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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Kiwanis Club of Vernon is celebrating the |
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centennial of Kiwanis International in March 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1915, Kiwanis |
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International is a coeducational service organization dedicated to |
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"Serving the Children of the World"; the club's objectives are to |
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encourage individuals to treat others as they would like to be |
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treated, to promote the adoption of higher standards of social and |
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professional behavior, and to foster an environment of |
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righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill; furthermore, it |
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offers members an opportunity to form enduring friendships as they |
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help to build a better community; and |
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WHEREAS, Kiwanis International has a membership of nearly |
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600,000 individuals from around the globe; each year, it raises |
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more than $100 million and provides over 18 million volunteer hours |
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to a number of worthy causes; a few years ago, the organization |
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partnered with UNICEF in a worldwide initiative to prevent iodine |
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deficiency, and the result is that 70 percent of people in |
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developing nations now have access to iodized salt; and |
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WHEREAS, The Kiwanis Club of Vernon, which was established in |
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1953, exemplifies this tradition of public spirit; under the able |
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guidance of current president Billy Blount, the organization |
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sponsors and participates in a wide variety of service projects, |
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including the Veterans Day Breakfast, the Cool Down Vernon fan |
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drive, Lions Club Baseball, Coats for Children, and Star Tree; in |
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addition, the group has endowed a scholarship fund at Vernon |
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College and awards Boys and Girls Club summer scholarships; members |
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raise funds through their annual Pancake Breakfast, which has |
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become an important local tradition, and donate their own money to |
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the club's causes; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than six decades, the members of the |
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Kiwanis Club of Vernon have set an example of leadership and |
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volunteerism to which others may aspire, and they are truly |
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deserving of recognition for their tireless efforts in behalf of |
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their fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis |
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International and commend the members of the Kiwanis Club of Vernon |
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for their exemplary service to their community; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Kiwanis Club of Vernon as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |