LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. upon the occa-
sion of his retirement after 40 years of distinguished service as Presi-
dent of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those
individuals of preeminent character whose lives exemplify the highest
ideals of humanity and whose lifework and civic endeavor serve to
enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement after 40 years
of distinguished service as President of the Saratoga County Chamber of
Commerce; and
WHEREAS, Officially retiring on June 1, 2010, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr.
will be honored at a dinner at the Saratoga Springs City Center on
Wednesday, June 16, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. arrived in Saratoga Springs, New York,
in 1970, to assume the position of Executive Vice President of the Sara-
toga County Chamber of Commerce; at the time, his staff was made up of
one full-time and one part-time employee and a total of 330 members; he
will leave the Chamber with a staff of ten full-time employees and a
membership of 2,800 firms; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. was recognized as
one of approximately 240 Certified Chamber Executives in the nation,
earned the Chamber of Accreditation by the United States Chamber, served
on his national Chamber Executive Board twice, and as the President of
the New York State Association of Chamber Executives; and
WHEREAS, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. has been an instructor in management at
five nationally recognized universities, and has been a coordinator of
strategic planning sessions for Chambers, governments and non-profit
organizations across the state as well as in Saratoga County; the United
States Chamber has recognized the Saratoga County Chamber as one of the
most effective Chambers in the nation in meeting true community and
member needs; and
WHEREAS, An exemplary leader, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. was one of three
founders of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation which has
brought thousands of new jobs to Saratoga County; he was one of the two
founders of the Saratoga Springs Plan of Action which revitalized the
Saratoga Springs downtown; his skills were also integral to the initial
construction of the City Center and its present expansion; and
WHEREAS, Serving as Chairman of a three-county Private Industry Coun-
cil for over a decade, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr.'s leadership was critical
in placing thousand of individuals in training and full-time unsubsi-
dized employment; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. organized the effort
to protect the quality of Thoroughbred racing for which Saratoga is
famous; earlier in his career, he mounted the successful effort to save
spring and fall Thoroughbred training at Saratoga Oklahoma Track; he
also initiated the greeter program at the Saratoga Race Course; and
WHEREAS, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. presently serves on the Luther Forest
Economic Development Board which sold the 220-plus acre site to Global
Foundries and controls an additional 500 acres of developable high-tech
property; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. has been a member of the
Board of Directors of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau since its
inception, and has led or been a part of numerous fund raising efforts

for non-profits in the county, including the annual NYRA Open Houses,
Saratoga Hospital, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the YMCA of
Saratoga, Saratoga Central Catholic, Saratoga Bridges, United Way, St.
Clement's Saratoga Horse Show and the New York State Military Museum;
and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at the Chamber, Dalton created the Barten-
ders Ball which has raised funds for 12 charities in the County, Leader-
ship Saratoga, the re-opening of Alpine Meadows Ski Slope, the opening
of the Saratoga Music Hall, the hosting of the Medal of Honor recipi-
ents, and the Community of Respite Program in response to 9/11; his
recent initiatives have been to convince existing and new residents to
become involved as volunteers in their home towns; a volunteer recruit-
ment video and non-profit volunteer directory were produced as well as a
series of essays on how volunteers were able to turn a depressed city,
Saratoga Springs, into the urban jewel it is today; and
WHEREAS, Some of Joseph W. Dalton, Jr.'s most important contributions
have been his mentorship to a significant number of Saratoga County's
current community leaders who have learned from his example and wisdom
about how to transform businesses, organizations and communities; and
WHEREAS, His personal leadership talents are evident in the extraor-
dinary low turnover of the staff at the Chamber over the decades; he
initiated numerous membership benefit programs for the Chamber including
health, dental, energy group purchasing plans along with the annual
business trade show; in addition, regional and business associations and
specialized councils have been organized in recent years under his lead-
ership; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular distinction, Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. has
continually demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence
and diligent leadership in his unwavering service to his community and
profession; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Joseph W. Dalton, Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement after
40 years of distinguished service as President of the Saratoga County
Chamber of Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joseph W. Dalton, Jr.