SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8739

By Senators West, Hewitt, Honeyford, Johnson, Carlson, Fraser, Sheahan and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America was established on February 8, 1910, by founders Robert Baden Powell, Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, and William D Boyce; and

     WHEREAS, the Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over the course of  their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Laws; and

     WHEREAS, from its beginning, the concept of Scouting has grown and spread to become the world_s largest  voluntary youth movement; and

     WHEREAS, for more than ninety years, the Boy Scouts of America has complimented youth education with a program that teaches our youth the skills and values that will help them throughout their lifetime; and

     WHEREAS, the Scout Law teaches Scouts to be _trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent_; and

     WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America continue to grow reaching the historic one hundred million member mark in April of 2000; and

     WHEREAS, In Washington State, there are over one hundred thousand youths involved in the Boy Scouts of America and nationally there are over four million members ranging from Tiger Scout through Eagle Scout; and

     WHEREAS, youths from every ethnic, religious, and economic background ranging from the suburbs, rural farming communities, and urban cities know and respect each other as they participate in the Boy Scouts program; and

     WHEREAS, with the support of over 1.2 million adult volunteers nationwide, the Boy Scouts of America pass on to today_s youth the same principles, aims, and ideals that have been part of Scouting since 1910; and

     WHEREAS, representing ranks from Webelo to Eagle Scout, seventeen current members of the Washington State Legislature have served with the Boy Scouts of America; and

     WHEREAS, these former and current members of the Boy Scouts of America now represent  the morals, ideals, and leadership qualities of the Scouts in the Washington State Legislature; and

     WHEREAS, facing the considerable challenges of the new century the Boy Scouts of America look forward to building upon nine decades of instilling in youth the strong values and morals that will make a difference in the lives of millions around the world;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate applaud the effort and work of the six Washington State Councils of the Boys Scouts of America, and also applaud the positive programs that the Boy Scouts of America provide for our youth; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate encourage all agencies of state government to recognize the service and benefits that are provided by the Boy Scouts of America and work with Scouting and other youth organizations for the purpose of improving our communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Governor Gary Locke; 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 Boy Scout Councils serving Washington State.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution-8739,

adopted by the Senate February 11, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate