HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 99-4615, by Representatives Lambert, Ogden, Lantz, Hankins, Pflug, D. Schmidt, Skinner, McDonald, Hatfield, Thomas and Conway

      WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America have been an integral part of building the character of youth for over eighty-nine years; and

      WHEREAS, In Washington State there are over ninety-seven thousand youths involved with Boy Scouting, from Cubs through Explorers; and

      WHEREAS, Over thirty-one thousand adults in Washington give their time to volunteer to the Boy Scouts; and

      WHEREAS, The Governor of Washington State, Gary Locke, is a lifetime Boy Scout, having earned the rank of Eagle Scout; and

      WHEREAS, Over forty-three members of the Washington State Legislature have been Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and over fifty members have volunteered their time as leaders, parents, and counselors in scouting; and

      WHEREAS, Scouts of all ages provide assistance in local and national emergencies; and

      WHEREAS, Thousands of Scouts participate every year in "Scouting for Food" good turn projects and have collected hundreds of tons of food for local food banks; and

      WHEREAS, The coed Explorer program prepares youth for future careers; and

      WHEREAS, The coed Learning for Life program provides children with positive values and essential life skills in classrooms all over the nation; and

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

      WHEREAS, The Scout motto of "Be Prepared" and the Scout slogan of "Do a good turn daily" provide a positive mission for Scouts of all ages; and

      WHEREAS, World-wide Scout principles, which include individual respect, citizenship, and service to others, help lay a foundation for the future service to our state and country;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives applauds the effort and work of the six councils of the Boy Scouts of America in Washington State and the positive programs they provide for our youth; and

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

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to the Honorable Gary Locke, Governor of Washington; the Governor's cabinet officers; all state-wide 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 hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4615 adopted by the House of Representatives

                            February 10, 1999.

________________________________             _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk            Dean R. Foster Co-Chief Clerk