07-R242

2007 -- S 1021

Enacted 05/10/07

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MAY 13TH - 20TH, 2007 TO BE "AMERICORPS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator M. Teresa Paiva-Weed

Date Introduced: May 10, 2007

     WHEREAS, AmeriCorps is the "domestic Peace Corps." Across the country, 500,000

people have served a total of more than 637 million hours in AmeriCorps programs. Full and

part-time volunteers engage in intensive, results-driven community service. It has proven to be an

effective way to engage Americans in meeting a wide range of local needs; and

     WHEREAS, AmeriCorps members provide invaluable public service to local

communities by tutoring and mentoring children, facilitating afterschool programs and

educational enrichment activities, conducting and supporting early childhood education, and

working with health, safety and affordable housing programs; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Service Alliance is a nonprofit organization that funds

and administers AmeriCorps initiatives as well as overseeing planning grants throughout the

state. The organization was founded in 1994 to catalyze Rhode Island's national service

initiatives, to unite and build communities, and improve educational opportunities through the

promotion of service and volunteering; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Service Alliance has brought in more than $32 million in

federal funds. Rhode Island's success with the AmeriCorps programs demonstrate the power and

promise of community service; and

     WHEREAS, AmeriCorps initiatives foster an ethic of service and civic responsibility that

continues to enrich community life in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's AmeriCorps alums, totaling more than 3,000 strong, are well

positioned to utilize their energy and talents to address the most pressing problems facing our

communities, and to continue to inspire others to do so as well; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims May 13-20, 2007, as "AmeriCorps Week" in the State of Rhode Island. In so

doing, we urge all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni

and raise awareness about the importance of national and community service; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Service Alliance.

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LC03012

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