HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4694, by Representatives Johnson and Eickmeyer

      WHEREAS, Radio station KMAS-AM was awarded the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award on April 8, 1997; and

      WHEREAS, The National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award, established in 1987, recognizes radio stations' efforts to improve the quality of life in their surrounding communities; and

      WHEREAS, Ten radio stations nationwide were selected from a pool of forty-five finalists; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM serves the City of Shelton and surrounding Mason County; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM's philosophy is to be connected to the community twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; and

      WHEREAS, In emergency situations, such as major floods and storms, KMAS-AM kept citizens informed by offering up-to-date weather reports, emergency instructions, emergency shelter locations, and current news; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM helped to raise ninety thousand dollars for the Kneeland Park Renovation Project by going on-air to seek support from the community and by holding a Swing-a-Thon, in which KMAS-AM's radio personalities were sponsored by local businesses for the number of hours they could swing; and

      WHEREAS, When the Kneeland Park Renovation Project began, KMAS-AM committed four staff members to assist in the intensive one-week construction process and broadcast live reports from the park three times daily to keep the community informed; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM served local community members by raising money to assist the victims of the severe storms of 1996 and 1997; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM has also made significant contributions to the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Homeless Shelter, and local food and clothing banks; and

      WHEREAS, In 1996 alone, KMAS-AM aired twenty-two thousand four hundred sixty-four public service announcements, benefiting over one hundred eighty-one community organizations and public agencies; and

      WHEREAS, KMAS-AM has accomplished all of these feats with a small staff, consisting of ten full-time and two part-time employees;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives salute KMAS-AM, "The Voice of Mason County," for performing invaluable service to the community and for receiving the 1997 National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to KMAS-AM owners Harold and Marian Greenburg and to their team of radio professionals.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4694 adopted by the House of Representatives

                          March 5, 1998.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk