LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Samantha Baker upon the occasion
of receiving the distinguished Girl Scout Gold Award, the most presti-
gious of Girl Scouting honors, on May 17, 2009

WHEREAS, Samantha Baker, of Ithaca, New York, through her diligence and
rigorous efforts, has achieved Girl Scouting's highest and most presti-
gious honor, the Girl Scout Gold Award; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts - Seven Lakes Council, headquartered in Phelps,
New York, will honor Samantha Baker at a special Young Women of
Distinction event to be held at the Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen on
Sunday, May 17, 2009; and
WHEREAS, America has achieved her greatest heights of glory through
the dedication, determination and tireless efforts of the outstanding
citizens of this Nation; and
WHEREAS, It is only with the continued diligence and devotion of our
youth, tomorrow's leaders, that America will maintain her glory; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts of America and its members are dedicated to the
development of character and leadership in the youth of this Nation; and
WHEREAS, Since 1980, Senior Girl Scouts have capped their years of
achievement in Girl Scouting with the Girl Scout Gold Award; and
WHEREAS, In order to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl must
fulfill five requirements; chief among them is the design and completion
of a Gold Award Project which must build upon the interests of the girl,
provide a service to the community, and be of lasting benefit; and
WHEREAS, For her Gold Award Project, entitled Wheelchair Accessibil-
ity, Samantha Baker, taking the criteria she learned from a member of
the Disability Council about how to measure for wheelchair accessibil-
ity, visited each restaurant in the Ithaca area to determine if the
restaurant was accessible through the entrance, interior, and bathroom;
and
WHEREAS, She then compiled a list of wheelchair accessible restaurants
which will be shared with local agencies and will provide people who use
wheelchairs with valuable, helpful knowledge on which restaurants they
can comfortably access; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding young woman has been involved in Scouting
for years, has lived up to Scouting's ideals and has attained all of the
necessary achievements; and
WHEREAS, Samantha Baker is a credit to her family, her school, her
community, her State and her Nation, and no doubt her future will be
filled with accomplishments of equal importance; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations, in
recognition of the significance of this meritorious achievement, to
congratulate and honor Samantha Baker upon the occasion of her desig-
nation as the recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Samantha Baker.