WHEREAS, it is a time-honored tradition of governments to recognize, encourage and foster their own artists, poets and writers; and

        WHEREAS, it is culturally and educationally advantageous for the state of Idaho to encourage programs that bring literature by Idaho writers and discussions of that literature to the Idaho public; and

        WHEREAS, the encouragement and retention of Idaho writers is desirable throughout the state; and

        WHEREAS, an Idaho Writer in Residence can enhance the image of our state by representing Idaho’s writers; and

        WHEREAS, the Idaho Commission on the Arts advances the arts in an objective and professional manner complementary to the state of Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, the Idaho Commission on the Arts selected and endorsed the unanimous decision of a distinguished panel of judges including Dorianne Laux, Ted Leeson and Tom Spanbauer, who through a competitive process based on work submitted anonymously, recommended Anthony Doerr be appointed to serve as Idaho’s Writer-in-Residence.

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. L. “Butch” Otter, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim that

ANTHONY DOERR

will serve as Idaho’s Writer in Residence for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010. On behalf of all Idahoans, I extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to Anthony Doerr on the achievement of this honor. Further, the Idaho Commission on the Arts will oversee and facilitate the administration of the program, working with Anthony Doerr and Idaho communities to schedule12 readings over the next three years.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 11th day of June in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE