Senate Resolution No. 5629

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary
Club upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the Sister Gail Rieth Award for
Outstanding Volunteer Service by Circles of Mercy on
June 13, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the Southern
Rensselaer County Rotary Club upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the Sister Gail Rieth Award for Outstanding Volunteer
Service by Circles of Mercy, to be celebrated at its Annual Gala "A
Taste of Mercy" on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at the Shaker Ridge Country
Club in Loudonville, New York; and

WHEREAS, Circles of Mercy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy
Northeast Community, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in
the community by working to end the cycle of poverty, especially among
women and women with children; and

WHEREAS, This vital organization honors the dignity of each person
by offering hospitality and providing services, compassion, stewardship,
leadership and collaboration, which is performed in an effort to instill
hope and empower individuals to reach their full potential; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club
have been called upon to contribute their time and talents to countless
civic and charitable endeavors and have always given of themselves
unstintingly; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, founded in
1960, is one of 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries comprising the
1.23-million-member organization called Rotary International, now in its
113th year of public service; and

WHEREAS, The men and women of Rotary are volunteers working together
in an inclusive manner in many fields to improve the lives of people
everywhere; and

WHEREAS, Locally, the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club
regularly provides assistance in the categories of youth scholarships,
leadership training, and foreign exchange study; aid to military
veterans and families; curriculum and supplies for schools; food
pantries; holiday adoptions of children and families in need; recycling
and conservation; athletes with disabilities; and organizations such as
Circles of Mercy, Ronald McDonald House, the YMCA, and both Girl and Boy
Scouts; and

WHEREAS, Globally, the Club supports lifesaving pediatric cardiac
surgeries through the Gift of Life program; aid to victims of natural

and other disasters through the ShelterBox Relief Program; ongoing
vaccination efforts through PolioPlus, that have nearly eradicated the
once-prevalent disease from the planet; hygiene and medical training
programs for women in African nations through the Freedom From Fistula
Foundation, as well as many other initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Volunteerism is an essential element of all societies; it
provides a way in which the human values of community, caring and
serving can be sustained and strengthened; and

WHEREAS, In addition, volunteerism promotes family and community
solidarity; most importantly, people who volunteer their time in civic
and charitable endeavors inspire others to the call of volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club upon the occasion of
its designation as recipient of the Sister Gail Rieth Award for
Outstanding Volunteer Service by Circles of Mercy on June 13, 2018; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club.