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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud members of Austin Junior Forum are celebrating |
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the organization's 50th anniversary in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, One of nine Junior Forum chapters across the Lone |
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Star State, Austin Junior Forum was founded by 18 young women on |
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March 28, 1969, as a volunteer nonprofit service organization; |
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today the group has approximately 170 members, including |
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stay-at-home mothers as well as working women, business owners, and |
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other professionals; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1978 AJF purchased the Daniel H. Caswell House, a |
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beautiful Victorian home in Austin, which serves as the |
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organization's headquarters; the group restored the home and opened |
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it to the public in 1983 as a center for community service and a |
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venue for weddings and events; in one of AJF's earliest |
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fund-raising success stories, members published a best-selling |
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cookbook called Lone Star Legacy and used the proceeds to pay off |
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the Caswell House's mortgage in only three years; since its initial |
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printing, the cookbook has sold more than 200,000 copies; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year AJF members contribute 11,000 hours of |
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volunteer work, and they undertake a number of community service |
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and philanthropic endeavors; among them are the Teddy Bear Program, |
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which provides stuffed animals to first responders to give to |
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children in crisis situations, and the Caswell House Etiquette |
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Class, which not only teaches children dining skills but also |
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appropriate interpersonal skills to help them deal with difficult |
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people and situations; and |
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WHEREAS, Every holiday season, AJF also hosts its annual |
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Christmas at the Caswell House event, which has raised over $1.3 |
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million for charitable causes since 1983; local organizations |
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supported by the initiative include Any Baby Can, AGE of Central |
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Texas, the Central Texas Food Bank, Foster Angels of Central Texas, |
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Hospice Austin, the Ronald McDonald House, and The Settlement Home |
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for Children; and |
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WHEREAS, For half a century, the women of Austin Junior Forum |
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have contributed significantly to the quality of life in Austin and |
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Central Texas, and they may indeed take pride in all that they have |
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accomplished as they continue to serve their community; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of Austin |
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Junior Forum and extend to its members sincere best wishes for |
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continued success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |