SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 691
	WHEREAS, Pioneer Day is being celebrated on April 29, 2003, 
and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to honor the SBC 
Pioneers in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, A group of more than 19,000 active and 18,000 
retired employees who live and work throughout the Lone Star 
State, the SBC Pioneers in Texas, along with their Pioneer 
Partners, volunteer their time and talents to assist in 
education, social, and environmental programs; and
	WHEREAS, In 2002, through its Texas Pride and South Texas 
chapters, the SBC Pioneers provided some 4.2 million hours of 
volunteer time to Texas communities, a value of more than
$64 million; and
	WHEREAS, The SBC Pioneers can be found working with 
students in classrooms, feeding the needy, building a 
playground, organizing a beep-baseball game for the blind, 
caring for infants born with AIDS, or comforting the sick and 
elderly in nursing homes; and
	WHEREAS, Last year, the Pioneers refurbished more than 
4,000 tape machines in the Talking Book Program and sewed some 
4,000 stuffed teddy bears for Children in Crisis as well as 800 
heart pillows for hospitalized patients; Pioneers also have 
taught thousands of children to correctly use 9-1-1, have 
conducted more than 350 Junior Achievement classes, and have 
built 10 ramps for disabled people in public parks; and
	WHEREAS, In an effort to promote literacy, Pioneers have 
provided personalized readers to kindergarten students;


volunteers have built a model tropical rainforest in a
Corpus Christi elementary school and created a model Internet 
Safety Training Program in Austin; and
	WHEREAS, Among their many other achievements are the 
renovation and furnishing of a halfway house for women in
San Antonio, the development of an attendance program for 
elementary students in West Texas, and the hosting of a Babies 
Day Program in Dallas for disabled children and their parents; 
now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby recognize April 29, 2003, as Pioneer Day 
in Texas and commend the SBC Pioneers for their tireless efforts 
in promoting the spirit of volunteerism throughout Texas.
                                                                       Wentworth




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on April 29, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate