1-1                                     1
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1091
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     recognize the Texas Master Gardener program and its more than 10
 1-5     years of serving the botanical and horticultural needs of Texans;
 1-6     and
 1-7           WHEREAS, As the botanical and horticultural sciences are
 1-8     an esteemed vocation of many Texans and a cherished hobby for
 1-9     countless others, the Texas Master Gardener program is an important
1-10     source of information for both expert and amateur gardeners alike;
1-11     and
1-12           WHEREAS, The program started in 1978 at Texas A&M University
1-13     as part of extension service training, and its early purpose was
1-14     to provide expert volunteer assistance to county extension agents;
1-15     but, by 1987, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service saw promise
1-16     in the program and committed itself to its development; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Today, the Texas Master Gardener program offers
1-18     ample horticultural and botanical instruction to a broad range
1-19     of participants; graduates of the program complete 50 hours of
1-20     training, which is then followed by 50 more hours of community
1-21     service; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Master Gardeners perform myriad services for the
 2-1     community; tasks can involve anything from individual consultations
 2-2     with home gardeners to group presentations to garden clubs, civic
 2-3     groups, and other community organizations; the gardeners' latest
 2-4     endeavor is to involve young people in a Junior Master Gardener
 2-5     program, an outreach effort to bring positive change to the state's
 2-6     youngsters; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, The Texas Master Gardener program has certified
 2-8     more than 4,235 Master Gardeners, who have dedicated 204,666 hours
 2-9     of service to Texas; their expertise, if not volunteered, would
2-10     come with a $2.8 million price tag, the equivalent of 98 full-time
2-11     employees; the Master Gardener program has made invaluable
2-12     contributions to many Texas communities; the program's efforts to
2-13     beautify our great state, to educate citizens, and to encourage
2-14     community involvement and civic pride are indeed worthy of the
2-15     utmost praise; now, therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-17     76th Legislature, hereby recognize and applaud the Master Gardener
2-18     program; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor
2-20     of the Master Gardener program as an expression of high regard from
2-21     the Texas Senate.
2-22                                                                   Ogden
2-23                                  ______________________________________
2-24                                          President of the Senate
2-25                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-26                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-27                                  on May 25, 1999.
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                          Secretary of the Senate
 3-1                                  ______________________________________
 3-2                                           Member, Texas Senate