Arlington Heights Mayor Honored for Contributions to Environmental Improvements at 2007 Symposium

Mayor Arlene J. Mulder of Arlington Heights, IL, Chairperson of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, has been honored with the 2007 Gillfillan Award, the University of California Davis, sponsor of the internationally renowned Aviation Noise and Air Quality Symposium, announced.

The award recognizing Mulder for her valuable contributions in addressing the environmental impacts of aviation was presented in conjunction with the 22nd Annual Symposium in Aviation Noise and Air Quality, held in San Francisco, CA, March 4-7, 2007. Nominees for the Gillfillan Award can come from any sector, including government, industry, non-profit, and community.

The special award was named in honor of the founder of the Symposium - aviation consultant, and former University of California Berkeley faculty member and facilitator Walter Gillfillan. Gillfillan received the inaugural award at the 2006 Symposium.

Gillfillan commented: “Mayor Mulder has been an active participant in the Symposium as not only a contributor at the program committee level but as a speaker and moderator. Mayor Mulder’s contributions over the years have been extremely important to making progress in the area of aviation noise reduction since she represents the community side of environmental issues. She is an extraordinary person who maintains excellent relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and is certainly well-deserving of this honor.”

Mulder indicated she was truly touched by the recognition, but she believed that the entire Commission was responsible for this award: “I am pleased and proud to receive this award, However, this recognition is truly a testament to the dedication and commitment of all of our members in working to improve the quality of life for residents near O’Hare International Airport.”

In 1997, Mayor Mulder was elected by other local government leaders in the Chicago area to serve as chair of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, a regional commission created to help solve the aircraft noise problems at the “World’s Busiest Airport.” She has been re-elected to that position every year since and is now an internationally recognized leader on aviation noise mitigation issues.







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The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission began working in 1996 to bring together the parties that are most able to reduce aircraft noise with representatives of communities affected by aircraft noise in a
partnership to address jet noise at its impact and sources.

The Commission's current membership includes the villages of Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Bellwood, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, Hoffman Estates, Maywood, Melrose Park, Mount Prospect, Niles, Norridge, Palatine, River Grove, River Forest, Rosemont, Schaumburg and Stone Park; and the cities of Des Plaines, Northlake, Oak Park, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows and Chicago; Cook County; and school districts 59 (Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect), 63 (Des Plaines, Niles, Morton Grove and Glenview), 80 (Norridge), 81 (Schiller Park), 84 (Franklin Park), 84½ (River Grove), 85½ (River Grove), 86 (Harwood Heights), 87 (Berkeley, Northlake, Bellwood), 88 (Bellwood, Melrose Park, Stone Park) 89 (Maywood, Melrose Park and Broadview ), 214 (Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove), 234 (Norridge, Harwood Heights), 299 (Chicago Public Schools) and 401 (Elmwood Park).

More information about the Commission, including its meeting schedule, can be found at www.oharenoise.org.

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