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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Susan Weaver has retired as director of the Depot |
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Museum in Henderson, and it is indeed fitting to recognize her for |
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her three decades of distinguished service at this noteworthy |
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institution; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1979, Ms. Weaver began volunteering at the Depot |
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Museum, which consisted of one building on an acre of land; as |
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attendance grew, the museum's limited hours were expanded, and |
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within five years, she was working on a full-time basis; she led the |
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institution through decades of sustained growth, and with the |
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assistance of the Rusk County Historical Commission and committed |
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citizens, it now occupies 11 structures on five acres; through her |
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expertise in grant writing, the museum obtained significant awards |
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from such organizations as the Meadows Foundation and Texas |
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Folklife Resources; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Weaver guided the evolution of the annual quilt |
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show into the Folkart Preservation Project, which received a |
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prestigious commendation from the American Association for State |
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and Local History; the program features demonstrations and |
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instruction from masters of weaving, spinning, knife making, |
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blacksmithing, and other crafts; popular events supported by the |
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museum include Heritage Folkart Day, a two-day educational |
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experience that has introduced thousands of schoolchildren to their |
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county's history, and the Heritage Syrup Festival, which draws some |
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20,000 people annually; the museum regularly offers quilting bees |
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and workshops in such crafts as wood carving; and |
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WHEREAS, A tireless supporter of Henderson, Ms. Weaver has |
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promoted tourism by giving generously of her time and talents to the |
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Henderson Candlelight Tour and the Rusk County Home Tour; in 2000, |
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Ms. Weaver cofounded the East Texas Wildflower Trails, a driving |
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tour that takes visitors to historic spots as they enjoy viewing the |
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coreopsis in bloom; moreover, she is a member of the Main Street |
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Landmark Committee and the Main Street Advisory Board, and served |
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as secretary and chair of the latter's organization committee; she |
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also served as chair of the chamber of commerce tourism committee, |
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as an officer of the Howard Dickinson House, and on the board of the |
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Texas Forest Trail; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her vision and dedication, Susan Weaver has |
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helped preserve the history and culture of Rusk County and enhance |
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knowledge of folk arts, giving area residents increased pride in |
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their East Texas heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Susan Weaver on her retirement as |
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director of the Depot Museum in Henderson and extend to her best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Weaver as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |