45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

HONORING SHARLENE SHOEMAKER FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, Sharlene Shoemaker anticipates retiring from her service at the legislative council service following the termination of the first session of the forty-fifth legislature; and

WHEREAS, Sharlene Shoemaker has dedicated her services to the legislative council service for twenty-two years, beginning mid-session 1979; and

WHEREAS, she spent her first session writing memorials, bill analyses and arguments "For and Against", but quickly became a valuable asset drafting legislation for the legislature; and

WHEREAS, Sharlene Shoemaker embodies the ideals of nonpartisan, professional legislative staff, setting standards that will not soon be eclipsed; and

WHEREAS, throughout her years of service to the legislature, Sharlene Shoemaker has attained mastery over the technical details and the nuances of the New Mexico tax code; and

WHEREAS, during her career with the legislative council service, she treated difficult requests for drafting legislation as a welcomed challenge, thereby giving others a sense of how much she enjoyed her work; and

WHEREAS, she has always been open to and appreciative of various viewpoints or approaches different than her own and has always been willing to consider new ideas and possible better ways to approach a task with no ego involvement, with the ultimate goal of producing the best possible product; and

WHEREAS, it is particularly appropriate that this memorial be introduced in the senate of the state of New Mexico because Sharlene was never a morning person, either; and

WHEREAS, Sharlene Shoemaker, a firm believer that her role and that of other nonpartisan staff at the roundhouse should remain "behind-the-scenes", would certainly eschew the idea that her retirement would be memorialized, but will have to accept that this is one action that she simply cannot control; and

WHEREAS, Sharlene Shoemaker's spunky personality and unexpected laughter will be greatly missed in the roundhouse by co-workers and legislators alike; and

WHEREAS, upon her retirement, Sharlene Shoemaker will finally have the time to focus on other passions, such as gardening, baking, traveling and volunteering her time -- maybe even back at the roundhouse, hey, we can hope can't we?;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Sharlene Shoemaker be honored for her innumerable professional contributions on behalf of the legislature and citizens of the state of New Mexico, her relentless pursuit of excellence, her commitment to her work and her years of dedicated public service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Sharlene Shoemaker, a loyal and devoted long-time employee who will be greatly missed by the legislature and her co-workers at the legislative council service.