. 2 WHEREAS, in 1910 typhoid fever, tuberculosis, 3 and malaria were prevalent, there was no enforced 4 quarantine for smallpox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, 5 and most babies were born at home; and 6 WHEREAS, Blanche Cooke, a deaconess at St. Luke’s 7 Church in Dubuque, resolved to do something to combat 8 these lethal threats; and 9 WHEREAS, in February 1910, her work and dedication 10 helped create the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association 11 (VNA); and 12 WHEREAS, the first employee of the VNA was Jessie 13 Keys, who served as director, nurse, and secretary; and 14 WHEREAS, Ms. Keys was a dynamo of ideas and 15 activity, initiating the Dubuque school nurse program, 16 the Open Window Room for physically handicapped 17 children, the sale of Christmas Health Seals to fight 18 tuberculosis, and a day camp for children; and 19 WHEREAS, a century later VNA staff members travel 20 thousands of miles throughout Dubuque County serving 21 nursing, homemaking, and personal care clients, 22 doing oral health screenings, and giving childhood 23 immunizations, as well as serving patients for other 24 VNA programs; NOW THEREFORE, 25 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 26 congratulates the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association 27 on its centennial anniversary and honors the countless 28 -1- LSB 6260SS (3) 83 jr/nh 1/ 2