SENATE RESOLUTION

                            2000-8713

By Senator Rasmussen, Swecker, Franklin, Spanel, Honeyford, Sheldon, B., Goings, and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, The 4-H Youth Development Program has helped young people in Washington develop useful Alife skills@ since it was established in 1914; and

     WHEREAS, The program centers on teaching young people to become productive members of society by fostering self-esteem, and communication and decision-making skills; and

     WHEREAS, 83,000 young people throughout Washington participated in 4-H Youth Development Programs in 1999; and   

     WHEREAS, These programs help participants learn about a wide variety of subjects including science, family living and applied arts; and

     WHEREAS, More than 7,100 4-H youth raising livestock statewide are participating in an educational program learning how to produce high quality animals in an ethical manner;

     WHEREAS, In addition to working with traditional community clubs, the

programs reach youth through urban groups, special interest groups, nutrition programs, school enrichment, school-age care providers, camping, and interagency learning experiences;

     WHEREAS, The 4-H Youth Development Program promotes volunteer service by

enlisting more than 10,500 volunteers statewide, who donate an average two hundred hours of their time during the year; and

     WHEREAS, In 1998, the program achieved its goal of reaching a more diverse audience as twenty percent of participants came from ethnic minority groups; and

     WHEREAS, More than three hundred 4-H members from around the state are currently visiting the State Capitol as part of a statewide education program titled A4-H Know Your Government@;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate recognize the 4-H Youth Development Program for its many contributions to the youth of Washington and the betterment of our communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Carol Beckman, the state program coordinator for the 4-H Youth Development Program.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2000-8713,

adopted by the Senate February 15, 2000.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate