WHEREAS, the 200^th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln will be celebrated on February 12, 2009; and

            WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln was personally and directly involved in the creation of the Idaho Territory in 1863 by helping select the name “Idaho”, lobbying Congress for the passage of our territorial bill, signing the legislation into law in the U.S. Capitol, and appointing our first territorial officers; and 

WHEREAS, political relations with the Idaho Territory remained important to Abraham Lincoln during his presidential administration since he mentioned the Idaho Territory in his 1863 and 1864 State of the Union Addresses, several times filled vacancies in our territorial offices by appointing successors and invited the delegation from the Idaho Territory to attend Ford’s Theatre on the night of his assassination, intending to make additional Idaho appointments the next week; and

           WHEREAS, the United States of America and the States of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Rhode Island and New York have each established Bicentennial Commissions to create and conduct appropriate recognition celebrations; and

             WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln was among the greatest Presidents of the United States embodying equality, freedom and opportunity for all and leading the Nation through the Civil War to preserve the Union; and

             WHEREAS, a recognition and celebration of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and his special relationship to Idaho will serve important ceremonial and educational functions for the citizens of our State and the Nation.

             NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho, do hereby order the following:

 1.  There shall be established an Idaho Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

 2.  The purpose of the Commission shall be to:

a.      Plan for a statewide recognition and celebration of the 200^th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth;

 b.       To educate the people of Idaho and the Nation about the unique relationship between the Idaho Territory and the sixteenth President of the United States;

 c.        To encourage and coordinate the activities of local historical societies, civic groups, public schools, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce and other entities to celebrate the Lincoln Bicentennial;

 d.      To coordinate and establish a liaison with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission of the United States and its Advisory Committee and those commissions established by other states;

 e.        To seek volunteer assistance, monetary donations, public and private grants, and legislative appropriations in support of its mission;

 f.        To support research, publications, historical analysis and exploration, the acquisition and preservation of artifacts and displays appropriate to the presentation and explanation of the career and contributions of Abraham Lincoln to the United States and Idaho;

 g.       To issue such interim and final reports and periodicals as shall advance the Commission’s work.

 3.  The membership of the Commission shall be twenty-three (23) individuals serving through calendar year 2009. The membership shall be as follows:

 a.                  the Governor or a designee;

 b.                  the Lieutenant Governor or a designee;

 c.                   the Secretary of State or a designee;

 d.                  the Attorney General or a designee;

 e.                    the Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee;

 f.                    the State Treasurer or a designee;

 g.                  the State Controller or a designee;

 h.                   a member of the Idaho State Senate, designated by the President Pro Tem;

 i.                     a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, designated by the Speaker;

 j.                    the Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court or a designee;

 k.                  the Director of the Idaho State Historical Society;

 l.                    five individuals appointed by the Governor from the leaders or active members of local or regional historical societies from throughout the State, including one from Lewiston, the original territorial capitol;

 m.                 the Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor;

 n.                  the Director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission;

 o.                  five individuals appointed by the Governor who have demonstrated dedication to the study or education of historical matters and have substantial knowledge of Abraham Lincoln and Idaho history.

 4. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the Governor.

 5. The Commission may recommend additional members to the Governor, as it deems appropriate and may establish sub-committees consistent with the needs of the Commission.  The Governor will select the Chair of the Commission.  The Commission shall meet at least twice during calendar year 2006 as determined by the Chair, and as frequently thereafter as the role and mission of the Commission shall require.

 6.  The Commission members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses, including related travel and per diem to attend Commission meetings.

 7.      The Commission shall receive administrative and technical staff support from the Idaho State Historical Society or such other agencies as shall be designated by the Governor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 12th day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and six, and of the independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.

DIRK KEMPTHORNE
GOVERNOR

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE