SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8647

By Senators Spanel and Haugen

     WHEREAS, The beautiful Skagit Valley is the tulip capital of the Northwest; and

     WHEREAS, Every April the tulips are in bloom, celebrating the beginning of spring; and

     WHEREAS, The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival begins the festival season in Washington State; and

     WHEREAS, This year=s 14^th annual event will run from March 28^th through April 13^th, focusing on the communities of Sedro-Woolley, Burlington, Anacortes, LaConner, Mount Vernon, and Concrete; and

     WHEREAS, Holly Weigand and Alex McDonald were chosen as this year=s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Ambassadors; and

     WHEREAS, Nearly half a million people visited the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival last year, participating in the joy and excitement of this annual event and contributing to the economy of the Skagit Valley; and

     WHEREAS, This year=s visitors will be greeted by more than one thousand five hundred acres of tulips reflecting all the colors of the rainbow and by the fullness of life in the valley and its wonderful people; and

     WHEREAS, Highlights of the event include the Kiwanis Annual Salmon Barbeque, Art in a Pickle Barn, the Tulip Pedal Bike Ride, the Tulip 10k Slug Run/Walk, the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair and much more;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate salutes the six communities of the Skagit Valley, their chambers of commerce, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Ambassadors, and the Tulip Festival Committee for their Skagit Valley Tulip Festival; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we commend the community leaders and corporate sponsors for the success of this important event and encourage citizens from across Washington State to take the time to enjoy this spectacular display; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Audrey Smith, Tulip Festival Executive Director, and Alex McDonald and Holly Weigand, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Ambassadors.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1997-8647,

adopted by the Senate April 2, 1997.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate