SENATE RESOLUTION

                             1998-8696

By Senators West, McDonald, Fairley, Benton, Oke, Schow, Sellar, Johnson, Newhouse, Zarelli, Strannigan, Roach, Patterson, Rossi, McAuliffe, Brown, Prince, Snyder, Horn, Rasmussen, T. Sheldon, Goings, Kohl, Loveland, Spanel, Franklin, Bauer, Prentice, McCaslin, Haugen, Wojahn, Long and Fraser 

     WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America has been an integral part of youth activities in the United States for over eighty-eight years; and

     WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America=s official mission statement is to Aserve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential@; and

     WHEREAS, The Scout law which reads, AA Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent@ provides an ethical code we would all do well to follow; and

     WHEREAS, The Scout motto of Abe prepared@ and the Scout slogan of, Ado a good turn daily@ help furnish all youth and adults positive goals to guide them; and

     WHEREAS, The learning for life program helps to instill children with the values of good character, citizenship and personal fitness; and

     WHEREAS, Scouts around the nation have participated in numerous community programs, such as, Scouting for Food, and the Organ Donor Awareness Drive; and

     WHEREAS, Nationally more than 4.5 million youth are involved in scouting activities, ranging from Tiger Cubs through Explorers, which is a four percent increase in membership from 1996; and

     WHEREAS, Gary Locke, the Governor of the state of Washington has been awarded the distinguished Eagle Scout award and is a former counselor at a Boy Scout summer camp; and

     WHEREAS, More than forty-eight members of the Washington State Legislature have been members of scouting organizations or volunteer their time to assist scouting activities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognizes the positive influence the Boy Scouts of America have on the youth of our State and the Senate applauds the work of the six councils of the Boy Scouts of America for the programs they provide to our children; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate encourages all agencies of the state to recognize the service and benefits that the Boy Scouts of America provide; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Gary Locke, Governor; the Governor=s cabinet officers; all statewide elected officials; the National Boy Scouts of America office; the western region office of the Boy Scouts of America; and to the six Boy Scout councils serving Washington State.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1998-8696,

adopted by the Senate February 11, 1998.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate