STATE OF CONNECTICUT

BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 37

WHEREAS, our founders were true believers in the rights and liberties of a free government and in the freedom to express their religious beliefs, and left the comforts of England to achieve the same; and

WHEREAS, Dutch sailor Adriaen Block sailed up the Connecticut River in 1614 and the first settlers arrived in Connecticut in 1633 under the guidance of William Holmes and founded a trading post in the area of what is now Windsor; and

WHEREAS, in 1634 Wethersfield was founded by John Oldham and people of Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, through John Winthrop, Jr. and Lion Gardiner, Old Saybrook became Connecticut’s first English shoreline settlement in 1636; and

WHEREAS, the colony continued to grow with the arrival of Thomas Hooker and his followers in 1636 at Hartford; and

WHEREAS, the new colony was named after an Algonquin word “quinnehtukut,” which means “beside the long tidal river;” and

WHEREAS, our founding fathers created the first written constitution in history with the adoption of the Fundamental Orders in 1639; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut, known as the "Constitution State," became the fifth of the thirteen original states on January 9, 1788; and

WHEREAS, this State, known as the “Land of Steady Habits” has had a number of historic occasions including:

a.       1764 – the oldest newspaper in continuous publication  - The Connecticut Courant

b.      1783 – the first published American Black poet- Jupiter Hammon

c.       1784 - first law school in America – The Litchfield Law School, Litchfield CT

d.      1792- one of the first institutions in America to educate only women- Miss Pierce’s School in Litchfield

e.       1806- Noah Webster published the first truly American dictionary - A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language

f.        1975 – First women governor to assume office in her own right- Ella T. Grasso; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut has been home to many who have distinguished themselves in the arts, including Charles Ives, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and William Gillette; and

WHEREAS, this state has grown and flourished and yet maintained its historic nature- from our great cities to the splendid vistas of our hills, fields and shores; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut has grown and prospered over the past 375 years since our founders arrived; and

WHEREAS, it is right and fitting that we celebrate our history, our diversity and our heritage in this, the 375^th year of the founding of the great State of Connecticut; and

WHEREAS, on this extraordinary occasion we welcome residents, friends and visitors, from near and far to join in this year long celebration of heritage, culture and tradition.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. JODI RELL, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:

1. That the year 2010 shall be a year of celebration and thanksgiving for our founders and their successors who have made Connecticut a great and prosperous state.
2. That there is established a “375 Commission” that shall develop recommendations for events, festivities, fundraising and commemorative memorabilia.

3.      That I shall appoint Connecticut community representatives within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order.

4.      That this Executive Order take effect immediately.

Dated in Hartford, Connecticut, this 20^th day of January, 2010

M. Jodi Rell

By Her Excellency’s Command

Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State