Executive Order  No. 402: Creating an advisory panel to select a design for the Massachusetts quarter

WHEREAS, the secretary of the United States Treasury has announced that in the year 2000 the United States Mint will issue a quarter commemorating Massachusetts' ratification of the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, the back of said quarter will bear an image designed to honor the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and

WHEREAS, the Governor of Massachusetts is to select a maximum of five designs for said image to be forwarded to the Secretary for his review and approval, following which the Governor shall make the final selection; and

WHEREAS, said image should be a representation of state landscapes, historically significant landmarks or buildings, symbols of state resources or industries, or some other design reflecting the uniqueness of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, participating in the design of said image represents an excellent opportunity for students in our elementary schools to learn about the remarkable history and distinctive character of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, an Advisory Panel consisting of persons knowledgeable about the cultural and historical contributions of the Commonwealth would assist the Governor in selecting the design for the Massachusetts quarter;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Argeo Paul Cellucci, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

ARTICLE I. Definitions

As used in this Executive Order, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Advisory Panel," the Panel created by Article III of this Executive Order.

"Elementary school", any school in the Commonwealth with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade, including public, private, and parochial schools. Only students in kindergarten through the sixth grade are eligible to participate in the contest described in Article II of this Executive Order.

"Image", the image to be placed on the back of the Massachusetts quarter that will be issued by the United States Mint in the year 2000.

ARTlCLE II. Contest

Every elementary school is eligible to submit one design for the image to the Advisory Panel. All designs should be submitted by June 1, 1998.

Each elementary school that wishes to participate in the contest may devise whatever process it sees fit to select its design from among those created by its students. Each elementary school's process should emphasize ideas generated by students and should encourage exposure to the history and culture of the Commonwealth.

ARTICLE III. Advisory Panel on the Design of the Massachusetts Quarter

An Advisory Panel on the Design of the Massachusetts Quarter is hereby established. The Advisory Panel shall be composed of ten (10) members appointed by the Governor, as follows: one member of the Massachusetts Historical Society; one member of the Massachusetts Art Commission; one representative of the Department of Education; one representative of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; one history teacher employed by an elementary school; and five residents of the Commonwealth who represent different regions of the Commonwealth and who are familiar with those regions' cultural and historical contributions.

The Advisory Panel shall evaluate all submissions for the design of the image, and shall by September 15, 1998, recommend to the Governor the designs to be submitted to the Secretary of the United States Treasury. The Governor shall have the final authority to select the winning designs.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 27th day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight

Argeo Paul Cellucci

Governor Commonwealth of Massachusetts

William Francis Galvin

Secretary of the Commonwealth